SOUTH AFRICAN WOOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2203, 29 May 1908, Page 1

SOUTH AFRICAN WOOLS.

CREATE MORE ATTENTION.

A FORWARD MOVEMENT AND WHAT IT MEANS.

(From our Specinl Correspondent.) BRADFORD, April 17, Tlioro never was a timo in the history of tlio trado wlion South African wools commanded more attention, and when that part of the world’s woolgrowing area was being looked to make a forward move. Tlio writer has followed the course of Capo wools for a life timo, and had a direct family exjiorienco of handling and working them up for ovor fifty yearn. Whon but a lad I have heard my father spoak of the deficiencies of Cape wools, and moro especially tlio 'deception practised by farmers in preparing their clips for market. Not until the last two years has, South Africa put off its slovenly methods and its air of contentment with old timo practices of woolgrowing and wool preparataion for market, and r>.t last the light is undoubtedly ■ hi caking upon that backward domain of England’s brown. For years I have written continuously about the deficiencies of Capo wools, and one rejoices that a little fruit is beginning to appear on this barren soil. I don’t for a moment think that South Africa will over turn out wools on the average equal to the merino of Australia, but tlioro is room for a vast improvement, and with bettor slioep, bettor methods of working, and a more up-to-date system of handling the shorn clip, a vast improvement is bound to result. After all country and climato aro important factors in determining tlio character of a clip of wool, but it is surprising what can bo done ill. the way of assisting nature and producing those crops which turn out good slioep and saleablo wool. BETTER WOOLS THAN EVER. It is somo satisfaction to bo ablo to, say that from Capo Colony especially hotter wools have boon sont to the London market during the six months than we have ever seen, arid this is as it should bo. The work that the Agricultural Department is doing, and especially the instruction of those whose business it is to show farmers the best methods of preparing their, clips for market in Australian fashion, is bearing good fruit. I have loim said that the bundling into tlio bales of the skirts and bellies was a huge mistake, and that such practices would always disgrace Cape wools as long as ever they were adopted. Tlio country storekeepers who evidently “have other fish to fry,” may not discriminate between a good clip and a poor ono, and gives the same price for both alike, but the wool once this side the, Equator ceases to be looked upon through the same spectacles, and to the European buyer every parcel lias its value determined on a “clean yield” basis. Heavy skirts and bellies never were satisfactory material for combing "or manufacturing purposes, and never will. The day is not far distant when that grower of wool who will practice such obsolete 'methods will find liis clip either totally unsaleable, or selling at the price of an old song, for nobody wants heavy, wasty material that is better left out of a blend of wool. At the recent series of London; sales we had a. magnificent illustration of what good wool means, and the March series also furnished a practical proof of the pool- prices bid for wools that were short, heavy, and \wasty to a degree. The former saw bvery Capo buyer and many more beside practically interested in some tiptop clips, while the competition for the heavy, skirty, six months’ wools was confined to try? or three who wanted the wools at their own price. AN INTERESTING LETTER,

I am always pleased to welcome a woolgrower from any part or the world, for we have'many interests in common. A well-known Kaffiranan sheep farmer was over in England a good year ago, and I showed lum round London sales two or three times, besides giving lnm a lesson or two on the methods to bo adopted in preparing wools for market. Not long ago I -received a letter from him respecting the sale of his last clip which read as follows: I sold my clip to-day, and know you will bo interested in hearing what I got lor it. I had 87 bales, aud tho following are the sale results: 14 bales hoggetts H3d: 54 bales (ten months) combing 103 d: 8 bales bellies 7Jd: 6 ■ bales shorter clothing 9sd; and 7 bales locks 4*d. I was complimented by all tho East London buyers on the way I got it up, and I feel that tins is tho result of the pleasant and proEtable time I spent with you, Until I started handling the fleeces on the skirting table I did not realise how much you had taught mo. I know now that while I have a lot of wool well up to the mark of ordinary Australian, I have some heavy, short stapled fleece I must got rid of, and I mean to do this by keeping my young wethers arid selling the unprofitable ewes until I have got my clip up to the desired standard.’ 1 quote the above simply to show what oan be done with care and attention, for this fanner has had to fight against life long practico of shearing twice a year -and putting everything into the hale. No doubt it is a struggle, but I have always maintained that what Australian 6quatters do to-day South African sheep farmers can adopt to-morrow without the least fear of making a mistake. It is only a question of a few years’ practice.at the most when a farmer having once seen the benefits accruing from skirting his fleece properly, will always adopt this method. .

SOME EXCELLENT CLIPS. At the March series of London sales there was sold some 13 farmers’ clips which pn the second day of the series commanded a good deal of attention. These wools had been specially classed in Australian fashion, and they created more attention than I have seen for some years past. Everybody seemed to be in tho gangway valuing them, and they were typical farmers’ clips, got up in a smart and up-to-date way. Generally speaking there were two lots of combing, then the broken, bellies, and lambs, just sufficient lots having been made to cover the different parts of a properly skirted fleece. Naturally some combing wools are worth a penny more than other fleeces of the same ilock simply because of the better growth and lighter condition, and these -should always be put to themselves and baled -separately as a super combing lot. A word of praise can bo given to every farmer who commanded 9d and over for his combing lots, while the clip that sold for lid deserves a special word of commendataion. From first- to last the most had been*made of the wools, and every woolgrower, no matter where he lives, should do the same. At one stroke these farmers’ clips have risen to notoriety, simply because such wools -are the exception and not the rule from South Africa.

Lot tlio same and similar wools come to bo offered in tlio future, and prepared for market and catalogued in tlio samo way, and wool buyers will inspect thorn with interest, value with confidence, and purchase same fully satisfied that there lias been no “faking” of tlio clips. Had these wools been up in London lust 'Octobor they would liavo realised 2d to 3d per lb. more. Unfortunately they met the worst series of sales that wo linvo had since 1900, but for all that Messrs Thomas and Cook are to bo complimented for the able way they handled the clips, and the very full market prices which they were ablo to command at the hands of buyers.