Australian Colonies, New Zealand, the Cape of Good Hope, and Natal.

I am, &c.,

F. ROGERS.

James Booth, Esq., Board of Trade.

Sir J. E. Tennant, to Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office.

Office of Committee of
Privy Council for Trade,
Whitehall, 16th May, 1861.

Sir,—With reference to my letter of the 18th March last, I am directed by the Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, to transmit to you to be laid before the Duke of Newcastle the inclosed parcels containing circulars and samples of wool, together with the list of places to which the Chamber of Commerce of Bradford are desirous that they should be sent for distribution in the surrounding districts.

I have, &c.,

J. EM. TENNANT.

The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.

LIST.

Cape Town, Port Beaufort, Port Elizabeth, Port Natal, Montreal, Quebec, Wellington, Auckland, Lyttelton, Tasmania, Australia South, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOR THE WORSTED DISTRICT.

Bradford, Yorkshire.

February, 21, 1861.

Address of the Wool Supply Association of the Bradford and Halifax Chamber of Commerce to all parties interested in the growth of Colonial and other Foreign Wools.

The increase in the Worsted Trade of Great Britain has been very considerable during the last few years; and its further development has been checked only by the difficulty of meeting with an adequate supply of Long Wool.

To meet this condition of things, and in order if possible to increase the supply, the Wool Association is desirous of disseminating information in the Wool growing districts.

The increase in the imports of Foreign Wool during the same period has been very large; but these supplies were almost exclusively of a nature to adapt them to the Woollen rather than to the Worsted manufacture. Those interested in the latter branch of industry are anxious to stimulate the growth of Wools suitable for their wants. The qualities they require give to the Wool a higher marketable value for all purposes of manufacture, and are, therefore, well deserving the attention of growers, collectors, and shippers of Wool.

The Wool (the increase of which they desire to promote) should have a staple from four to seven inches long, according to its fineness, and should as far as possible, be uniform in quality throughout its whole length, bright and lustrous in appearance, or soft and kind to the touch, of good spinning properties, free from burrs or other vegetable fibre. It should also be well washed before it is clipped, or where this is not practicable, care should be taken that it be not sotted or felted in drying. It is most desirable to retain the whole natural length of the staple by only clipping the lambs or sheep once during the season’s growth, unless local causes render it absolutely necessary to do so oftener.

It is also very desirable that a proper classification of Wool should be made in packing, and that the packing should be thoroughly trustworthy and fair.

An improvement is already manifested in the wool of some countries, and the Association believe that it might be made general if proper care were taken in the selection of breeding sheep, particularly of the Rams, and, where necessary, by the introduction of new blood.

The flocks should, as much as possible, be pastured upon succulent grasses, similar to those grown in Great Britain.

The destructive effects of drought or cold, or other climatic causes, which check the growth of the grasses, by depriving the sheep of their necessary supply of food, and render the staple tender, ought to be prevented by a constant supply of food throughout the whole year.

The Wool Supply Association will be happy to answer any inquiries, and give any information that foreign correspondents may require in their efforts to increase the supply and improve the quality of their wools, and to render any assistance in their power to facilitate the export of breeding sheep suitable for crossing and improving the inferior foreign breeds. Already ten Rams have been sent to India by this Association, from which the best results are expected.

The Wool Association offer their gratuitous services to parties abroad desirous of purchasing Rams for exportation, or in any other manner to promote the views expressed in their observations.

A few samples of different varieties of the Combing Wools required will be transmitted to the Consuls in foreign parts, and to the Governors of Her Britannic Majesty’s Colonies, and wherever Wools suitable for the Worsted Trade are cultivated.

Address the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, as above

Remarks concerning Wool: chiefly pointing out the faults attached to each description named.

Oporto.

The wool usually imported from thence is long stapled and bright, but troubled with a sprinkling of grey and reddish hairs, which depreciate the value and limit the competition. The Sheep also, for want of attention, are apt to produce cotted and yellow tinged fleeces, which only realise in the English market about two thirds the value of free open stapled white wools. The receipts from Oporto have increased considerably, but a good portion of the increase consists of wool from a lower breed, and is called here “Mountain Oporto.” This description is part long, very coarse stapled, and the other part of the fleece is short and