160 
Wool and its Uses. 
of Down wools is practically only affected by the clianges in 
fashion in the woollen trade, as the demand for it for hosiery 
purposes is regular and constant. 
Most of the yarns spun from this wool ai'e spun thick, so that 
length of staple is not desirable, and is, indeed, for some pur- 
poses, a positive detriment, as the hairs of short stapled wools 
in spinning stand out from the yarn, and thus produce a rough 
flannel-like surface. It will be seen on consideration that the 
longer the staple is, the flatter the surface of the goods must be, 
so that if we require flatness of surface, we use colonial wool, 
which surpasses the finest English as much in this attribute as 
it does in fineness of hair. 
In my opinion there will always be by comparison a good 
demand for pure-bred Down wools, because they possess qualities 
which render them suitable for the uses just mentioned in greater 
perfection than any other wool. But, as already stated, crossing 
deprives the breed of its best qualities from the wool-buyer's 
point of view. I have seen Down sheep crossed with all kinds 
of heavy breeds, and producing wools of all grades of badness. 
Most of these crosses are made with a view to increase the weight 
of the fleece or the carcase. Experience shows that the effect 
of a cross depends greatly upon the district in which the sheep 
are reared. If a Lincolnshire flock be crossed with Down, the 
produce is half-bred wool, of good value so far as it goes. But if 
a Hampshire flock l)e crossed with Lincolnshire, the effect is bad. 
I saw a good illustration of the latter cross some time ago. 
A clip of wool was sent up from Hampshire to be sold, which many 
experienced men failed to recognise or name. It was a Down 
flock, which had been "improved" by crossing with the very 
heaviest Lincoln. All the good qualities in the two breeds were 
effectually destroyed. No lustre manufacturer would use the 
wool, as the lustre had disappeared. No maker of buntings or 
similar goods could use it, as the staple was too short, whilst 
for the hosiery trade it was both too long and too coarse. The 
lot was ultimately sold at about 50 per cent, less than the value 
of Down, and 25 j^er cent, less than the value of Lincoln at 
the time. 
The value of purity of breed in Down wools may be seen by 
comparing the prices of these wools grown in different counties. 
Tlio value of the best flocks of kSussox Downs this season has 
been in some cases as high as l iyi. ; Wilts and Dorsots, also pure 
bred, a shade less, not being quite so fine; llami)shire, about 
lod. l^astern Counties, which are bred no one knows how, 
fetched 1]}^!. to 12^d.; while some so-called Downs of that 
district would probably be denr at lOd'. 
ITT. Ifidf-hmd T I '00?. —This wool occupies, as far as supply 
