SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 29 



u Latterly they (Australian and Van Dienmn's Land wools) have been of varied qualities, 

 but all possessing an extraordinary softness, which the manufacturers here so muct admire 

 that they are sought for more than any other description of wools, from that peculiar quality, 

 which is supposed to arise from the climate alone. They are known to require less of the 

 milling or fulling power than any other descriptions of wools. . . They are better adapted 

 than the German, wools to mix with British wools, because the superior softness which I 

 have stated gives a character, when mixed with English wool, that the other does not, from 

 the hardness of the fibre."* 



Mr. Stewart Donaldson, merchant, London, says : 



" I haye no hesitation in pronouncing that the wools of New South "Wales and Van Die- 

 man's Land are decidedly preferred to the apparently similar descriptions of German wool. 

 . . . They have a softness and silkiness about them which, when worked up into cloth, 

 shows itself more distinctly than in the raw material. I conceive that it is dependent on the 

 climate alone. 1 am of opinion that wool of that quality could not be produced in any part 

 of Europe."! 



Mr. Thomas Legg, wool-stapler, Bermondsey, says : 



There are some of these wools of very beautiful quality, as good as any of the German 

 woold."t 



Mr. Thomas Ebswoith, wool-broker, London, says: 



" The peculiarity of the climate of New South Wales appears to have a very great effect 

 on wool, so as to reduce it from a harshness to a very fine texture."]] 



This was the substance of all the testimony on this particular point ; 

 arid when it is understood that the investigation was an issue between rival 

 interests, where all the facts were thoroughly sifted, the fact that the above 

 assertions were undisputed shows that they were considered of an undis- 

 putable character. 



Allusion has already been made to the loose and careless system of 

 sheep-breeding, etc. in Australia, compared with that in Qermany. Tak- 

 .ng this into consideration ; taking also into consideration that the flock 

 furnishing the best wool in Australia (Capt. McArthur's) is composed of 

 grade sheep (Bengal and English, graded up with Merino and Saxon rams), 

 the trifling effect of climate is made more strikingly to appear. 



The statements of Mr. Cockrill in relation to the softness of the wools 

 grown in Tennessee and Mississippi, sustain and 'are sustained by those 

 above given ; and they go to show that it is the result of a general law 

 and :not of any peculiar local influences peculiar to Australia 



* Btichcff on Wool, &c. roL ii. pp. 189-3. t Ibid. 183-4. J IWd. 184. H Ibid. !1 



