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176 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Mar, 190 
erimpy and straight fibres. All neppy and wavy fibres, until straightem! 
are unfit for utilisation in the otal yarn construction. or this reaso2, 
wool in the combing operation is divided into two distinct classes ; that 
say, the long fibres of the gilled ribbon are combed and go to form what 18 @ 
the top, while the short and wavy fibres are cast out as “noil.” A wom 
thread is distinctly the result of utilising the strongest and longest fib 
contained in the stock, and hence the importance of the combing oper ' 
By frequent gilling a level ribbon may be obtained, but to form the basis 
lustrous thread, with a smooth, uniform surface, something more is. essen 
The fibres which retain their crimpy character and resist the action 0 
gill pins must be extracted, and totally removed from the ribbon. Consequ® 
one of the main functions of the combing machine may be defined as © 
of separating the short and curly from the long and straight fibres. Out®? 
does not permit me to give a minute description of a modern combing may 
and I believe I have explained the difference between a woollen and a W° 
thread sufficiently well to make a woolgrower understand the qualities that 
essential in a valuable combing wool. 
STRAW FODDER FOR CATTLE AND SHEEP. wt 
Ir Queensland farmers are suffering from a superabundance of unsold ‘a 
not unsaleable—wheaten hay, it must not be supposed that they are singU 
the world in this respect. Let them look abroad and see what farmers me 
old country do when they have too much straw on hand. 
A. statement appeared in the Agricultural Gazette, London, of Dec 
18th from the pen of Professor Wrightson io the effect that “ i. tof 
abundance of straw from last year’s bountiful harvest, and the extreme), | 
price of the article, it is difficult to know what to do with it.” : nie 
“Vet.,” in that journal, makes the following remarks on the subject | 
are worth noting :— fp | 
. The farmers will naturally exhaust the surplus hay supplies first bor sl 
before resorting much to the chafling and preparation of straw dietariess 
when the haystacks diminish and the farmer perceives that he will reqwy, 
whole of the residue for his cattle, the chaff-cutter will be put into acl 
continuously, and there will be no longer any doubt as to what is best ue | 
with the straw, which after being cut into chaff is available for such ™ sn 
methods of treatment, all having one object—the supply of a wholes? 
nutritious dietary to sheep, cattle, and horses alike. e 
Let me briefly enumerate some of the best approved ways of preP* 4] 
straw chaff as food for stock. Being remarkably insoluble, and conseq™)¢ | 
indigestible in its dry state, it isa great advantage to cook, steam, or ferme? | 
or to impart softening influences by steeping it with other ingredients att 
or large tub. Flockmasters having small quantities of roots in clamP ig (| 
have often, under previous circumstances in former years, found it advis®? | 
damp the straw chafi heaps and intermix into them just the quantity % jy} 
pulp which can be spared after making a calculation how the limited quae 
can be eked out. A little meal soup must be added if the ae additi0 i: 
small, and meal or treacle soups make admirable substitutes when 2° 
whatever can be spared. ini 
Steaming is another admirable way of rendering straw chaff not only in 
acceptable to the palates of cattle, sheep, and horses, but causing it to beat 
digestible, and a larger proportion of the nutriment contained to be ex¥%, 
by the internal organs and assimilated. A very pleasant aroma come* 
straw chaff after being steamed, and those who have the necessity to employ 
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as food might find advantage in making efforts to steam oftener than t he 
When there are steam engines at farmsteads often set in action, it has —s 
found strictly advisable to haye a chamber or large receptacle near the oe 
where the waste steam is made to enter to operate on the chaff with whit? 
