306 Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



fiber may be easily stretched by hand 30 per cent beyond its crimped 

 length, and by gradual pressure on a machine fully that much more. 

 A white fiber may be used in the manufacture of white cloth, or may 

 be dyed any desired color. Black, brown, or gray wool can be used 

 only in dark-colored fabrics, and furthermore it is difficult to stain 

 these wools exactly the same shade as white wool. Kemp, which are 

 hair-like fibers, found mostly on the thighs of coarse-wooled sheep, will 

 absorb little dye, if any at all, and fleeces containing kemp are dis- 

 criminated against as lacking in character. In kemp the outer scales 

 lie so closely against the body of the fiber that the dye cannot penetrate. 

 The body of the fiber alone absorbs the dye. 



Fig. 113. — Tender wool showing break. 



4. Strength of fiber. — Tender spots and breaks affect the value 

 of the wool, may change its class or grade, and lessen the strength of 

 the yarn. 



5. Use of paint for branding sheep. — This lowers the value of 

 the fleece, necessitates an extra sort at the mill, and requires that the 

 painted ends be clipped off the fibers before scouring. 



6. Tags. — These are worth about one-third as much as good wool. 

 At time of shearing they should be sacked separately. They are 

 objectionable in the fleece because they shrink much more in scouring 

 than the rest of the fleece, and are liable to stain the surrounding wool, 

 especially when wet. 



