Breeds of Sheep 39 



of the shawls so delicate in texture as to be easily 

 passed through a finger ring. In figures, the variation 

 may be expressed by saying that the finest-fib ered 

 wool is -g-j^ of an inch in diameter, while the coarse 

 fibers grown on the large lowland breeds may be 

 T^ of an inch in diameter. Abundance of feed 

 makes heavy fleeces that secure their weight mostly 

 in grease or yolk, and to some extent from the length 

 and size of the fiber. The complaint is not infre- 

 quent among some breeders that they are not able 

 to maintain the weight of the fieeces of their flocks. 

 A great abundance of food will keep it up, or if that 

 cannot be suppHed economically, a smaller sheep 

 would be better for the conditions and more wool 

 would likely be produced per acre. 



Effect of soil on wool. — This relationship of soil 

 to altitude is not as close seemingly as exists between 

 the former and the conditions of climate and food. 

 As to the direct influence, it is known that some 

 soils color wools so that they cannot be washed white. 

 Territory wool has a characteristic bluish tinge 

 that detracts greatly from its market value. Scott 

 asserts that the best wool-growing land is generally 

 that on a sandstone foundation, as it gives the wool 

 the quality of being bright and clean, while he con- 

 siders that volcanic or hmestone soils are thought to 

 favor harshness. 



A study of the soil, climate, and food supply of the 

 native districts of the breeds, together with a knowl- 



