a writer on this point — custom also in Greece and Tarentura — art of 

 weaving understood in the primitive ages — Scripture testimony — dyeing 

 also — quotation from Virgil — the Egyptians the probable inventors of 

 the weaving of flax — discussion of the subject by a writer — description 

 of the rude mode of weaving pf the Arabs — conclusion ... 13 



CHAPTER I. 

 PROPERTIES OF WOOL. 



Introductory remarks — structure of the skin of the sheep — used for book- 

 binding, and for the inscription of valuable documents — anatomy of 

 woolly fibre — the weight of testimony in favor of the theory that it is 

 tubular in conformation — its vascularity — remarks of Dr. Good on the 

 vascularity of the hair — its structure by small filaments ranged side 

 by side — remarks of Bakewell — chemical composition of wool, horns, 

 hoofs, &c. — ^yolk or gum — its chemical properties — its value — promotes 

 the growth of the wool — ^mats it as a defence against cold and wet — 

 abounds much in the Merino fleece — temperature and condition of the 

 sheep influence its production — not found so much in the Saxon breed 

 — considerable quantity in some of the English sheep — its substitute 

 in Scotland by smearing the sheep in autumn — additional value im- 

 parted to cloth by yolk — description of the form of the fibre of wool by 

 Youatt — its semi-transparency, &c. — the wool of half-starved sheep 

 breachy, &c. — importance of good condition to counteract it — elas- 

 ticity of the fibre — ^pliability also— dependent on the spiral curves — 

 causes the beautiful pile or nap of cloths — spiral curve — conspicuous 

 in the Saxon and Merino varieties — not so much in the lieicester and 

 other breeds — the number of spiral curves in a given space in proportion 

 to the fineness of the fibre — German experiment to determine this 

 point — this principle should govern much in breeding — softness— im- 

 portance of this quality in wool — much dependent on the proper sup- 

 ply of yolk— experiment in cloth manufacture from harsh and soft 

 wool of the same fineness — superiority of that from the latter — fipe- 

 ness a comparative term when applied to wool — varies much in dif- 

 ferent individuals of the same breed — difference in the diameter of the 

 fibre between its extremes— diameter of the fibre — the Merino has 

 four qualities in its fleece — grade sheep many more — cut representing 

 where the different qualities of wool grow on the Merino — length of 



the staple — preference given by the manufacturer to along staple 



less dead end than short — long staple fine wool needed for fine worst- 

 ed fabrics — the question stated, whether a compact fleece with a long 

 staple can be produced on the same sheep — compact fleeces necessary 

 in a northefn climate — color — first recorded improvement in sheep — 

 manufacturers prefer fleeces entirely white — ^reasons — ^flock-mastere 

 should never breed from black or smutty sheep — ^trnehess — constituted 

 by equality of the fibre from root to point — inequalities caused by un- 

 equal feeding and exposure of sheep — conunon in some degree to every 

 breed— Saxon and Merino ewes should be turned off when eight or 

 nine years old— influence of temperature — inequalities of temperature 

 cause an unequal growth of the fibre— necessity of sheltering sheep 

 during winter to counteract it— remarks of Mr. Hunter on the influ- 



