THE WOOLGROWER AND THE WOOL TRADE. 13 



could also tell the section of the country from which some wools came. 

 Finer wools usually shrink more than coarser wools, and too wide a 

 range of shrinkage is not desired in any grade, as the scouring liquor 

 is made up of a strength suitable for the average shrink of the grade; 

 thus a higher shrinking fleece would not be suitably scoured. 



The grader knows also that a half-blood fleece usually shrinks 

 around 60 per cent, depending upon the season and the location 

 where grown. If the fleece in question is heavier-shrinking, say 65 

 per cent, the grader will probably take a second look to be sure that 

 he has not "lost his eye." If his first impression as to fineness was 

 correct and the fleece is typically half-blood, or perhaps a trifle high, 

 it will probably be thrown a grade higher, that is, fine medium, on 

 account of its heavy shrinking qualities. The next fleece might offer 

 another problem. Say this one is what is known as a "line" fleece. 

 It is midway between the three-eighths-blood and the quarter-blood. 

 It can go either way. The chances are that if the three-eighths-blood 

 wool has been sold and the dealer is well satisfied with the sale, this 

 fleece will find a resting place on the three-eighths-blood pile. Other 

 conditions might decree it to be a quarter-blood. If the market de- 

 mands for three-eighths-blood wool were high and the supply a trifle 

 short there would also be some "crowding" of the grades and the 

 three-eighths-blood as a whole would probably average a little lower. 

 There are also "line" fleeces midway between combing and clothing. 

 These are sometimes made into a separate grade known as French 

 combing. It is thus seen that the grades manifest more or less elas- 

 ticity, depending upon market conditions. 



Another fleece might be puzzling because of the wool of the "britch" 

 being much coarser than that of the shoulder. For example, the 

 shoulders might be half-blood quality or higher, while the "britch" 

 was quarter-blood. The grader would simply use his best judgment 

 and trust to chance that the fleece would remain as he throws it. 

 At best the grades can only contain fleeces which contain a large pro- 

 portion of the quality of wool represented by the grade names. 

 Graded wool ready for sale is shown in Plate V, figure 2. 



