6 BULLETIN" 206, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



has more length. Clothing wools are shorter. Of late 3 7 ears a class 

 midway between the two has sprung up, known as "baby combing." 

 The French combs handle this length of staple quite satisfactorily. 



The combing wools are used in worsted manufacturing. Only the 

 longer straightened fibers are used and these are placed parallel in 

 the yarn. The short, broken, and tangled fibers are removed and 

 make up the "noils." Not only is length required, but also strength. 

 Tender wools will not stand the combing process and are unfitted 

 for this purpose, regardless of length. None but virgin 1 wools are 

 used in the manufacture of worsteds. 



Clothing wools are used in the manufacture of woolens, felts, etc. 

 The fibers are laid in every direction, and instead of attempting to 

 arrange them parallel as in worsteds, the opposite extreme is desired. 

 Noils, shoddy, etc., can be used in this process of manufacture. 



The difference in value between combing and clothing wools is 

 from 2 to 6 cents per scoured pound in favor of the former. 



Coarse, low wools more or less resembling hair are classed as 

 carpet wools. A very small amount of these are produced in America, 

 most of those used being imported from Asia. Some Navajo wool 

 is used in carpet manufacture. 



The factors that determine the length of the wool are not all under 

 the control of the flockmaster. The wool does not grow so long on 

 old sheep as it does on a young animal, but short pasture and faulty 

 methods of herding tend to decrease the normal length. Some sheep 

 have been bred for longer staple and naturally produce a greater 

 length of fiber than others 



GRADE. 



Wool is graded according to fineness, and generally the finer the 

 grade the better the price per scoured pound. Because of their low- 

 shrinking qualities, coarser wools in the grease may sell for as much 

 as or more than the finer ones, but when cleaned there may be as 

 much difference as 20 cents a pound in price. The various grades 

 are discussed on pages 1.4 to 21. 



CHARACTER IN WOOL. 



Character in wool will scarcely admit of definition, yet it is very 

 important. Sometimes this may only be acknowledged by prefer- 

 ence, or a greater demand at the same price, but at other times 

 there is a difference in price. Color would come under this heading. 

 A white wool is often desired rather than one of a creamy tinge, 

 as the latter tint often shows up after scouring. A wool with lots 

 of "life" or "nature," which means that the fibers are sound and 

 lustrous and that the yolk is of a uniform consistency rather than 

 clotted, is desirable. "Lofty" is another word used to describe a 



1 See glossary of wool terms at end of bulletin for explanation of technical words and phrases. 



