64 Journal op the Depaetment of Agriculture.' — July, 1922. 



broker need be the least concerned about tlie demand for this class 

 of raw material. Forcing- tactics need not be adopted, and if reports 

 are to be relied upon, America will probably be in the market to a 

 fairly large extent. America must have the best quality kid hair, 

 as it does Australian merinos, and although the "agricultural 

 block" — that is agricultural interests — are paramount in the 

 American Senate, once the tarifl: is settled Ave may expect a consider- 

 able trade to be done in fine mohair, as well as in fine wool. 



It is difficult to say what are likely to be ruling prices for 

 mohair. Of (;ourse, fine kid hair will be at a premium, and can 

 easily realize the top side of 30d., while summer firsts are worth in 

 Bradford to-day all round 12d. for a g-ood line. What we want to 

 see above all is a g-ood demaiid, and we think there are unmistake- 

 able signs of development. 



(2) Mr. Gilbert Watson's letter: — 



We are on the eve of the 1922 summer mohair clip of South 

 Africa, and I would be glad if you would direct that efforts be made 

 to market the clip in a more marketable Avay than hitherto. I have 

 not the slightest doubt that if growers Avould sort and classify their 

 mohair to better advantage, the ultimate result to the farmers — 

 certainly as a Avhole — would be financially better. 



As you know, my firm buys a fair amount of mohair for the 

 States and England, and with regard to last season's summer clip 

 in particular I can speak from very bitter experience, in so far that 

 we had to reject hundreds of bales entirely — not so much that the 

 bales were entirely lacking in quality (fineness) as that they 

 contained from a fairly small to a fairly large percentage of strong- 

 haired qualities, which latter most of our clients had no use for 

 whatsoever. Bluntly, very few, if any, firms to-day are in a position 

 to buy something they don't Avant to enable them to biiy something 

 they do want. 



I don't deny there are a few firms, they are in a small minority, 

 I fear, who can do with and use strong hair at a price, but I am 

 thoroughly convinced that to create a ready sale, which means the 

 farmer being in possession of his money at an earlier date than 

 otherwise (and I A^enture to add that South Africa can do with 

 other countries' money badly), it will be Avell for farmers to sort, 

 classify, and bale their mohair properly, so as to give all buyers 

 a chance to select and buy in accordance Avith their orders. I am 

 well aware that certain districts vary in production and /or growth, 

 also that climatic conditions vary from season to season, but, speak- 

 ing generally, I think that much can be done on the lines suggested, 

 and it requires no great amount of brains and knowledge on the 

 farmers' part to carry them out. 



With reference to Mr. Gilbert Watson's letter on the urgent 

 need for the proper classing of mohair by farmers, it is desired 

 to point out that this course was strongly recommended by the 

 Central Wool Committee in the report which they presented to the 

 Government and published on the conclusion of the investigations 

 carried out by them in September, 1918. The report dealt with the 

 trade in wool, mohair skins, and hides in South Africa, and pointed 

 out in what manner improvements could be effected in,; marketing 

 the above produce . j 



