THE BOOM IN ROMNEYS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 753, 28 February 1910, Page 8

THE BOOM IN ROMNEYS.

;; - /': '/''A'' SOUTHERN CRITIC. ; A vigorous correspondence, ■ in''' which Mr. E. Short has figured, has been, taking place, iii; the"Pustoralists'. Keview" on the subject of Komney sheep aiiil- their suitability; for' the Australian lumb'cxport'trade.'- In the current number, Mr. James' O'Konrko, of Waihao Downs! Canterbury, ■'• writes-.protesting against what ho calls the "wild and ridiculous" statements of; the Komney advocates. ■ . The main supply of-New Zealand's fat lambs, Mr. O'Eourko; points out, conies from the South Island,' and in Canterbury province there arc. only seven small flocks of Ebmfieys,- numbering' loss than 1600, this seasou's ewe : lauibs. included, the bulk, of South, Island ltomneys, being kept in ' Otago on country where wool and store sheep only.'are raised,'tho Komney being suitable for' the;'dump,.sour,. hilly conntry of the. south. ' • ■■ :■■'..

;• "•'Lam , quite' safe to ■■ assert,". continues this southern .critic, "that;.no- farmen in ■the' South 'Island of--New-Zealand who breeds, lambs/ to-fatten for, export would think/of- using' a Romney ram to 'got. thorn ' witn. Tho ybuii« '-"sheep'.' of 'this cross' have well-developed .'• hindquarters, .with; an : extremely light - \f of o;end./;The ill'shape of tho carcass thus debars them^from. a,first quality: ticket. As 'to ■ Mid ': hollow r backs, "Longwool",' is quite, correct iu; this, as.it. is ! a ;common fault with .all :the English Komnoys'l . Have ; seen '-.imported - here. The best, New "Zealand, Romneys , are superior to the English'..in.both''backs and. ends. ■'•The Uomney; is* a.'uselul sheep-for," certain .'l6caiities;;and" , 'it"is:t6;be, hoped,that /New Zealand'. breeders will; continue the'-, im-provement-'.they., have made ; the last ,'ien years,' ■ when, they - will y; be/', able: to • hold thcirown-iu'nny,; market against the best. English'- Komneys;;, But it would be better if iiomney 'breeders,.in poshing• the• sale' of' their-sheep,, would : content /themselves with'/ facts. ,-..l;,'have, not;mentioned'ythe position "of the Komney',' in ; : the'.'North ■Island, .as : tho;l>icester.S:and Blackfaces ,a're. only/'beginning . to, .make- headway ; there,.; which '■■ accounts; for' tho - improvement in .the quality, 'of North Island lambs" exported..' Tho'!, chief' feature- of . tho'; North' Island; ram -fairs -in ,1909 /was .the. -great demand, forVy.Sohthdowns."' and Border Xeicesters,'.,which will. continue as .suitable, country jniadei available." • ;:: ■• ; Commenting ,6n-'tbe" above,, the- "He- : jTiew^.;says ..that: 1 -no^one.jrill: deny.-.the ..value,-;nf,.'.tne^ : Kbmneytyto v.New Zealand* for, ft ;hai..,»uUcaV.many./a North Island sheepfnrnier ;o'iit of rlbw".-water. -Taking ;.the-stud-.'flock'/figures'*for 1909 ' for . the Dominion as" a' whole,, there -arc -. 218,434 pure. liomneys,,.. .119,503 pure' .'Liricoins, '.98,887>pure;;English.'Leiccsters, and' 86,412 pure Border Xeicestcrs. The demand for ~the-K omney; is', from the rough .country •which-is;being: opened : up, but; the figure's ,do»not, indicate -in 'any, way. : that the other breeds; are being displaced' in .the the: (South'. Island;