Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1886 [PAGE 259]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

251 With regard to the cross-bred wools of Messrs. Baechtel Brothers, of California, the following, among other conclusions, have been deduced from the results : 1. The extremes of fineness vary from 1 centimillimetre (—J 2~T3"F inch) to 5 centimillimetres (-5^¥ inch). 2. There is an apparent variation in the diameter of the same fibre of from 15 to 20 per cent, the average diameter. 3. There is great irregularity in the numbers occurring above and below the average of fineness, while a predominance of tests below the average frequently occurs. 4. We find in this series an exceptionally high extreme of stretch reaching 85 per cent, the length tested, while the minimum falls as low as 10 per cent, and even '.5 per cent, the length tested. 5. In the averages of fineness for the several classes we find lesa variation than might be expected. Until the Merino blood falls as low as J no influence of cross upon the fineness is discernible. And in no case does the variation in the average of fineness appear greater than might occur in animals of .pure blood, until the Merino blood is reduced from \ to f. 6. With an increase of Shropshire blood there is a regular increase in the diameter of the fibre. 7. As might be expected, a comparatively wide margin occurs in the figures for all qualities, but all are, as a rule, high. 8. The average tensile resistance will vary from 15,000 to as high as 45,000 pounds per square inch of section, and the modulus of elasticity from 35,000 to 125,000. If we compare the general average as regards fineness, ultimate tensile resistance and moduli of elasticity, the grades stand as follows:

Ultimate F i n e n e s s r e s i s t a n c e Modulus of centimilli- p o u n d s m e t r e s . . Xier s q u a r e elasticity. inch. P u r e Merino 1& /i6 Merino, Vie Southdlown % Merino, % Southdown % Merino, XA S o u t h d o w n V<z, Merino, % S o u t h d o w n S h r o p s h i r e4d o wn 9 /ie Merino, /i6 S h r o p s h i r e , 3/ie S o u t h d o w n % Merino, 4/s Shropshire, 2% Southdown 2 /s Merino, V$ Shropshire, /s S o u t h d o w n 2.039 1.695 1.929 1.923 2.394 3.60 2.122 2.437 2.358 23289 26032 22997 24911 24051 23938 22919 29774 22938 76232 77706 100335 61600 58718

5960660441 74495 6250O

9. If we compare this table with that of Messrs. Baechtel Brothers, we find that the highest value, as represented in the modulus of elasticity, corresponds with the highest net return for each animal. 10. The variations here noted are no greater than might occur from individual to individual. 11. For the production of medium wools the grade animals heredescribed will yield as good a product as animals of pure blood.