Wool. 



65 



sheep have usually been noted for special wool characteristics 

 as already indicated, and if the breeder, without damage to 

 the mutton-producing qualities of his animals will endeavour 

 to attain to a reasonable standard of wool uniformity — not 

 allowing his flocks to degenerate into animals producing a 

 nondescript variety of wool — it will almost certainly be 

 advantageous both to himself and to the manufacturer. 



The following are the quali- 

 ties to be desired in the two 

 classes of wool noted : — 



Lustre Wools. — Lustre, length, 

 fineness, strength, regularity of 

 fibre, regularity of staple through- 

 out the fleece, absence of kemps 

 or dead hairs, and a good clean 

 white colour. 



Down Wool. — Curliness, fine- 

 ness, softness, reasonable length, 

 strength, absence of grey hairs, 

 regularity of fibre, regularity of staple throughout the fleece, 

 and a good clean white colour. 



It will be noted that certain properties are common to both 

 types, and that others appertain to one or the other. These 

 latter characteristics will be better understood after the various 

 manufacturing processes have been carefully considered. 



As already intimated, there are many variations from the 

 two types cited. Thus, there are the demi-lustre wools, such 

 VOL 72. F 



