66 MANAGEMENT AND FEEDING OF SHEEP 



inches, to more than 20 inches. The classification based 

 on length is not accurately defined. In a general way it 

 may be said short wools are not more than 2^ inches 

 long. They are obtained from the Saxony and Silesian 

 breeds and from some types of the Merino. For general 

 qualities and fineness of fiber these wools are unexcelled. 

 The fiber is not only short, but it is also fine and strong 

 and elastic, and is possessed of good felting qualities. It 

 is used chiefly in the manufacture of clothes where much 

 milling is required. Much milling is a process by which 

 the fibers are condensed, as it were, so as to make the 

 clothes stronger and firmer. It is made into superfine and 

 dress-faced fabrics of relatively high value. 



Intermediate wool is more than 2^ inches long and 

 not more than say 5 inches. It includes all that class 

 known as delaines, which means fine combing wools from 

 pure and grade Merinos that exceed say 2j4 inches in 

 length. These are amongst the most valuable of the 

 combing wools. (See page 70.) It also includes the 

 dark-faced breeds in America, to which may be added the 

 Dorsets, the Tunis and the Cheviots. The wool of these 

 is made into many kinds of fabrics. 



The long wools are more than 5 inches in length, and 

 they may be as much as 20 inches. They are, of course, 

 combing wools, and they are made into many fabrics, 

 strong and of good wearing properties, but lacking in the 

 finish and fineness of the garments made from the other 

 wools. 



Superfine, fine, intermediate and coarse wools — The 

 classification of wool on the basis of diameter in the fiber 

 is difficult, owing (i) to the influence of the general char- 

 acter of the food on the fiber, (2) of the general character 

 of the climate, and (3) to individuality in the members of 

 the flock. Food, rich and abundant, strengthens the fiber 

 more than it afifects the diameter, but it influences the lat- 

 ter also in the direction of increase. Warm climates tend 

 to increase in the diameter of wool fibers, but to decrease 



