Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1886 [PAGE 234]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

226 nearly parallel. With this regard the long wools differ to a marked extent from the down and merino wools, the latter really being very similar. In crosses, or in merinos tainted with long wool blood, these peculiarities in the form of the scales are often apparent, and, as already intimated, sometimes significant. So strongly have we been impressed by this fact that we once took occasion (?) the exclusion from a breeding flock of animals in whose wool they occurred, although the record of the animals and their pedigree could furnish no intimation of taint of impure blood. We earnestly believe that this offers a valuable field for study and investigation, and that such study should be vigorously prosecuted in the interest of breeders of fine wooled sheep. We may not dwell at greater length here upon these external characteristics of the fibre, and may pass to a consideration of the internal structure. We have already said that if the fibre be subjected to the action of tolerably strong acid it swells, the edges of the adherent scales rise, the scaly membrane may be removed, and after longer continued action we find that the body of the fibre suffers disintegration. At first indistinct lines or striations appear throughout the length of the fibre. After some time slight abrasion reduces it, and we see it break down and separate into what are apparently elongated cells. At the end of the fibre, or rather at the end of the portion under examination, these first partially separate and sway to and fro in the supporting liquid, and finally become detached and float away. When thus separated they appear spindle shaped, that is, pointed at both ends and larger in the middle portion, while at the same time they are more or less flattened. In the natural condition of the fibre they overlap each other, and doubtless communicate the property of elasticity so peculiar to wool. The body of the fibre consisting of these elongated cells we have termed the fibro cellular portion or tissue. In the study of the merino wools, and of most of the pure down wools, the fibres are all very transparent, especially when supported or mounted in the volatile oils or the balsams. But under the same circumstances we find that through the central portion of the long wool fibres there runs a more opaque portion. If a fibre showing this peculiarity be treated on the glass slide for some time with sulphuric acid or a concentrated alkali, the former being the safest, it will break down, the scaly cuticle and the fibro cellular tissue will be separated and finally dissolved, while the cells of granular matter will remain behind. This matter differs materially from the remainder of the fibre, and its presence in the fibre is believed to impair its strength. It may be partially removed at least from the end by such solvents as turpentine and the balsams, and doubtless by some others, especially the essential oils. The fibro cellular tissue is not thus soluble. When the granular matter is thus dissolved away there remains a net work of cell walls which enclosed it. The granular matter is found particularly in those wools that are very white when cleaned, and lacking in lustre, and it is especially common to the wool of the Cotswold breed. It is not always confined to the central portion of the fibre, but may be distributed throughout the body of the fibro cellular tissue. It is not common to the pure downs and merino wools, though it is sometimes found;