1907.] 



PkKi'Ak.vriox of Wool for Mark kt. 



97 



country, it was of the greatest importance that they should 

 import only the cleanest ;md best yielding wools. There were 

 many classes of our home grown wools which Americans could 

 not buy because of the slovenly way in which it was sent to the 

 market. Irish wool was the best, except for the tar marks ; 

 then came Scotch, though in many counties it was badly got up, 

 whereas, if it were sent to market in proper condition, it would 

 find a ready sale for export to America at considerably enhanced 

 prices. Even those counties which had hitherto exported to the 

 United States, would obtain higher prices if they exercised 

 more care in the preparation of the wool. A great deal of the 

 wool grown on the Yorkshire wolds was often badly washed 

 and very slovenly wound, and if the growers consulted their 

 own interests they would have it better done. Lincolnshire 

 wool also left much to be desired, as did also that from many 

 other counties in England. 



Another point to which Mr, YVilley directed attention 

 was the harmful effects on wool of marking sheep with 

 tar, &c. Flockmasters, he said, had a pernicious habit 

 of marking their sheep with tar and paint late in the 

 season. If branded in the early stages of the growth 

 of the fleece, by the time the fleece came to maturity 

 tin - marking material employed would have practically worn off 

 and no very prejudicial effects would follow. It was computed 

 that the loss incurred in Bradford and district alone owing to 

 this practice meant about £7,500, but to the whole trade (at the 

 moderate estimate of 1 oz. per fleece on the 30,000,000 fleeces 

 grown in the United Kingdom) the loss amounted to no less a 

 sum than £70,000 to £80,000 per annum. This entered into 

 the calculations of the buyer at the time of purchase, and the 

 purchase price would be increased in proportion to the cleanli- 

 ness of the wool. If marking took place late in the season, 

 then, when the wool came to be stated, the tar and paint marks 

 had all to be clipped off, resulting in serious loss to the grower. 

 Mr. W'illey further remarked that in the Colonies growers were 

 far ahead of us in the way 111 which they get up the wool and sent 

 it to market. Every care was taken in removing from the 

 fleeces the short, inferior, and dirty wool which is grown on the 

 bellies and skirts of the fleeces. These were packed and sold 

 separately. The fleeces were then graded according to their 

 (1327) 



