OUR ROMNEYS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 21, 19 October 1907, Page 2

OUR ROMNEYS.

GOOD POINTS AND BAD.' <FIEWS OF A FAMOUS BREEDER. .Mr. Matthews, tho well-known Romnpy judge, and one of the' oldest breeders of Romnoy sheep in Now Zealand, in a conversation with tho writer, remarked . that" the Romnoy in this country originated first with tho late Mr. Alfred Ludlam, of. the Hiit-t. ''He imported,' - ' said Mr.. Matthews, "just a few pure-bred sheep, but the bulk of the sheep ho sold when his (look was dispersed were fourth and fifth cross sheep : with merino blood in them. These cross-bred sheep formed the foundation of most of the flocks that exist at the present time'in. the North Island. From these beginnings tho flocks have 1 been gradually improved by using pure-bred rams until now, when most 'of tho flocks claim to be absolutely pure. There is a difference of opinion as to what constitutes tho best class of wool for general use in a Romnoy sheep. Some.prefer the close dense, wool of a fine character; others wool of a longer staple and, of moro weight. Tho finer class of wool-.suits very well on the low country, where-the ground is frcb from scrub" or bush; but.on the higher country tho stronger woollcd Romneys are undoubtedly the most useful, the wool standing the wear and tear of being dragged through scrub better, than. tho finer wool. Longth of staple also, seems to bo.more in request than it was a short time ago. Tho manufacturers at Homo are beginning to complain about the decrease in the length, of. staplo of our long wools. The merino—as most of tho flocks originated from the merino —has strongly retained its influonco iii certain parts. In fact, it is still apparent to a certain extent in some of,the. Romney.-flocks. We are doing our best to obliterate all traces of the merino—traces such as excess of. wool on the heads, a greater fineness,of wool.than appears on the genuine: Romneyj and, deficiency of general Romney character.' : An imported sheep at once gives you tho true type, in marked contrast to many of our colonial flocks. Owing to the increased demand for stronger wool, we encourage the stronger wool as against the fine wool of tho merino— but not, of, course, the growth 1 of _ hair." " A great difficulty experienced in breeding Romneys was to get well-covered sheep. There was a tendency to bare scrotums, bare points, and bare necks in tho rams. But now, through careful breeding—hy breeders using only well-covered sheep—tho covering of the flocks generally has improved to a very largo oxtont, and it is rarely tha tono uow meets an ill-covered sheep in a colonial flock. _ Formerly it was tho general rule. But it is the common failing of a great many flocks in England, and for some timo the sheep that we imported were very deficient in that respect.- Tho Home breeders, however, are now becoming more alive to their interests, and aro sending-us out a sheep very superior to what we- received a tew, years ago. Tho English farmer only thought of tho carcase; and ignored the wool. He finds now that there is a demand for export, and consequently lie has to breed sheep suitablo for the requirements of colonial breeders. For- crossing purposes the Romnoy is now being used largely, especially with Lincoln flocks that havo become undoubtedly coarse in character, and whore the constitution of the flock has run' down." .['■,- , '" i