MARKET CLASSIFICATION OF WOOL 383 



uniform distribution of yolk throughout the fleece. This con- 

 dition in sheep may be compared to the much-coveted oily 

 condition of the skin and hair of the Guernsey cow. Only 

 enough yolk should be exuded to keep the fleece in a soft, 

 healthy condition. Any in excess of this amount is of no 

 use whatever, as the manufacturer uses only the scoured 

 wool. An uneven distribution of yolk indicates unthriftiness. 

 Layers or flakes of yolk throughout the fleece show that the 

 glands secreting this fluid are out of condition. This is an 

 index to the regularity of the vital organs of the animal. 

 When such a condition is present the feeding and manage- 

 ment of the animal should be investigated, as invariably it 

 is the result of improper care or a generally unhealthy con- 

 dition. 



Soundness. — Sound wool is of great importance to the 

 manufacturer because of the increased value given to the 

 finished product. Unsound wools would of necessity make 

 unsound cloth, because of the irregularity in the strength 

 of the yarn, whether in woolen or worsted goods. There 

 should be a uniform condition of strength and crimp through- 

 out the fleece. 



A diseased condition of the animal may cause dead or weak 

 places in the fleece. The location of the unsoundness depends 

 on the stage of development of the fleece when the disease 

 appears. The weakness may be in the top, the bottom or 

 middle of the wool. This leads to the expression of wools 

 with weak tops, weak bottoms or weak middles. In classi- 

 fying wools, what would otherwise be a combing wool if 

 sound would enter into the class for clothing wools because 

 of the shortness of fiber made necessary through dividing 

 the fiber at the location of the weakness. 



Market Classification of Wool. — Market wool is classified 

 into clothing, delaine and combing staple. This classification 

 is based on the length, strength and fineness of fiber, shrink- 

 age or condition, color and character. Each of the domestic 

 staples is divided into various commercial grades. 



Clothing Wool. — Clothing wool is used for making the 

 highest grades of woolen cloth. It is a fine, short staple 

 averaging about two inches in length. Clothing wools are 



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