294 



Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



which has been poorly washed. Fleeces may be unmerchantable for 

 other reasons. The practice of washing is almost a thing of the past, 

 and the use of these terms does not necessarily imply that the washing 

 operation has actually taken place, but sometimes refers solely to 

 shrinkage. Washed wools are lighter in color and condition, shrinking 

 3 or 4 per cent less than unmerchantable, and the latter shrinks about 

 3 or 4 per cent less than the unwashed. 



Market classes and grades of wool. — Most American-grown wool 

 is sacked just as the fleeces come from the sheep and sold at home to 

 dealers. Before offering the wool to the manufacturer the dealer opens 

 the sacks and makes up from his various purchases a number of piles, 

 each containing only fleeces of similar character and value. This is 

 called grading, and it is performed without untying the fleeces. 



The first division which the market makes in wools is to divide 

 them into the Domestic and Territory classes. The advantages of 

 domestic over territory wool have been mentioned. Each of these is 

 again divided into the Combing and Clothing classes. Combing wool 

 is usually worth about 10 per cent more than the short or clothing 

 wool, and the aim of the wool-grower is to produce combing wool. 

 Each class is divided into grades, and in grading fleeces the main factor 

 is fineness of fiber, although other factors such as length, shrinkage, 

 and general character are considered. The various grades are adapted 

 to the manufacture of different kinds of fabrics. Thus the wool dealer 

 is enabled to supply the manufacturer not merely a certain general 

 class such as combing wool or clothing wool, but a particular kind or 

 grade of fleeces within that class specially adapted to his mill. The 

 complete classification may be represented in outline as follows: 



Delaine 



Combing wools 



Fine 1 

 Medium/ 



Half-blood 



Three-eighths-blood 



Quarter-blood 



Low quarter-blood 



Braid 



Combing wools 



Fine staple "I 



Fine medium staple] 



Half-blood staple 

 Three-eighths-blood staple 

 Quarter-blood staple 

 Low quarter-blood staple 

 Coarse, common, low, or 

 braid 



DOMESTIC WOOLS 



Clothing wools 



often one grade XX and X, washed or fine unwashed 



Half-blood clothing 

 Three-eighths-blood clothing 

 Quarter-blood clothing 



TERRITORY WOOLS 



Clothing wools 



Fine clothing 1 



Fine medium [-usually one grade 



clothing j 

 Half-blood clothing 

 Three-eighths-blood clothing 

 Quarter-blood clothing, or short 



quarter-blood 

 often one grade 



usually one grade 



