CHARACTERISTICS OF WOOL 87 



hand. The origin of these terms, not so frequently used 

 during recent years as formerly, is somewhat obscure. 

 The term stripy may have arisen from the deadness re- 

 ferred to in the wool which characterized some portions only 

 of the fleece in some instances in the living animal. The 

 term watery may possibly have arisen from the lack of 

 resistance to handling, shown by lifeless wools which 

 are non-resistant. Such wool is sometimes found on the 

 shoulders of inferior animals where only good wool should 

 be. Wool removed from animals that may have died from 

 disease, and especially disease that has lingered some 

 time, is thus lacking in elasticity. Such wool is dis- 

 counted in the market, frequently to the extent of several 

 cents a pound. 



The causes that produce stripy and watery wool are, 

 inheritance, lack of thrift and disease. Crimp and wave 

 in wool increase elasticity in proportion as they are pres- 

 ent, and reduce it in proportion as they are absent. The 

 non-elasticity of the wool will be influenced adversely as 

 thrift is lacking. The loss of elasticity in wool is pro- 

 portionate to the intensity of disease in the same and to 

 the period covered by the disease. 



The remedy for non-elasticity, the outcome of inherit- 

 ance, is the rejection for breeding of animals thus affected 

 or so inclined. When it is the outcome of lack of thrift, 

 any treatment that conduces to thrift will so far remove 

 the trouble. When caused by disease, it is very seldom 

 that any efficient remedy can be applied. It is not to be 

 understood that wool thus far injured can be restored to 

 a normal condition, but that the application of the reme- 

 dies will prevent the continuance of the production of 

 such wool. Non-elastic wool is more difficult to card and 

 comb than other wool. 



Break or joint in wool Break or joint in wool indi- 

 cates that when it is stretched or distended it will part 

 asunder at some point of its length. The break will, of 

 course, occur where the fiber is weakest. It makes wool 



