316 



THE WOOL CROP 



wool is too weak at its teiiderest point to stand the strain of 

 combing in the process of manufacture. Strong, well-nourished 

 wool, upon being released from pressure, springs back to its natural 

 bulk. It thus displays life or loftiness, a very desirable character- 

 istic. Another way to determine the strength and life of wool is 

 to twist a number of fibers into a cord and then note the sound 

 this cord gives o£E when it is drawn tight and touched much as 

 one would touch the strings of a violin when tuning it. If the 

 sound is somewhat like a metallic ring instead of a dull thud, 



Fig. 198. — Well-grown wool, even in strength as indicated by the waves or crimps of even 

 length from the bottom to the top. (U. S. D. A. Bulletin 206.) 



one may be sure that the wool is sound and strong (Figs. 198 

 and 199). 



Condition, which depends on the amount of yolk and foreign 

 matter in wool, is a very important factor in determining its value. 

 If the amounts are excessi\'e, the shrinkage in weight from scouring 

 is great and hence such wools are worth less in the unscoured 

 state than lighter shrinking wools. A certain amount of "free- 

 flowing " yolk is necessary to keep the wool fibers in good condition, 



