OHAPTEE TI 



ON WOOL. 



HEEP are distinguished as Long or Short Wools, 

 according to the character of the fleece. These, 

 again, are frequently crossed, giving rise to varieties, 

 such as the Oxfordshire, Shropshire, and Down 

 Leicesters, in which the staple is not either short or long, open 

 or close. The growth of wool is an important feature in sheep 

 management. Careful and regular feeding is requisite in order 

 to insure uniform quality and maximum weight. Cleanliness 

 of skin and freedom from parasites are also important. When 

 sheep are continually rubbing themselves we may be certain 

 they are not healthy ; and though free from the flockmaster's 

 plague, "scab," they are probably alive with ticks. Under 

 such circumstances wool cannot be grown in perfection ; indeed, 

 we may safely state that the subject would pay for more 

 attention than it usually receives. Lord Cathcart contributed a 

 remarkable essay to^the "Eoyal Agricultural Society's Journal" 

 (Vol. ii.. Second Series, page 309), entitled, " Wool in relation 

 to Science with Practice," which will repay careful perusal, 

 as it abounds with suggestions and statistics. He therein 

 points out the importance of the trade, and states that the 

 general consumption of wool in England is said to be 4Jlb. 

 per head of the population, as against about 31b. per head in 

 G-ermany. England and France stand at the head of the wool 

 manufacture ; in the years 1870 and 1871 England manufac- 

 turing 330,000,0001b. and France 300,000,0001b. of wool of all 



