22 WOOL. 



polish varies much in different wools, and in wools from 

 he same breed of sheep at different times. When the 

 animal is in good condition, and the fleece healthy, 

 the appearance of the fibre is really brilliant ; but, when 

 the sheep has been half starved, the wool seems to 

 have sympathized with the state of the constitution, and 

 either a wan pale light, or sometimes scarcely any, is 

 reflected." 



The more transparent the filament the better is the 

 fleece, and its value is impaired by the transparency 

 being different in the same fleece, or, as often happens, 

 in the same filament ; while that which possesses fine- 

 ness with a close ground, pureness, elasticity, colour, 

 tenacity, and not much pitch-mark, is the most esteem- 

 ed, and preferred by the manufacturer. Wethers have 

 considerably more wool than ewes. In every fleece 

 there are several qualities, even so many as nine differ- 

 ent sorts, which are all separated from each other in 

 England by men called w oolstaplers, who are appointed 

 for the purpose, and sworn to do justice between the 

 grower, and the merchant or manufacturer. In this 

 manner the latter obtains, without trouble or risk, the 

 very kind which he knows will suit his purpose ; for 

 though the sorter, surrounded by a number of baskets, 

 divides the wool according to its properties without the 

 slightest hesitation, and with a rapidity truly surprising, 

 yet such is the amount of the dexterity acquired by prac- 

 tice, that a mistake seldom occurs, and his judgment 

 can as rarely be disputed. 



(31.) Structure and properties of Hair and Wool. 

 — Each hair is composed of a number of filaments, or 

 feuialier hairs, ranged side by side, and this we can per- 



