38 The Shee-p-Scab. 



No I Medium, the next in order of quality, is 

 the half-blood Merino fleece, arrived at most 

 directly by the first cross of a pure Merino ram 

 with a pure Southdown ewe. The wool is soft, 

 and works freely, with little waste; it is adapted 

 to the same class of goods as those just men- 

 tioned, but of a more medium quality, and is 

 particularly suitable for hosiery and knit goods. 

 This wool is also frequently used in the manu- 

 facture of fine heavy cloths, as a warp wool, 

 with the higher grade as woof or filling, the lat- 

 ter being brought on to the surface of the fabric, 

 and a fine finish thus obtained. 



No. 2, or Low Medium, is a more difficult 

 grade to classify as to blood. It is generally the 

 result of mixed breeding, with more or less want 

 of purity in both sire and dam, being \ to |-blood 

 Merino, It is not uncommon that sheep of a 

 higher grade, where they have been neglected in 

 food and care, will yield fleeces that have to be 

 thrown with this class. The wool is used in the 

 production of rough-faced goods, such as Chev- 

 iots, etc., and is sometimes worked in connection 

 with cotton, to make satinets and jeans. 



