FLEECE CHARACTERISTICS 387 



wools include those from the Southdown, Shropshire, Hamp- 

 shire, Oxford, Suffolk, Cheviot, and Dorset, and the fine or 

 short wools those produced by the Rambouillet, American 

 and Delaine Merino. Short-staple wools are used in the 

 manufacture of woolens and felts, while long-staple wools 

 are adapted to producing worsted goods made from strong, 

 fine yarn. 



Density refers to the closeness or compactness of the 

 fibers. If the fibers are not close it depreciates the value of 

 the fleece greatly, not only on account of the amount of wool, 

 but because of the depreciation in quality. An open fleece 

 is also very objectionable because of the lack of protection 

 afforded the sheep. An open fleece is often influential in 

 causing an animal to become diseased through continuous 

 exposure to storms and it is difficult to keep such a fleece 

 free from foreign matter. 



Uniformity of covering influences greatly the wool clip. 

 Sheep which are bare on the head, belly and legs are very 

 undesirable, unless it is with breeds which are not naturally 

 heavily wooled over these parts. Not only are these regions 

 important but the uniformity of covering as well over the 

 back, shoulders, sides, and thighs. An open, spiral condition 

 about the thighs or elsewhere is very objectionable, although 

 it frequently occurs. 



Purity. An examination of the fleece should reveal a clean, 

 pure condition. The skin should be of a healthy pink color 

 and from it the wool should grow evenly and without any 

 indication of kemp or dead fibers. The original sheep was 

 covered with a harsh, hair-like covering beneath which was a 

 soft-wool fiber. Domestication and improvement by man 

 has eliminated the coarse outer covering and in its place a 

 uniform covering of wool has been bred by proper selection. 

 Inclination to revert to the original condition should be dis- 

 covered, as dead, kempy wool is very objectionable because 

 of its undesirable qualities in the manufacture of fabrics. 

 Kemp will not absorb dyes and wherever these fibers appear 

 in the cloth they reduce the value materially because of the 

 discoloration and the harsh appearance in the product. 



Other than these dead fibers of wool, there should be 



