Page:Madras Journal of Literature and Science, series 1, volume 6 (1837).djvu/496

468 tion of the province is under British sway), it may be deserving consideration, whether an improvement in the quality of the Wool would not prove an advantage to this country.

"Under this assumption, we shall proceed to make the following observations:—

"During last year, there was imported into London 773 bags of Indian Wool, and into Liverpool 624.

"1397 bags—these were sold at public auction, at 4¼d. to 14½d. per lb. They were chiefly white, and well washed: there is occasionally found a few black locks interspersed through the bags, which ought to be carefully excluded, as the Indian sheep's Wool is generally applied to the manufacture of white goods, consequently any admixture of coloured Wool tends to deteriorate its value.

"We have discovered amongst the finer qualities of Indian Wool, a considerable portion of yellow and discoloured locks, which operates very materially against its sale. In order to remove such an objection, it is requisite the discoloured wool should be selected from the white, and each kind packed in separate bags, by which means an increased competition for the article would be produced; at the same time its value would be thereby enhanced. To which we may further add, the Wool would be bought with greater avidity, as it could then be immediately applied to the various purposes of manufacture without further trouble or expense.

"To those who may feel the laudable desire of producing an improvement in the breed of sheep, and quality of their Wool, we would recommend the introduction of some of our best-woolled English rams amongst the Indian ewe flocks, as by so doing, the quality of the Wool would be materially improved, inasmuch as it would thereby become both a better and more useful class of Wool; at the same time the quantity would also be considerably augmented.

"We remain, Gentlemen, &c."