462 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL gouRNAL. [1 Jun, 1900. 
in Egypt are cold, butdry ; the khaki cotton clothing met every requirement, 
and to give the necessary warmth the soldiers wore woollen underclothing- 
The khaki cotton drill looked as if it had come to stay not only in Egypt, buti 
other parts of our Empire where heat had to be considered. It was speedily 
decided to use this cotton fabric in South Africa, and, as in Egypt, 
connection with woollen underclothing. The climate, however, in South 
Africa was soon found to differ considerably from that of Egypt, insomuch 
that it was found to be far too damp to allow of the cotton drill being. 
worn successfully. With the heavy rains our soldiers had so repeatedly 
to encounter, they became drenched immediately, the effect being that their 
underclothing speedily shrunk into an unwearable mass. Nothing daunte¢, 
and with the sensible desire to make “Tommy” comfortable at the front, our 
officials soon made inquiries among Yorkshire woollen manufacturers a8 10 
their ability to turn out effectively a woollen fabric to imitate the cotton drill, 
the result being that woollen serges were immediately dyed the khaki colour, 
and which are serving admirably all purposes. At first, owing to our authorities 
being confronted with a literal famine for the article, they bought up all the 
serges they could lay their hands upon that were undyed, and these have had to 
serve the purpose, after being dyed the desired shade. / 
The question naturally arises, how is such a demand for the clothing of 
100,000 men going to affect the market for raw material? So far as the 
present goes the extensive orders which our War Department have placed have 
had yery little effect upon the wool market, but they have come at a time which 
has helped materially to relieve what would otherwise have been a very acute 
position. What grades of wool are entering into the making of khaki cloths 
will no doubt be asked by woolgrowers, and as far as we see to-day 
both merinos and crossbreds are being largely consumed, and especially 
the latter. The make-up of the fabric consists of worsted merino warp, 
while the weft is a fairly fine crossbred, but is a woollen yarn, and not & 
worsted. Practically speaking, the khaki cloths contracted for by the 
Government are nothing more or less than an average worsted serge dyed 
the tan shade. Our Government has contracted for its delivery at 3s. 3¢ 
per yard, 55 inches wide. To colonial woolgrowers the demand for ths 
material for “Tommy” is likely to be far reaching. The call for this 
material is not stopping at Whitehall, but the desire to have a suit or a costume 
of khaki is widespread, and a big demand for this material for ordinary use has 
already set in. Both men and women are eagerly looking forward for thes? 
fabrics, and a big run is already assured. This means there will be a big COD~ 
sumption of wool in the making of them. A manufacturer who is runnig 
day and night for the Government has shown me a range of samples of khakt 
cloths, and I think I cannot do better than set before your readers his pric? 
list. I may say that the fabrics look remarkably smart, and what he showe' 
me are all made from merino wools. {His price list is as follows :— 
Width. Weight. Price. Width. Weight. Price. 
Inches. per yd. per yd. Inches. peryd. per yd. 
oz s.) da! Oz. s. Gh 
56 wee Aelip 00 3.6 56 Feet Al ood 4 6 
Biel kbie ARBEIT! oo 8 3) fe OY} ge: MEI! 4 6 
Ne ge NHB - By) Omer LO 131) 50. 
Ssh de AKG) Ay 4° 0 AS: aay AS 5 
B18 sags = AR IIGY 4+ 0 
ray! . : : ics 
1 predict that even the Australian public will ere long patronise these fabri 
and the sooner the better for your woolgrowers. 
+ ae awe ° in 
Norr.—The word ‘‘khaki” is said to have originated as follows :—A native contractors 
India was instructed to have a certain kind of wool worked up into a new material. he 0. 
weaver produced a cloth, the appearance of which enraged the contractor, and he ejact 
some words sounding like khaki, meaning, ‘‘Whac have you been about?” When the heer 
was shown to the authorities it was highly approved of ; and the word khaki having rely 
repeated tu the inspecting officer, he took it to be the .ame ipplied to the cloth, and accor 
set it down as khaki cloth in his bocks.—Ed. Q.4.J. 
OT eae eng 
