448 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Nov., 1899. 
animals; and it may occur owing to great dissimilarity in the organisation 
of the skin, where the conflicting elements of different ancestors haye 
exercised an effect on the skin and its products. Untrueness 1s easier 
observed in the look of the whole staple than on the single fibre—a 
matter to which I shall refer again; and sometimes we observe the longer and 
coarser hairs raise themselves beyond the top of the staple, and appear there like 
points or a peculiar fluffy overgrowth. 
a. A speary staple analysed. 
b, A speary staple in its natural form. 
c. Overgrown wire staple. 
d. Untrue hairs raised above the level of staple. 
We thus distinguish the untrueness of the single fibre and the untrueness 
of the whole staple. To this I shall refer more particularly later on. 
Untrue fibres are objectionable, because they cannot be used for thoroughly — 
even and high-class yarns. They are also liable to break when combed, yielding 
a number of short, broken bits, called “noil.’”” They are likewise indications to 
the breeder that there are certain undesirable elements present which militate 
against successful improvements. 
Length.— By the length of a staple of wool we mean the height to which 
it has raised itself from the skin during one year’s growth. This is also called 
the “ height” of the staple. 'The true length of the wool fibre will be found after 
paneae it out until all the waves haye been stretched, to make the fibre look 
straight. : J 
Of two staples, having the same height, the one with the higher more 
marked wave will give the longest fibre when stretched out until the waves 
have disappeared. Thus the true length of a wool fibre cannot be estimated 
unless by the method of stretching and measuring. This cannot be done in 
practice; therefore, in speaking of the length of a staple we mean the linear 
dimension from the skin to the top of the staple of a year’s growth. We now 
call wools shorter than 2 inches ‘“‘short or clothing wools,” and those exceeding 
that length ‘‘long or combing wools.” This distinction, however, is not made 80 
strictly now, as it was done formerly, I have already mentioned that all kinds 
of sheep wool continue to grow without interruption so long as the animals are 
in a healthy state and in good condition. The experiments which have been 
made in order to find out how long a fleece will grow without interruption have 
proved that the length of the wool decreases every year if the fleece is not 
periodically shorn. A staple which grew in the first ‘year 2 inches will add 
in the second year 1? inches to its length only ; in the third, 14 inches ; fleeces; 
on the contrary, which are shorn regularly every year, will, under ordinary 
circumstances, produce almost the same length yearly. 
It has also been noticed that the wool grows more quickly immediately after 
shearing. Professor Rhode, of Eldena, made a number of interesting experi 
ments in order to find out whether the length of the wool fibre is materially 
influenced through feeding. The results have shown that the length increases 
in proportion to the amount of nourishment consumed, or rather digested, 10 
