38 PROPERTIES OF WOOL. 



provement of the sheep, and its purity, its perfect whiteness, 

 should never be lost sight of by the sheep-master of the 

 present day. It is, however, not so much considered as it 

 should be. Manufacturers desire none other fine wools 

 than those of the purest whiteness, for the reason that those 

 of a black or dun-colored hue, do not receive a perfect fancy 

 dye, and therefore can be converted only into black cloths ; 

 hence, they are valued accordingly. Flock-masters should 

 never breed from individuals that are otherwise than purely 

 white ; for, independent of the above consideration, black or 

 smutty sheep mar the appearance of a flock. 



TRUENESS. 



The quality of trueness of the staple especially enhances 

 the value of every grade of wool in which it is found. It 

 comprises an equality of the diameter of the fibre from the 

 root to the point, and uniformity of the fleece generally. 

 When the filament greatly lacks in this particular, it may be 

 ascribed to an irregular and unhealthy action of the secretion 

 of wool, which, in turn, must be attributed, in general, to abuses 

 in management of the sheep. For instance, if the animal has 

 fared kindly till the winter season, and then exposed to 

 storm, and cold, and withal ill fed, the growth of that part 

 of the fibre during this period will be considerably dimin- 

 ished in diameter, proportionally weak, and when examined 

 by the microscope, presents a withered appearance. On 

 being turned to pasture, the fare being better, and the secre- 

 tions again becoming healthy and abundant, an enlargement 

 of the fibre follows; but it is greatly destitute, from the 

 causes stated, of the quality of trueness, and therefore de- 

 bases the value of the whole fleece. The weak and with- 

 ered parts of the fibre are termed breaches, and injure mate- 

 rially every manufacture in which it is employed, the felting 

 property being deteriorated, and the cloth having less strength 

 and softness. The skilful stapler and wool-buyer will, on 

 critical examination, easily detect this serious fault, and prize 

 the wool accordingly. By pulling asunder a single fibre, 

 the break will uniformly be confined to the breachy or with- 

 ered point. This is termed unsound wool. 



Although this description of wool is generally, as remarked, 

 the result of bad management of the flock, yet it is common 

 to all good sheep. With the Saxon and Merino, after the 

 ewes, particularly, pass the age of eight or nine years, the 



