1 Jay., 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 7 
that, according to Cuvier and Bischoff, all hair roots intended by Nature for the 
production of wool are fully developed before an animal is born, and the number 
of hair roots cannot be increased after that time. We may say that the seeds 
for the future growth of wool are sown into the woolfields by Dame Nature 
herself. The numerical proportion of the hair roots or the density of a fleece 
is a matter of individuality. The production of an exceedingly dense fleece may 
be looked upon as one of the greatest achievements in breeding. In forming 
stud flocks, as well as in sheep-classing generally, density should be considered 
as the main factor in producing heavy fleeces; it should be cultivated from the 
very first along with the length of the staple, and not be left to be attended to 
at some later, more convenient time. If openness is allowed to get hold of a 
flock at the first, it is very difficult to get rid of later-on. 
THE SHAPE OF THE STAPLES, 
The ideal wool-staple is a perfectly round shaft that grows perpendicularly 
—1.e., at right angles on the skin. 
These shafts may be of different diameter. They may be large or small, 
and each of them may show the inclination to split up into finer ones; yet all 
of them must be round. 
Such a perfectly cylindrical, perpendicular staple can only be formed from 
fibres which are of the same diameter right through, from the bottom to the top 
of the staple, and each of the fibres of which the staple is composed is in itself 
an even rod, with a circular, not elliptical, diameter in all its parts; otherwise 
the fibres could not place themselves so parallel to each other as to form one solid 
rod or shaft—7.e., they must be perfectly true and round. The waves must not 
exceed the half-circle, otherwise they could not interloop with each other on all 
sides and in all directions. The fact that the wayes are so equal that such an 
interlooping and at the same time a parallel growth of all the fibres are possible 
is a proof that all the fibres are of the same fineness, and that they are true. 
The formation of a cylindrical and perpendicular staple is thus possible 
only if the wave is semi-circular or less so. 
Now, it may occur that, whilst the fibres are true, the waves are more than 
semi-circular. In that case they cannot fit themselves so nicely into each other 
as the semi-circular and flatter waves. The staple now assumes a more 
elliptical diameter, and looks more like tape or ribbon than a rod. 
This flat staple of elliptical diameter, though not much objected to by the 
manufacturer of the present day, is very objectionable to the breeder, because : 
First, these flat elliptical staples show want of density; second, they prove that: 
there is a tendency in the skin of the sheep in question towards producing wool 
with too high a wave. Openness and a high wave occur together. 
Tf perfectly true, cylindrical, and otherwise normally constituted wool fibres 
do not grow densely together, they cannot form a perpendicular shaft, but a 
pendulous one. Such staples form a regular parting on the back, and assume 
% ropy appearance on the other parts of the body. I have seen lots of such 
sheep at the Skipton show in Victoria. 
Other staples show a regular twist. They are found at the lower part of 
the shoulder, and must be looked upon as an indication that there is a tendency 
to openness right through the fleece. 
If the fleece is grown loosely, the staples on the lower thigh assume the 
shape of roof tiles or shingles. If the fleece is, on the contrary, of dense 
growth right through, the staples on this part of the body offer sufficient 
resistance to the presence of the body, when at rest, on these staples ; and they 
do not assume the form of tiles or shingles, but retain a more shafty 
appearance. 
_ , Some staples terminate in a kind of spearhead; others in a bristle, which 
is formed by coarse hairs that are stuck together by the yolk. Others form 
broad, blocky masses in which the single staples can hardly be distinguished ; 
