THE SHEEP.

Western Star, 31 March 1911, Page 4

THE SHEEP.

WHAT HAS MADE QUEENSLAND^ WOOLS ? By S. B. Rollings. * . V All my life I have understood fron* some of Yorkshire’s best manufacturers (and my own experience confirms it) that in Queensland’s produce we had an article that was useful to a degree both for manufac-; turning and combing purposes. Queensland wools have never beenl? noted for being robust in staple andstrong in quality, and I was going ttf say I hope they never will ; in fact,! I question very much if cither climate, or pasturage will over turn out! fleeces much below a decent C4’s quality. To-day at least 75 per cent.! of the Queensland Merino wools': grown will scale from C4’s to 70 'a, and I am open tp admit that I ! now of no clip except one or two grown on the Darling Downs that show any less quality than good 60’s to Cl’s. I ask in all seriousness what lias made Queensland wools what they are to-day ? The very features of which a writer is complaining about, and I utterly deny that Queensland 1 ; wools' as a rule are “straight-fibred and lacking in character.” Tho wools from the northern State up to the present have always been renowned for their fine spinning qualities, and for producing really fine French cashmeres and fabrics of that order there are no better wools grown in the Commonwealth. I recognise the fact that every stationowner has a right to use what class of ram he likes, or toi breed and rear any class of sheep which he thinks will pay best, but itl will be a huge mistake if Queensland ever comes to produce wool that is strong, robust, wiry in character, and lacking in spinning quality. There are no keener competitors for Queensland wools either in Australian centres or in London than Frenchmen, simply he-1 cause they know that for fine Merino yarns there is nothing to heat them.! The staple at times/ is a little tender, | diio no doubt to the sheep being on short commons, but given a good' season, and thetfe is no station in Central Queensland, or, for that mat-7 ter, anywhere else in the northern State, that cannot, turn out a com-’ mcndable style of wool, showing at least 64’s quality, decent length, and average to good condition. I repeat that Queensland wools have always borne the name of being fine in fibre,' fairly soft handle, good spinning wools, and also good in finishing. I could name a score of noted Yorkshire woolen manufacturers who, 1 ■when they have to mate find finished fabrics always resort to Queensland wools, simpjy because, they possess this special characteristic, and if they were not fine in texture, and small in serration they would never finish like they do. Ex-' perience has confirmed over, and over again the fact that big, strong, wiry Merinos will no more give a fine,' soft finish to a cloth than will pig’s hair, hence, I say, let Queensland, growers preserve the same characteristics which have made their wools so popular, and they will still further commend the ungrudging support of the entire consuming wool world. j.