SHEEP AND WOOL

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 237, 21 June 1926, Page 8

SHEEP AND WOOL

». S2£a hi »■• »•" »“\ our Si' Though I am not so sure. he is ffed in what ho eaid, judging by what » in the salevards, however, I k .ho is right. kfr. Ackroyd recommended us to cross our sheep with Wensleydale sheep. r ’ lere ’ s qkie to this question, for Dr. Day ot University of Leeds, has an article nf how to gTt rid of the tendency to throw block lambs in Wensleyda e flock He states: “In the Wensleydale breed it is well known, although, black lambs are never bred from m regmtered flocks, considerable numbers of black lambs are born,” and he is now on-

gaged in a very interesting Mendelian experiment of liow to breed, out this tendency to black lambs in the breed. It is clear, however, that had the Romney breeders taken Mr. Ackroyd’s advice we might have had a breed of Romneys which . grew black wool and saved the necessity of dipping. In the same page as Dr. Day’s article appears is another from Dr. Finlay (now, I believe, in Sydney,' but. lately attached to the Animal “Breeding Research Department of the East of Scotland Agricultural College), in which he says:— "The Romney Marsh is the most popular breed in New Zealand, but it differs considerably from the sheep of Kent. Wool is not a by-product to the New Zealand breeder, but is just as important as mutton. The fleece of the New Zealand Romney is far ior to that of the English Comin, and breeders in the South of England could do worse than introduce the New Zealand variety, either for breeding in the pure state or for blending with the native breed of Kent.” The old adage tells us that "It is better to stick to the devil we know” than to turn to the unknown, and it is apparently verified in this instance.—l am, etc., JATifES G. WILSON, Bulls, June 18. WORK FOR PARLIAMENT Sir,—As a farmer I should like to know if my fellow-farmers can make their farms pay? In mj- case, after hard work and economy 1 lose £4OO cn this last season's operations. I am told that three out of every five farmers in tliis would be better off working on the roads than on the farm. Wo complain about the banks, stock and wool commission charges, cost of manure, and speculators in butter, wool, and meat, but I think these are all minor to tho excessive cost of the land. I hear it stated, and I believe it is true, that the average value of land is JHO per aero too dear. As farmers we seldom talk about land being too dear, because we nearly all want to sell out, and we hope the other fellow will give us our price. May 1 suggest that a suitable subject for the Government' and “Parliament to consider is this very question of dear land, and a remedy for some of it can bo found, it is most painful to know of, and see, good, hardworking farmers and their families being continually pushed out, or. walking off their farms, losing their life savings and years of hard work. If this goes on much longer it is bound to adversely affect the whole of the community. It is of supreme importance, and should be urgently taken up by Parliament.—l am., etc., SHEEP COCKY. June 17.