The Value of Fineness and Length in Wool. 465 



sheep, and in the individual fihie itself. In all cases increased fine- 

 ness is generally accompanied by an increase in the number of serra- 

 tions to the linear inch. The crimpy structure, which is also of 

 great \alue in a fibre, is also affected by fineness, the number of 

 crimps being increased as the fibr^ decreases in diameter. 



The serrations forming tlie saw-like surface vary not only in 

 number as the diameter is eitlier increased or decreased, but in their 

 method of attachment to the shaft of the fibre, l)eing more prominent 

 or detached for a greater portion of their length in the case of fine 

 wools. 



Wool, when spun, is largely dependent on these scales for the 

 power which one fibre possesses of interlocking with or clinging to 

 another, thereby enabling a continuous riV)bon or sliver to be main- 

 tained throughout the various drawing processes, and this clinging 

 power is greatly assisted by the reversed relationship in wliich the 

 fibres are arranged in tlie preparatoi-y processes. The entire absence 

 of these scales would render the spiniring of short wool, at least, 

 almost impossible if not entirely so. 



In yarn construction it is, of course, necessaiy, in order to allow 

 one fibre to grip or engage with another, for oveila})i)ing of fibres to 

 take place, and it will, therefore, be easily understood that the more 

 numerous and prominent these scales, the more leadily and surely 

 will the fibres grip, cojisequently less overlapping will be necessary. 

 Reduced overlapping surfaces, in combination with the tact that there 

 are Jiecessarily many more fibres to the given pound in the case of 

 fine wools, length being equal, enables the spinner to produce a 

 longer yarn of smaller diameter. 



Fineness also has a direct bearing on the strength of the fibre, 

 fine wools invariably having the greater tensile strength in proportion 

 to their diameter. Fineness is, therefore, for many reasons a very 

 desirable quality, aJid as it is generally accompanied by such other 

 most desirable properties as softness, elasticity, pliability, and full- 

 ness of handle, its value can hardly be over estimtaed. 



Length, too, plays a most important part, but it is so intimately 

 associated with fineness in the actual spinning value of the fibre, that 

 some of the observations regarding the value of fineness may with 

 advantage be applied to length. Length is the factor that not only 

 decides the method of treatment, hut the ultimate uses to which the 

 wool is put. Its presence enables the topmaker to give each individual 

 fibre better treatment, and best to arrange the fibres in that parallel 

 condition so essential in the construction of a level worsted yarn. 

 Increa.sed length also enables tlie spinner to keep the fibres under 

 better control, and fibre control is probably the most important factor 

 in spinning. 



Increased lengtii with the same degree of fineness, would, if the 

 same argument as in the case of fi]ieness be applied, mean consider- 

 ably less overlapping, and as each overlap necessarily means a reduc- 

 tion in the iiltimate length of the thread, the value oi' length in the 

 spinning to higher counts is obvious. 



The fewer the overlaps the more level can the yarn be spun, M'itli 

 still fewer fibres to th^ cross section, and the extra length of fibre 

 enables the spinner to insert more twist, which results in a yarn of 

 greater tensile strength and more durable wearing (qualities. 



