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Egyptian.

Here is a wool with many of the properties so wished for by our consumers. The staple might be long enough if the native collectors and growers did not induce the practice of twice shearing. The wool is bright, sound, and silky, but is sometimes spoiled by a sprinkling of grey hairs, also by the admixture of ill-bred, rough, fuzzy wool, known in trade as Syrian.

Iceland.

We don’t know the exact quantity produced annually, but think it is 8000 to 10,000 packs. The effect of a cold climate acting upon sheep left to nature has been to produce a wool consisting of a long spiry coarse top, with a fine downy bottom, which for English consumers is very objectionable, and reduces the value.

Russian.

The Donskoi wool does not seem to meet with the same care as the flocks of merino that have attained such perfection in Southern Russia. The Donskoi sheep is probably in a state of nature, or at least partially so, and the Crimean entirely so. Both these admit of great improvement, and by care for a few years a long stapled good combing wool of finer quality might be produced, upwards of 30 per cent. more valuable.

The Russian Government has the power, and probably the inclination, to initiate improvement, and will probably do so at its own expense, if the future advantage be made manifest.

We see splendid flocks of merino have been created in Southern Russia during the last thirty years; we don’t know whether this was done by the rich noblemen or the government, but it proves what improvement may be effected on a large scale.

Turkish, Asiatic, and European, including Servia, Bosnia, Nissa, Scutari, Scopia, Salonica, Angora, Smyrna, Syria, Persia.

These wools are usually very scurfy and kempy, both of which are serious faults, but may be eradicated by attention. It seems as if most of these wools get no care at all, and in evidence of this we point to the large proportion of scurfy and mangy fleeces. There is the basis for capital combing wool, even if the growers cross with their own selected rams, without the introduction of English sheep.

East India and Persian Wool imported from Bombay.

Improvement has already commenced here, and a large field awaits full development. Each year our imports are collected from a wider range, and as we penetrate into a more temperate region, we find wool of a longer and sounder staple, assimilating more closely to our English descriptions than the short hairy wool that is usually grown nearer the tropics. East India Wool has a tendency to be burry and scurfy, with a slight mixture of grey hairs. The staple is generally too short.

China.

This wool is usually soft short stapled wool; looks like neither fleece nor lamb; it is usually very cotted, kempy, and yellow. No attention seems to be bestowed upon it by the growers, but when a regular demand arises, the Chinese will, no doubt, turn their attention to the article, and effect desirable changes; and from the extraordinary fecundity of the sheep, large quantities might be produced.

Egyptian.

Here is a wool with many of the properties so wished for by our consumers. The staple might be long enough if the native collectors and growers did not induce the practice of twice shearing. The wool is bright, sound, and silky, but is sometimes spoiled by a sprinkling of grey hairs, also by the admixture of ill-bred, rough, fuzzy wool, known in trade as Syrian.

The Cape.

The chief remark to be made upon the wool from this district is to protest against the pernicious practice of shearing the sheep twice in the year, which altogether disqualifies it for combing purposes, and depreciates its value greatly; and it is strongly recommended to discontinue the practice of shearing until the entire length of the staple of which the wool is capable is attained.

Natal.

Considerable attention is being paid to the growth of wool in this Colony, and like New Zealand it possesses great natural advantages.

Mogadore.

The wool of this country is deficient in lustre, kempy, and of a brownish colour; but by judicious crossing with English blood it could be brought to resemble our breeds, and find a large and remunerative market.

Canada.

The bulk of this wool appears to be a neglected Leicester, but is capable of improvement. There is a tendency in some parts to cross the native sheep with United States merinos, but for the English market we recommend new Leicester rams, so as to impart length, lustre, and soundness to the staple. One great fault is the prevalence of burrs, which often depreciate the value five and sometimes ten per cent. This year’s imports have been irregularly packed; consequently a manufacturer has been obliged to purchase much wool that he did not require along with that which he did want. If regular classification of the fleeces is unattainable at present, let the growers at least pack up the cotted and cast fleeces separately from the others.

California.

We have great hopes of this place being able to supply Europe with very large quantities of both long and short wool of medium and fine quality. At present, the growth is exported almost exclusively to New York and Boston, where it enters duty free. We think, however, that Californian wool will ere long find its way to England. The value in New York of the unwashed fleeces varies from 6d. to 1/2d per lb. The sheep farmers profess to be able to raise any breed, from Leicester up to pure Merino. At present there is every variety of cross, with an infusion of United States merino.

Peru.

This wool is long-stapled, tender wool, unfit for combing, but might be improved, and the kemp and scurf eradicated. The kemp is very prevalent. The Lima wool is better bred, and nearly approaches a combing wool of middling quality to fine quality. Large quantities of long coarse carpet wool.