THE A-TYPE 



193 



indicated by the evenness with which the waves or crimps are 

 carried along the whole length of the fibers ; and there is an unusual 

 degree of uniformity of fineness of fibers throughout the fleece. In 

 the best specimens there are no kempy fibers, that is, coarse, hair- 

 like fibers and bluish-white, structureless, tender fibers that will 

 not take the vegetable dyes used in coloring wool. Because the yolk 

 is liquid and comparatively free from coloring matter, the wool is 

 a rich, creamy white. This is not true, however, of the external 

 appearance of the fleece, because the yolk, upon coming to the 



FIG. 131. A-type Merinos bred by S. M. Cleaver, Delaware, Ohio. Although these 

 sheep are covered with folds and wrinkles they are thick and compact, showing that extreme 

 development in wool need not be wholly divorced from mutton qualities. 



outer end of the wool fibers, hardens and darkens into a dark gray 

 or brownish-black. 



The A-Type. Extreme development of folds on neck and body 

 is the outstanding characteristic of the A-type Merino. Because of 

 its great surface of skin, dense wool, and large percentage of yolk, 

 it yields a very high percentage of unsecured wool to weight of 

 body. In twelve months the wool attains a length of about one and 

 one-half inches. Rams will shear from 25 to 30 pounds of grease 

 wool (wool just as it comes from the sheep's back) and ewes from 

 15 to 20 pounds, but exceptional specimens have yielded consider- 

 ably more than the weights mentioned here. The shrinkage of the 

 wool in the process of scouring is often as much as 75 per cent. 



The description already given of the conformation of the wool 

 13 



