78 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



Density is a breed characteristic and, therefore, is not 

 directly influenced by feeding. It is secured in the pure 

 breeds, and is maintained and increased, by judicious 

 breeding. It may be influenced materially by judicious 

 selection, especially of the males used in service. Sim- 

 ilarly in grade sheep it is increased by the use of sires 

 possessed of much density of wool. But increase in 

 density in wool, like increase in fineness of fiber, comes 

 slowly. The form of the sheep can be transformed much 

 more quickly than a corresponding change can be made 

 in the density of the wool. 



Crimp or curl in wool Crimp or curl in wool means 

 the crimped or waved character of the fibers. Strictly 

 speaking, crimp means the tendency of the wool fibers to 

 form more or less regular and minute but not too close 

 lying folds in the process of their growth, and curl or 

 wave means the tendency in the fibers to produce waves 

 or curls that is, spirals as they grow outward. The 

 latter tendency is the same as the former in kind, though 

 less in degree. It is caused by more or less regular alter- 

 nations in the thickening of the fiber, first on one side 

 and then on the other. These are more or less spirally 

 arranged. A curly fiber is a great aid in spinning wool, 

 since it can be drawn finer and a more compact and 

 rounded thread formed. Crimp or curl is much more pro- 

 nounced, and is relatively more important in the fine 

 wools. Crimp is to some extent an indication of strength 

 in wool, and gives it higher adaptation for certain proc- 

 esses of manufacture. In high-class Merino wool the 

 degree of crimp possessed is a matter of much importance. 

 In the best bred fleeces, the crimp is perceptible to the 

 naked eye, to the very tip of the fibers, and is not merged 

 into dark clots or indurations. 



The variations in degree in crimp in wool are very 

 marked. In very fine wools, at least 30 to 33 waves or 

 crimps are found in an inch in length. These waves 

 should be perfectly regular but not so abrupt as to ap- 



