E. J. BRUEN 189
The length measurement of these fibres was carried for every zone. The
mean length as calculated from 5,200 readings comes to 3.05 in. with a standard
deviation of 0.765 and a coefficient of variation of 25.00 per cent, The length
is highest in the wither wool —3.57 in., and least in the back wool—2.46 in.
(Table I), It more or less follows the level of the fine fibres. The curve
as shown in Fig. 1 shows a slight deviation. This is due to uneven fibre length
of the back wool.
The diameter readings for these fibres totalled 5,100 for ten fleeces. The
mean diameter works to 49.66µ, with a standard deviation of 9.20 and a co-
efficient of variation of 18.52 per cent. The diameter was also measured for
six zones of the ten fleeces. It must be noted here that three ewes, Nos. 7, 69
and 5 under experiment, had no fibre of this type in their shoulder and side
wools. Ewe No. 69 showed the existence of a few of these fibres in the side
region. This inconsistency is also seen in the back and the britch wools of
these ewes. Statistically it can definitely be laid down that these three ewes
out of the ten are a class by themselves. Yet in general, this conclusion should
not be a final one unless a large number of Deccan sheep are studied. The
diameter readings show that the fibre varies from 47.20µ in the side wool
to 51.58µ in the shoulder wool (Table II).
Heiemiypes.—These are coarse medullated fibres with different phases
of medullation. In a single fibre both medullation and non-medullation exist.
The fibre presents an appearance of irregularity in waves and lustre. The
medullated portion shines like a glass and is stiffer than the non-medullated
region, which gives it sudden twists and a change of axis with irregular thick-
ening at the junction of the medullated and non-medullated portions. In a
yarn the medullated portion of these fibres comes out of the general pile and
gives a rough texture to the cloth. Due to the indifferent absorption of the
dye-stuff by these fibres, the fabric has an uneven appearance. They
nearly have the same length as the strong wool. Length measurement of
4,500 fibres was recorded. The mean length comes to 2.63 in. with a standard
deviation of 0.657 and a coefficient of variation of 25.00 per cent. The length
frequency curve of this fibre (Fig. 1) is of the same type as that of the strong
wool. The lengths of these fibres were worked out into frequency groups.
The maximum length of these fibres is in the wither wool; next stands the neck,
the minimum being in the back wool (Table I).
A population of 4,400 was measured for the determination of the diameter.
The mean diameter comes to 57.89µ with a standard deviation of 12.82
and a coefficient of variation of 22.18 per cent. The frequency diameter curve
(Fig. 2) shows that the diameter is more variable than the other fibres. The
diameter measurements from region to region were worked out. The table
of constants for diameter measurements (Table II) shows a variation from
51.94µ in the shoulder wool to 61.96µ in the back wool.
Kemp.—This is a very important fibre in so far as its existence is a dis-
qualification in a fleece. The kemp is generally described as the coarsest
of the fibres. It is stiff, short and is fully medullated. It grows straight
from the skin end and then develops into a spiral and ends in a very thin
pointed non-medullated structure. The typical kemp existing in an average
Deccan sheep is stiff, opaque and chalky fibres (Plate XVI, fig. 2). At the base