Wool and its Growth. 87 



round ings. It is the outcome of culture and attention. 

 Prime, rugged health or fitness would be found in a wild 

 sheep, but accompanied with hairy tendencies of wool 

 that would be of small marketable value, and accom- 

 panied also by a slow growth of mutton. To raise good 

 wool it is necessary to breed good sheep, and to attend 

 to their wants. Unless the benefits of selection and care 

 are exercised it is not possible to obtain satisfactory re- 

 sults. Inattention means reduced calibre of the wool 

 fibre. It means more, for it means less mutton, less 

 lambs, less constitution, less land value for the purpose 

 of sheep farming. 



The following technical trade terms, with their 

 explanation, are of more than theoretical interest to the 

 sheep farmer as bearing upon the practices followed by 

 him in growing his clip :- 



Clothing Wool A Merino wool of short length. 



Combing Wool The longer Merino sort, and the 

 longwool and crossbred. 



Condition Heavy - conditioned wool has a large 

 quantity of yolk and other matter adhering to 

 the fleece; light-conditioned is freer of these 

 and is bright. 



Cotted Wool Bad treatment and undue exposure to 

 rain will mat or felt the wool on the sheep's 

 back. Crossbreds and longwools more liable 

 than Merino, whose fine and dense wool acts as 

 a protective shield. 



Mushy Wool Shows no pronounced staple; from 

 badly bred or old sheep. 



Quality Eefers to fineness or coarseness. 

 Shaftiness A wool with a pronounced staple. 



