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GENERAL REPORT OF THE JUDGES OF GROUP IX. n ests—of the first importance in the Australian colonies, is pursued by capitalists and men of intelligence. Relieved, as the proprietors are, from an expense of northern climates,—that of providing shelter and stores of winter fodder; winter production not being required, and the indigenous grasses being nutritious even when dried,—the principal outlay required in addition to that for stock is for providing an unin terrupted supply of water. The destructive droughts of 1866 have led to provisions for this supply on the broadest scale. Precautionary measures have been taken over the length and breadth of Australia against the failure of water. At enormous expense, dry water-courses have been converted into permanent rivers, reservoirs and tanks have been constructed, wells have been dug and dams made, and the sta tions so provided with water as to prevent the recurrence of the catastrophe of 1866. The expense of transportation to the very distant markets making the weight of the dirt and yolk of the wool a serious item, the washing of the wool on the sheep is conducted with a thoroughness nowhere else known. The washed wools, whether cold- or hot-water-washed, extensively exhibited at the Exhibition in bales and cases, could scarcely be distinguished from sound or absolutely clean wools. Attention is given to every detail connected with the manufacture of wool, as in the shearing. The uniformity of the clipping in fleeces exhibited at the Exhibition, the steps usually made by the shears being scarcely visible, was the subject of favorable comment by our wool-growers ; yet the price paid the shearers, reported in the official record of Victoria, is only 14 shillings 4 pence for every hundred animals shorn. The Wool Inquiry, instituted by the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, is illustrative of the high intelligence with which the wool industry of the Australian colonies is pursued. The main sub jects of the inquiry were, What descriptions of wool are now likely to be most in demand, and what are the best modes of preparing the wool and putting it in the market ? Circulars containing interroga tories, all pertinent to the general question, were addressed to the most eminent wool houses and chambers of commerce of England. Full answers to these interrogatories by thoroughly-informed per sons and commercial bodies in England are published in the Wool Inquiry. As the readers of this report will be principally those interested in wool-production, we may be permitted to condense some of the most important points presented in these answers. As to the distinction between combing and clothing Australian wools, writes one of the respondents, Southey, Baline, & Co., “ All