THE TYPES OF SHEEP 249 



length and density which, however, are not correlated but 

 opposed, thus making the longest fleece the most open, 

 as a rule. There should be sought, therefore, such a 

 balance between the length of staple and the density with 

 which they grow, as will insure neither being sacrificed to 

 the other, the maximum of both being secured. 



266. Quality involves primarily the texture of the in- 

 dividual staple, which, in turn, is in proportion to the 

 amount of crimp. The finest, shortest, densest fleeces 

 have the closest crimp, while the coarsest, longest, most 

 open fleeces have the crimp enlarged to kinks or ringlets. 

 The finer wools, of more delicate texture, are usually 

 possessed of a distinct luster, a feature of the fiber itself 

 and independent of either yolk or discoloration. 



267. Condition of the fleece depends upon soundness, i.e. 

 whether or not the fiber has made a regular uninterrupted 

 growth, as shown by continuous crimp of uniform degree, 

 and no break in the staple itself; yolk, the secretion of 

 the skin, through the wool, which should be sufficiently 

 abundant to indicate normal activity of all vital functions 

 of the sheep, yet not excessive to be scoured out prior 

 to manufacture, nor dry and flaky, which indicates some 

 constitutional disturbance, usually resulting from im- 

 proper feeding ; softness, the resistance offered by the 

 fleece to pressure of the hand, as opposed to harshness, in 

 which case the fibers do not yield, but grate against each 

 other ; purity, which refers to the absence of such foreign 

 matter as sand, cockle burrs and hay seed, also kemp, a 

 vestige of the old hair coat which sometimes makes its 

 appearance in coarse fleeces and renders them of less 

 value for manufacture, because the kempy fibers do not 

 take the dye ; and brightness, as opposed to discoloration, 

 the natural fleece being white, or cream tinted if there is 



