110 A COUNTRY READER. 



fibres of the newest growth erecting themselves, 

 and therefore lifting the matted fleece slightly. 



If sheep are not fed well and wisely the best 

 wool will run back in quality, and therefore will 

 not sell for the best price. 



Our bodies are kept warm because our clothes 

 prevent the warmth that is made inside our 

 bodies escaping into the air. 



Wool is fine and open, and therefore holds a 

 great deal of air amidst its fibres, It is this air 

 practically that prevents the heat of the body 

 escaping, and so keeps the animal warm. Wool, 

 therefore, is said to be a poor conductor of heat. 



You all know that the wool of a sheep's back 

 is made by the manufacturer into the woollen 

 clothes that we wear. 



There is something in the nature of the wool 

 itself that helps the manufacturers to do this. 

 Let us see what it is. 



If you examine a fibre of wool under a 

 magnifying glass you will see that it is made up 

 of sections or parts, and you will also find on 

 these fibres little joints or scales. So that when 

 several of these fibres are pressed together these 

 little joints or scales catch one another and so 

 hold the fibres together the wool, as we say, 

 "felts" well. Here you have the principle of 

 making woollen clothes. 



Another interesting fact. From the skin of a 



