54 



The results are summarized as follows: " The relative humidity 

 of the atmosphere influences the absorption ot moisture, more 

 moisture being absorbed during a period of high relative humidity 

 than when the humidity is low. Pure wool fiber, of which greasy 

 wool contains from 50 to 70 per cent and slipe wool about 75 per 

 cent, can absorb from 1 8 to 20 per cent of its weight of moisture 

 from the atmosphere, but this amount is not sufficient to account 

 for all the moisture absorbed by the dry normal wool fiber. Na- 

 tural wool fat, present in greasy wool to the extent of nearly 17 

 per cent and in slipe wool to 6 V 2 per cent, is capable of absorbing 

 about 17 per cent of its weight of atmospheric moisture. Suint, or 

 wool perspiration present in greasy wools to the extent of nearly 

 13 per cent, and in slipe wools to about 2 per cent, is very hygro- 

 scopic, and can absorb from 60 to 67 per cent of its weight of 

 moisture when exposed to the atmosphere. Fatty matter other than 

 natural wool fat, present in slipe wools to an amount of from 2 to 

 6 times that found in greasy wools, and picked up by the wool 

 from the greasy underside of the skins during the washing process, 

 has a retarding effect on the amount of moisture absorbed." 



R. H. REW. Importation of Wool in Great Britain, in 1909. 



Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. Agricultural Statistics 1909, 

 Vol. XLIV, Part III, p. 198. London, 1910, Cd. 5268. 



The total quantity of sheep, lamb, and alpaca wool imported 

 in 1909 amounted to 809 ooo ooo Ibs., exceeding the total of the 

 previous year by 85 ooo ooo Ibs. The importation in 1909 is the 

 highest ever recorded, the previous highest being that of 1895, 

 when 775 ooo ooo Ibs. were received. The total quantity re-exported 

 in 1909 was 391 ooo ooo Ibs., so that the supply retained for home 

 consumption amounted to 418000000 Ibs., a quantity which was 

 exceeded as recently as 1907, when the net imports amounted to 

 451 ooo ooo Ibs. Except for 1907, the net imports were the largest 

 on record. 



Of the gross imports of 1909, about 666 ooo ooo Ibs. (82 per 

 cent) came from the British Empire, an increase of 67 ooo ooo Ibs. 

 on the previous year. The countries of South America sent about 

 the same quantity as in 1908, but Russia, Belgium, France, and 

 Turkey increased their consignments. Of the British Dominions, 

 Australia sent 313 ooo ooo Ibs., or 8 ooo ooo Ibs. less than in 1908. 

 The receipts from each of South Africa, India, and New Zealand 

 were the largest yet recorded. 



