202 TEXTILE FIBRES. 



the latter part of October and the early part of November, gave rise 

 to much uncertainty as to the probable course of prices at these 

 sales. It is therefore satisfactory to have to record a firm market 

 with a rising tendency in the case of merinos, and some recovery 

 from the very low rates which have ruled for all but the finest cross- 

 breds during the first week of the series." About the same time Messrs. 

 Charles Balme & Co. wrote: "The general characteristics of the new 



Fig. 128. Pelt after scouring. 



clip from New South Wales are very similar to those of the preceding 

 season's growth. The wools strikingly illustrate the effects of successive 

 droughts. The staple is lean and stunted, the hair is thin, and the 

 fleeces carry rather more bur than was the case in the previous shear, 

 and are deficient in yolk and frequently weighted with earth. Light- 

 ness in grease, however, is by no means an invariable attribute, as 

 some clips carry both earth and yolk waste. The latter trait applies 



