416 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— M. 



(b) Prof. A. F. Barker. — Wool Manufacturing Requirements and their 



bearing on South African Wool-growing. 



The introduction of synthetic fibres, the competition to be anticipated from new 

 wool-producing countries, and the extraordinary influence of " fashion " make it more 

 necessary than ever for wool-growers, if possible, to adjust their productions to the 

 present and prospective requirements of the wool-manufacturing industry. 



Review of the history of the development of wool-growing countries — the inter- 

 action between Austraha and Yorkshire in the first half of the 19th century ; the re- 

 sponse of Yorkshire to New Zealand's mutton (crossbred) wools in the second ))alf of 

 the 19th century ; the inter-action between South America and the Continental wool 

 manufacturing countries, &c., &c. 



The limits within which each wool-growing country must work incident upon the 

 adjustment of race to environment. 



The three characteristic races of sheep — ^Merino, British and Fat-tailed or Fat 

 Rump. The remarkable evolution of the Merino sheep — RambouUlet, Vermont and 

 Hornless strains. The gregarious nature of the Merino — its advantages and dis- 

 advantages. Other racial characteristics and how advantage may be taken of them 

 — Camden Park and German Merinos and " Faced-cloths." The British breeds, their 

 non-gregarious nature and other racial characteristics. How advantage may be 

 taken of these. Merino and British sheep contrasted, and how racial characteristics 

 may be made the basis of selection along the most promising lines. 



The respective possibilities of working upon Mendehan characters and upon mass 

 selection. Wood's work upon horns and fibre inheritance, and Dry's upon colour. 

 The colour problem in Herdwicks, Downs and Wensleydales. Mass selection and the 

 evolution of the heavy-fleece and the wool-mutton sheep in Australia. The limitations 

 and combinations of both systems. Australia's experiences with reference to the 

 heavy-fleece type of sheep-quantity v. quality of wool. The value of the study of 

 genetics. 



The present and prospective requirements of the British and Continental wool- 

 manufacturing industries and the possibilities of South African wools fulfilling these 

 requirements : — 



1st. The problem of fine wool growing under satisfactory economic conditions and 

 the promise of the future along this particular Line. Fabric " handle." 



2nd. Colour inheritance and the problem of snow-white Cape wools : Lustre. 



3rd. The felting property of wools and the peculiarities of inheritance of this wool 

 characteristic. 



4th. The problem of the " Kemp " : its elimination. 



5th. The problem of the uniform growth of the wool fibre and of the best types 

 for prospective requirements. 



6th. The problem of the uniform growth of the wool staple and of the correct 

 shape of staple. 



7th. Yields and tearage — ^race or environment characteristics ? 



8th. The adjustment of race to environment in South Africa with all these points 

 in view. 



Field work in sheep-breeding and wool-growing. 



The advantages of collaboration between sheep-breeder and wool-manufacturer. 



(c) Prof. J. E. DvEUDKN .—Recent Research with reference to South African 



Wools. 



The ultimate object of the research is to advance still further the wool production 

 of the Union by improved genetical and pastoral conditions. Before this can be 

 carried out on a scientific basis it is necessary that standards should be available 

 relating to the various wool characteristics, such as fibre thickness, density, elasticity, 

 pliabihty and yield, whereby reliable comparisons can be instituted. Hitherto, 

 attention has been mainlj'' directed to fibre thickness standards, and lately a series 

 has been issued for all merino grease wools ranging from o6's to ISO's quality, ba.sed 

 both on the number of crimps per inch and on the mean thickness. The two are shown 

 to have a high degree of correlation, but anomalies occur in impoverished wools and 

 in wools growing over folds and pleats. A scale has been designed for the ready 

 estimation of the crimps. 



The standards have been founded on uniform representative samples of the 



