318 THE WOOL CROP 



The only way to get rid of it is to clip it off, an expensive process 

 because it must be done with hand labor (Fig. 200). 



Classes of Wool. Wool is classed either as combing or cloth- 

 ing. Combing wools are used in worsted manufacturing where it 

 is necessary to place the fibers parallel to each other in the yarn. 

 In order to meet the combing requirements, the fibers should be 

 strong and two and one-half inches or more in length. The 

 broken, short, and tangled fibers are discarded as " no?. Is " to be 

 used in the manufacture of woolens. What is known as the French 

 combs can make worsted yarn from wools somewhat shorter than 

 two and one-half inches; nevertheless, length and evenness in 

 strength of fiber remain important factors in estimating the value 

 of wool. 



Clothing wools are shorter than combing wools. They are 

 used in the making of woolens, felts, and fabrics of similar type. 

 No attempt is made to keep the fibers parallel; in fact, the more 

 they can be mixed in every direction the better they serve the 

 purpose desired. 



Combing wools are worth from two to six cents per scoured 

 pound more than clothing wools. On this account it is generally 

 advisable to attempt to grow combing wool, but it is not always 

 possible to secure the length and strength of fiber necessary to 

 put wool into this class. This is especially true of wools from 

 flocks where Merino blood predominates, and unless care is used 

 in selecting breeding stock with wool having adequate length of 

 fiber a considerable percentage of the fleeces in flocks where Down 

 blood predominates (Oxford Down excepted) will be classed as 

 clothing. Age is another factor which influences the class of 

 wool that may be produced, for old sheep past their prime of life 

 do not grow as much length of fiber as do young sheep of similar 

 breeding. 



Coarse, kempy, poorly-bred wool is classed as carpet wool. 

 It is not produced except in very small quantities in regions where 

 improved methods of breeding and feeding are followed. 



Grades of Wool. The wool that comes under each class is 

 divided into various grades according to fineness. Trade journals 

 giving reports of wool sales on the large markets contain a maze 

 of quotations arranged so as to bewilder rather than to enlighten 

 persons not thoroughly familiar with the wool trade. But when 



