64 



Wool. 



Characteristic staples of these two classes of wool are 

 shown in Fig. 3. 



Brief consideration on the part of even the uninitiated 

 will suggest that the manufacturing operations for the long, 

 straight fibred wool may be different from the manufacturing 

 operations for the short stapled wool ; and further, that each 

 material when manufactured will possess distinct charac- 

 teristics. 



The characteristics of the manufactured article will be 

 dealt with later ; the characteristics and varieties of the wool 

 fibre itself must hei-e claim definite consideration. 



A.— Lincoln Fleece. 



Fig 2. 



B.— Merino Fleece. 



The numbers represent the quality of Wool on the respective sections of the fleeces, 

 and thus indirectly indicate the fineness of flbro, the 64's section being the finest, and 

 the 28's section the coarsest. 



Chemically, wool, from whatever sheep it is taken, is 

 wool, and varies little in its composition and properties, but 

 physically there are most marked differences. Thus, the 

 physical properties of fineness, length, curliness, lustre, colour, 

 felting property, and strength, must all be taken into account 

 in dealing with the so-called " qualities " of the various wools. 

 Sometimes, as in fine, soft wool cloths the quality of fineness 

 and the accompanying softness is dominant. At other times 

 length and lustre are especially sought for. Very often, 

 curliness, and its accompanying felting or shrinking quality, 

 is sought for, and occasionally a fine white colour is essential. 

 Thus it has come about that the various typical breeds of 



