Wool 227 



dirt and sand than is usually found in the wools from 

 the range state. Texas, California, and Oregon wool 

 clips are quoted separately, as they have certain pecul- 

 iar characteristics distinguishing them from wools 

 of other regions. The Ohio and Pennsylvania wools 

 comprise chiefly the fleeces of highly bred and well- 

 cared-for Merinos and are preferred for that reason. 

 The XX grade is the flnest obtainable, and is used for 

 clothing purposes, being too short for combing. 

 The grade "flne" is one grade coarser than XX, half 

 blood is still coarser, and quarter blood, two grades 

 coarser than half blood. The relation of these grades 

 may be made clearer if instead of XX, we use the 

 term "full blood." The term "full blood," when so 

 used, by no means includes the wools of all pure- 

 bred Merinos, but simply means the finest, and in 

 the same sense, the next lowest grade would be X or 

 three-quarters blood, then half, three-eighths, and 

 one-quarter blood, respectively. Delaine wools are 

 those that would grade as fine and have in addition 

 extra length of staple to render them suitable for 

 fancy fabrics. Similar wools in the territory classes 

 are designated fine staple and fine medium staple. 



Practically all fleeces from the various styles of 

 Merinos, including Rambouillets, will fall into grades 

 higher than half blood. Most Southdowns will 

 run around three-eighths blood and usually clothing. 

 Some Shropshire fleeces may grade three eighths 

 and may be either clothing or combing. But few 



