DEATH OF A FAMOUS RAM.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11377, 13 September 1902, Page 7

DEATH OF A FAMOUS RAM.

The famous merino ram President, the property of Mr G. C. Grubb, of Tasmania, died last month as the result of an accident. President, says "Brunie," in the "Australasian," was certainly the most famous ram ever bred in Australia, if not the most famous ram ever bred in the world. He was eighth in descent from that great sire, old Sir Thomas, and, like him, he was bred by Mr James Gibson, Bellevue. When President was about seven years old Mr Gibson sold him in Sydney in 1896 for 1600 guineas, the purchasers being Mr C. B. Grubb and Mr E. D. Lawrence, Billhop. Two years afterwards President was sold in Melbourne for 1000 guineas, the purchaser being Mr C. B. Grubb. This ram sired an immense number of high-priced stock, and his sons and grandsons have been remarkably successful at the stud. From 500 to 1000 guineas is by no means an uncommon price to be paid for a descend—ot of this great sire. The amount realised by the descendants of President to the third generation would total an enormous sum. The alteration in the type of sheep from Sir Thomas to President is remarkable. The bead of the family was a smooth-skinned sheep, and would nowadaya be thought a moderate animal. President had approached so near to the Vermont type that many people would mistake him for a Vermonter. He was by no means an exceptionally heavy"woolled sheep; indeed, in almost any stud of note he could have been beaten for weight of fleece, and yet he was the greatest sire ever seen in Australia- This fact shows that weight of fleece is not a true test of the value of a sire.