September, 1954]
B.
B.
BUCH
AND
G.
S.
MAHAL
169
The range of mean fibre thickness in different entire samples is not wide, if
sample numbers 4 and 9 are eliminated. The individual samples show a fairly
high degree of variation in fibre uniformity as evident from the percentage of co-
efficients of variability in the different samples. The range of mean fibre thickness
is from 29.6 to 40.3 microns in the entire samples.
The range of mean thickness for true wool fibres in the nine samples is from
22.0 to 26.3 microns with a coefficient of variability range of 11.8 to 20.1 percent.
The range of mean thickness for the heterotypical fibres in the nine samples is
from 31.1 to 36.2 microns with a coefficient of variability range of 12.2 to 20.5 per
cent.
The range of mean thickness for hair fibres in the nine samples is from 40.4
to 58.9 microns with a coefficient of variability range of 11.1 to 31.9 per cent.
From the above results, it is evident that the entire samples do not show a wide
variation in the mean thickness of different samples. The fibre types in the indivi-
dual samples show negligible variation in mean thickness except in the case of hair
fibres. Barker [1937] in his report on Shantung and Woozie sheep of China remarks
that if the variation is higher than 25 per cent in the mixed wools, it is not desirable
to utilise them for clothing material. In the present study, it will be seen that the
variation is not more than 25 per cent in the fibre types and very slightly higher than
25 per cent in the entire samples which shows great possibilities of improving Sau-
rashtra wools for clothing purposes through selective breeding. The very fact that
the variation is not great amongst the fibre types is suggestive of the possibilities for
speedy improvement.
The results of the analysis of five samples of 'Joria' wool conducted by the Uni-
versity of Bombay [1952] differ slightly in the case of fibre thickness. The probable
cause may be that the samples were collected from one dealer only in Bombay which
may not be representative for the whole State. Results of medullation test, however,
agree with the results obtained in this study.
CONCLUSIONS
The following conclusions are evident from the results obtained from this
study:
1. From the above-mentioned analysis, it is clear that almost all the samples are
very near to the carpet wool standards as worked out by Burns, Johnston and Chen
[1940] and the South-Western Sheep Breeding Laboratory at Fort Wingate, New
Mexico, from their work on Navajo sheep [Anonymous, 1940] except the variations
in length. Some of the samples fall slightly below the required length while three out
of the nine samples are considerably short. None of the samples exceed six microns
more in thickness than the standards suggested by Burns, et al. [1940].
The 'Joria' wool as such therefore, can be considered as a very good carpet wool
but some improvement towards attaining the uniformity in fibre length is desirable.
Individual sample number 2 seems to be too good for carpet wool and sample
numbers 8 and 9 seem too poor for this purpose. Sample numbers, 1, 5, 6 and 7
are very close to the required standard and sample number 5 of them can be consi-
dered just the ideal carpet wool. Sample numbers 3 and 4 are slightly below the
mark.