REVIEW. A HANDY-BOOK FOR NEW ZEALAND SHEEP FARMERS,-HOW TO SELECT AND MANAGE A SHEEP STATION IN NEW ZEALAND.*

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXV, Issue 3650, 31 March 1869, Page 3

REVIEW. A HANDY-BOOK FOR NEW ZEALAND SHEEP FARMERS,-HOW TO SELECT AND MANAGE A SHEEP STATION IN NEW ZEALAND. *

IJhis is the iitlbof a convenient little 7 just^publishted by 'Mr. G-. T. ChapmaKj, Woji« enterprise in the publication of handjbdoks .for TSTew Ze^laiid n^ri'oaltarists and flookownera'^s 'worthy of the highest commendation and- sup'tort-, 1 Tfie ! little book before us does not purport to;[be, more than a pompilation of useful hints ati&' scraps of information, by practical writers on sheep'farming, but it combines within small' limits great deal that may be- of immense vilue to the young aettleri' It does' 1 not pretertd to supersede the standard English works on the, treatment, of sheep, which deal compretieiisively with the subject as .applicable to all' climes and circumstanc.es, but it forms ( a kind of appendix to them, furnishing information more immediately (suitable to this colony alone. The immense tracts of country land open t for settlement, > and , the fine moist climate of the, Northern . Island, offer to tho small capitalist an investment that with prudence, and industry cannot fail to be highly remunerative. Hundreds and thousands of small capitalists would gladly turn to any safe' and remunerative investment which would promise retirement from the cares and turmoil of town life, and the ceaseless bustle, distractions, and risks of trade. Too often, however, they ard deterred by the failures of predecessors, whose ignorance and neglect, of ordinary precautions have been the cause of their ruin, forgetting that want of experience may be partly compensated for by careful observation, prudence, and perseverance. The following chapter on selecting a sheep run may be read wita profit :—

SELECTING A SHEEP BUN. The amount of capital required in commencing the business of sheep-farmer will depend upon the cbaraoter and size of the run, but a flock of 800 to 1,000 breeding ewes will be required to itock a selfsupporting station, and from this it will be seen that a capital of from £1,000 to £1,500 is required to make a food beginning in sheep-farming, but double that sum may bo invested, because on a good run 2,0#0 sheep can be kept with almost as little expense as 1,000, whilst the increase of 2,000 ewes forms a full and separate flock, thereby necessitating no waste of labour in beeping them. A larger amount of capital than £2,500 should not be forested solely in sheep, but on the other hand, if your capital will not allow you to obtain say 800 ewe», and also rei seive something in hand against possible contingencies, the plan usually adopted is to purohase as many as your funds will allow, and place them in the charge of some respectable sheep- owner, paying part of their produce (generally a third) until you are able, with the increase, &0,, and the experience yon may gain whilst assisting at some station, to take the management of your own flock. "siThe next matter then for your consideration wil be to select a run, Mr. Weld gives most excellent advice on this subject, and, as he has had considerable experience in selecting land for himself and friends in the Middle Island, his advice may be depended on in selecting a sheep run. He says that the intending sheep-farmer will be guided by the accessibility of some shipping port to which he may send his wool, and where he may dispose of his fat stock, receiving in return the supplies that may be required at the station, and he will see that there is room enough for the increase of his flock up to a certain point ; he will look to the supply of water and firbwood, and to the advantages which may be afforded him by natural boundaries, which will often save much extra expeose, and last, but what will be first in his consideration, tbo nature of the soil and pasturage, and the suitability of the natural features of the country. A cattle-farmer will of course look for rich succulent pasture, and will probably prefer low-lying land. The Bheepfarmer, on the other hand, will select bold, hilly land, or at all events ?f it be low it must be stony and dry land, with EhorS fine pasture and shelter from wind and weather a"* afforded by the natural features of the country ; he also looks on the country in » twofold point of view, as wool-growing and as fattening land. The best wool-growing land is generally that on a sandstone formation ; the wool from it is bright in colour and eVan ; chat grown on limestone is leas bright, whilst the volcanic formation producoi a fleece discoloured and stained with red and yellow dust. &B regard 1 ? fattening we reverse the order, and put the volcanic or ''Tieatone first iv the list. The remaining chapters refer to the fifctlng-up and management of a sheep-station and tho treatment of sheep. "We can confidently commend the book to the favourable notice of the class for whom it is intended. * Compiled by J, May, Epsom, Aucklaud; Gr. T. Chapman, bookseller and stationer.