THE WOOL INDUSTEY. 79 



13 called stripy on account of the straiglitness of the fibres, the 

 natural waves or curves being absent, when pressed between the 

 fingers it appears lifeless; devoid of elasticity; more like cotton 

 than Avool. This staple is only fit for very inferior goods, and 

 sheep with this defect should not be bred from. 



2. TOPPmESS. This is where the tops of the wool 

 fibres do not join together evenly to effect a perfect closure of the 

 fleece. This defect frequently causes a matting together of the 

 ends of the points of tlie wool, making when the wool is worked, 

 a quantity of noils, causing waste. This may be due to uneven 

 growth in the early life of the lamb, in which case, after the first 

 shearing, it will not be liable to recur. When present in old 

 sheep it indicates a defect in the animal's breeding. 



3. FELTY WOOL. This is caused by an absence of 

 yolk in the wool, Avhich allows the wool fibres to felt on the 

 sheep's back. It may be due to exposure to wet weather long 

 continued or more frequently to a low condition from poor feed, 

 or chronic ill health. Sheep possessing felty wool as a constitu- 

 tional defect should not be bred from. 



4. HEMP consists of hairs interspersed among the wool 

 fibres. It may be detected on the face and forearm, and in rams 

 on the scrotum. Whenever it is found in these localities it will 

 be present throughout the whole fleece. These hairs being 

 white and not taking the dye, injure the fleece for the manu- 

 facture of dress goods and fine cloth to such an extent that a 

 fleece so affected is reduced by value one-half. Sheep with this 

 defect should be sold to the butcher, as they are worthless for 

 breeding for wool, the defect being hereditary. 



5. CLOUDY WOOL is a condition where the fibres ad- 

 here together from the skin to the points of the wool, but not to 

 such an extent as to be termed felty. A flossiness is apparent at 

 the bottom of the staple which, in combing, is removed, while in 



