These two qualities would be graded in the woolen trade as picklock and prime or choice, while the wool from the portion indicated by C is frequently finer but shorter than A or B and apt to contain more irregular or colored hairs. When free from these defects C is graded as super in quality. The portions D and E shade into those on each side of them, and as they form the top of the neck and shoulder, the fibre is not as deep or close as at A or C. The portion over the loin (F) resembles B, into which it shades, and for many purposes, especially for spinning down, A, B, E, and F are frequently used together as one quality. Back of F, on the flanks, the wool becomes long and coarse, the best being found in the portions marked G. The wool at H and I is the coarsest part of the fleece, growing in large locks with long coarse hairs. It is often termed ‘breach’ wool and can only be used for very coarse yarns spinning low numbers. Beyond the extremities of I there is often a still lower quality called ‘tail’ or ‘cow-tail,’ which is coarse and hairy and can only be used for the very lowest numbers. The differences in quality of fibre from the same fleece are so great that a large number of sortings can be made, depending upon the character of the fleece and the purposes for which the wool is to be used. The names applied to the different qualities of wool vary in different localities, and even among different manufacturers, and this lack of uniform nomenclature is a source of no little confusion.
Other Wools. Although the typical wool is produced by sheep, and it is from that animal that much the larger part of the wool supply is obtained, there are several other animals which produce so-called wool for industrial purposes. Among these are several species of goats whose hair can be greatly improved by breeding and management, furnishing a long, fine, silky material from which beautiful textile fabrics are made. No cultivation, however, has yet prevented the growth of the outer hair on goats, as has been done in the case of sheep, or changed the undergrowth of fine hair into true wool. The alpaca goat, closely related to or a variety of the llama of South America, yields a fibre known as alpaca (q.v.). The Angora goat (see Goat), which yields mohair (q.v.), marks a distinct step toward true wool. The scales are less numerous than in the alpaca, but are more decided and exhibit a more definite edge. The fibres are very fine and wavy, lustrous, pure transparent white, and often 12 inches long, in some cases 18 or 20 inches. The diameter varies from 1850 to 11500 of an inch. The annual product of mohair in the United States is estimated at over 1,000,000 pounds. Closely allied to mohair is the fine cashmere wool of India, which is the product of the Cashmere goat, common in the Himalayan Mountains about Tibet. The hair is even longer than that of the Angora goat, but is not as curly. The surface of the fibres is not as brilliant as mohair, and the scales are more numerous but less distinct. Only the finest parts of the fleece are used, the yield from a single goat being rarely more than 3 or 4 ounces. Cashmere wool is said to be the most costly of all the wools. The fine soft hair of the camel approximates true wool in its structure, and should be mentioned in this connection.
Consult: Bowman, Structure of Wool Fibre (Manchester, 1885); Dodge, Sheep and Wool: A Review of the Progress of American Sheep Husbandry, United States Department of Agriculture, Report No. 66 (1900); Report of Bureau of Animal Industry, 1889-90; Rushworth, The Sheep (Buffalo, 1889); Mumford, The Production and Marketing of Wool, Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 178 (1900); Stewart, Domestic Sheep: Its Culture and General Management (Chicago, 1898). See Sheep; Shoddy.
WOOL, Mineral, Mineral Cotton, Silicate Cotton, or Slag Wool. A vitreous material resembling wool, made by subjecting slag, when in a molten condition, to a strong blast. It was originally made in Wales in 1840, but the process was found injurious to the workmen, and so the manufacture was abandoned until about thirty years later, when it was taken up in Germany. As now made, a jet of steam is made to strike upon a flowing mass of molten slag as it falls from the spout into the slag-carriers. The steam scatters the slag into globules, and as each globule leaves the molten stream it turns into a fine thread. The threads are sucked into a large tub by a current of air caused by steam jets and are discharged into a large chamber. The product is generally white, but the presence of manganese or potassium produces a green color, while mineral wool from some slags has a pink tinge. As it is fireproof and insect-proof, it has been used generally by architects and builders as a packing for walls. It also possesses value as a non-conductor of sound and is therefore valuable in school buildings and music halls.
WOOL, John Ellis (1788-1869). An American soldier, born at Newburgh, N. Y. He began the study of law, but on the outbreak of the War of 1812 entered the United States Army, and in April, 1812, became captain in the Thirteenth United States Infantry. He was badly wounded in the battle of Queenstown Heights, and as a reward for his gallantry was in April, 1813, promoted major of the Twenty-ninth Infantry. At Plattsburg in September, 1814, he again distinguished himself, and in December was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In 1821 he became inspector-general of the army with the rank of colonel. In 1841 he became a brigadier-general. When the Mexican War began he prepared troops for the field and sent thither about 12,000. He led the Army of the Centre into Chihuahua; then joined General Taylor, and at Buena Vista, as second in command, selected the American position. For his services he was brevetted major-general. By his timely measures he secured Fortress Monroe, and as commander of the Department of Virginia, he occupied Norfolk and Portsmouth in May, 1862. In the same month he was made a major-general in the Regular Army, and retired in August of the following year.
WOOL AND WORSTED MANUFACTURES. The development of the art of spinning and weaving took place so early in the history of civilization that no records of its beginning are preserved, and which of the textile fibres was used first for this purpose is unknown. But certainly the art of producing woven woolen fabrics was practiced by many different peoples
