42 MANUFACTURES OF RUSSIA. 



increased mamifacture of napless textnre is noticed, owing- to the influence of fasliion^ 

 wliitli is causing- them to come more and more into use. 



The increased manufacture of combed -svool g-oods has had a beneficial etfect 

 on the contlition of combed wool spinning. The latter up to the eig-lith decade devel- 

 oped ver}' slowly and consisted of very few mills, having- a total of spindles not 

 exceeding: 40.000 in number. From the year 1880 woollen spinning progressed rap- 

 idly and during the last ten years, large mills have made their appearance one 

 after the other. The manufacture of combed yarns is developing very rapidly in 

 the Polish ilistrict, -whereas, in the Moscow district, during- the last twenty years, 

 no changes have been made in this respect. At the present time, three-quarters of 

 the number of spiudles in the Empire are at work in Poland. 



Raw material and its qualities. 



The greater portion of the raw wool used in the Russian manufactories is home- 

 grown, and the remainder is imported. For coarse goods common Russian wool is 

 exclusiveh' used; for tine, native and foreign merinos. But unfortunately it is im- 

 possible to give authentic official data of the quantity of wool used in the Russian 

 industry, although an approximate idea may be obtained in respect to the merino 

 wool from the following statistics: the total amount collected in Russia is about 

 2,000,000 ponds, of which 500,000 pouds are sent abroad, so that Russian mills con- 

 sume 1,500,000 pouds of native raw wool. The total amount of common wool col- 

 lected in European Russia may be approximately estimated at 5,000,000 pouds, of 

 this amount a part goes to the mills, part for home use and the remainder is sent 

 abroad. 



With respect to the character of Russian merino wool, investigations made by 

 a special committee, appointed by the Minister of Crown property, show that the 

 Russian sheep farmers aim in the following direction. The predominating breed of 

 sheep is the so-called shtofni (silk-wool), which gives half combing wool, with a 

 staple reaching six centimetres. Thir wool is used for making teased and smooth 

 woolen textures. The opinion of the Commission is that under the existing circum- 

 stances, such a direction in sheep farming is the most correct, and the South Russian 

 sheep farmers should adhere to it. The Kharkov Wool Company shows that this is 

 the Avool mostly used by Russian manufacturers, consequently it has a natural 

 home market. Secondly, taking into consideration the economic and climatic condi- 

 tions of the country, this breed of sheep, possessing as it does a strong- organism 

 in consequence of which it is not exacting- in respect to food, and being furnished 

 Avith a fleece of close staple, is able to withstand the severe winters. 



Combing wool occupies the second place in the sheep farming industry, being- 

 used for the preparation of unscoured tissues only. Although tliis branch alread3' 

 possesses a fully acclimatized breed of sheep (infantado), corresponding to the German 

 combing wool type, still it cannot yet be placed in the position it should occupy, as 

 the preparation of combed wool has only latterly commenced to develop to any 

 great extent. It is to be hoped that with the growth of the industry and the in- 

 creased demand for combed yarn this branch Avill occupy a position as influential as 



