32 Wool and its Growth. 



neglected. Wool may be said to be tlie result of sheep 

 culture. In contrast to hair it is what grows on the 

 sheep by a long course of domesticated attention and 

 selection. 



The distinguishing features of wool as compared to 

 hair are that it is of a finer and denser growth, and that 

 its fibres have waves, curls, or crimps, and, as observed 

 under the microscope, cone-like serrations. These 

 crimps and serrations facilitate the working of one fibre 

 with another into a manufactured article. Hair is en- 

 tirely, or practically entirely, deficient in crimps and 

 serrations, as well as in softness, fineness, and elasticity, 

 and it is therefore unsuitable for the grea,t manufactur- 

 ing purposes of wool. Breeders know that odd reversion 

 or throwing-back to the pre-domesticated type may be 

 expected in animals, and in the case of sheep tending in 

 this direction in respect to their wool, care may be taken 

 to see that the ram used has no hair in its fleece. Being 

 naturally the more robust animal, the ram is more likely 

 to show it, and if care in selecting the ram is exercised 

 the tendency to hair in the fleece will not be transferred 

 to the flock. 



The Merino has from 12 to 30 waves or crimps to an 

 inch of wool fibre, the Southdown 10 to 18, and the Lin- 

 coln only 2 or 3. The Merino has about 2,400 serra- 

 tions per inch of wool fibre, the Southdown 2,000, the 

 Leicester about 1,800, and ordinary crossbreds about 

 1,000, with inferior wools as low as 500. Merino wool, 

 which has high felting qualities on account of the 

 greater number of serrations, is soft and warmth giving. 

 It is eminently adapted for such things as flannels, 

 blankets, broadcloths, jerseys, etc. The Downs wools 

 are adapted for flannels and hosiery, and where the staple 

 is long for cloth. Lincoln wool is too coarse for such 

 purposes. It is used in making serges, dress goods, etc. 

 Each breed's wool is valuable for some special purpose 

 or purposes, and the best object to attain from the wool- 



