A VALUABLE BREED OF S LEEP.

A new breed of sheep has been introduced into the United States, and has attracted much attention. . They are called Karakul, and are bred rcain'y in t.he eenu-ind-ependent Khan-ate of Bokhara, aJid also to the north of it, in Russian Turkestan, C->ni-»\V Asia. An American visitor to Brisbane states that the pure breed is found ciii_r on certain ranches, owned by Eok-haT-a nobiemen, who have k^pt them isolated, and used every precaution to prevent the contamination of the blood. Without the co-operafion of the highest Government officials it is hopeless to attempt to get any of these sheep away. But a Dt Young vhas managed, to get some of them to America, ami much interest is centred in the importation. Ths-y must be kept in comparatively dry country, with c mild climate — like the Xcw England tableland, in New South Wales. In Russia the skins with the medium-sized :>urls are in most demand. Feeding largely affects the variation of, the curls. About the middle of the summer the young lambkins a-re weaned, and then until the autumn the ewe gives a large quantity of rich milk, 6rom which is made the delicious cheese called brinza, so much relished in Russia. Each sheep produces 301b to 401b of this during the short season she is. milked for tihe purpoee. The Bokhara peopl-e claim that the milk of this ewe is the richest of any animal in rfoe world. It is held that it contains an'ti-tut.ercular properties, so that it should be spueiahy welcomed by people liable- to consumption. Indeed, many persons so predisposed go to Bokhara for that very purpose, for they get milk, mutton, and brinza from these eh<eep as a diet. Tuberculosis, as a matter of fact, i« said lo be unknown among the native people of that country. The havr of the ram lambs, when they are three da-ye old, is used for the manufacture of the most expensive coats. Unfortunately, the Karakul sheep are rapidly becoming extinct, for -other varieties are taking eheir place. The nobility of Bokhara are making heroic efforts to prevent this, and the importation of the breed to America will help to^stem the decline. The visitor expressed the hope tthat some enterprising Australian breeder would try to get some of thewe cheep, for he felt that they would become very useful, and would probably turn out at successful as the- merino.