COARSE OR FINE WOOLS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1688, 26 November 1861, Page 5

COARSE OR FINE WOOLS.

We recently inserted the Bradford Cir cular, recommending the growth of Leicester wools as more marketable than Merinos, and "subsequently we gave the substance of a discussion at the Royal Agricultural Society of England on the most profitable plan to be pursued by British wool growers. We have since beeu favored by Messrs. Johnston & Co. with a copy of Messrs. Buxton and Metcalfe's London Circular, of 26th August, which takesan opposite view to that contained in the Bradford Committee's Circular ; cautions Australian wool growers against producing ill-bred descriptions; and complains, especially as regards New Zealand, that the production is largely to be classed uuder that head. * • * * - * * * The quality of the Wools brought forward has not been equal to nn average selection for this series. Tl^is may, doubtless, partly be ascribed to a larger proportion of tlie better clips having already been sold, but is more attributable to the custom which is becoming too prevalent, of aiming rather at bulk than quality of fleece. „ That long and strong wools a re' often wanted in abundance for our Bradford Trade is, doubtless, true; but this may be carried to excess, and we think has been lately so done, botb / in Victoria and New Zealand, from the latter of which Colonies a large bulk of a very low half-bred description has been received j and some Victoria ' flocks, hitherto known as high-bred, have degenerated from an injudicious crossing with Leicester and other long wooled breeds. On this subject we can only repeat what we have said on former occasions, that it is the French demand which pay the highest prices, but to retain this, we must offer them a Wool superior to their home Clip They have, hitherto, found tbis in the produce of Sydney, Victoria, Tasmania, and the better sorts of Adelaide ; but we regret to observe that some of the hitherto celebrated flocks fiom these districts, and particularly Tasmania, have been so largely impregnated with English stock as to render them linsuitable for purposes to which they were formerly applied. The run from Bradford upon inferior qualities only, has on this occasion, to some extent, justified the movement, but it cannot be relied upon for a continuance, as it often happens that Bradfoid is a warm competitor for tbe finest descriptions also. The Sydney Wools have suffered much from a bad shearing season, being geueraliy, more charged with burrs and grass-seeds than usual ; but many flocks, especially fioin More ton Bay, have much degenerated in quality likewise. The whole of the Adelaide Clip has been inferior to former seasons, and realised only a proportionate price, as large quantities were quilled as low as 7jd. @ B_d. ty lt>. From Neio Zealand, also, good clips have formed quite the exception, a large portion being of a heavy, loose, ill bied description, and, as a corroboration of former remarks ttpon this subject, we may mehtion that very few foreign buyers tvill look at them. , \ Having the pro and con now before them, those concerned can judge for themselves as to which description of wool they will endeavour to grow — a question each grower will, no doubt, feel inolined to decide aocording as bis nett returns may indioate. Whether heavy ooirse and

low priced, or light fine and high prioed wools are grown, must mainly depend on the nett value they are relatively found to produce.