STOCK BREEDING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXV, Issue 162, 25 June 1935, Page 11

STOCK BREEDING

King’s Activities in Farming

SANDRINGHAM STUDS The King is the third George in a roll of Royal farmers stretching for 150 years. For it is exactly that space of time since George lll,'performed the first act of the agricultural career which won him the name of “Farmer George” by stocking the little park at Windsor with cattle and sheep. But George V., in whom love of the countryside and its pursuits, and keen interest in the industry of the land, are thus inbred, is but the second Royal farmer at Sandringham, writes Mr Percy W. D. Izzard in an interesting article in the “Farmers’ Weekly,” describing his Majesty’s agricultural activities. And it is because King George is personal Owner of the beautiful Norfolk Estate, bought and developed by his father, because he practises the oldest industry there so well and progressively, sharing with his fellow farmers the changes of fortune, and the struggles and successes that they bring; and because at Sandringham he is the Royal squire and a model to all who possess and farm large estates and employ many people that the Royal home in the county of Norfolk has a peculiar interest and appeal to agriculturists everywhere.

Mr Izzard states that Sandringham is, and always has been, a private sanctuary, a home in the sense that no palace or castle belonging to the State ever could assume. From the late King Edward, who as Prince of Wales in 1863 bought the original property, the estate came through Queen Alexandra into the possession of th® King. It has been extended meanwhile, and to-day comprises about 14,000 acres. The name of Sandringham applies to the whole estate, but Sandringham House itself, the little church of St. Mary Magdalene (the King’s country church and home of many beautiful objects and associations), and the charming gardens and grounds (wherein stands York Cottage, the modest birthplace of the Dukes of Y’ork, Gloucester and Kent, and the Princess Royal) lie at its heart, bosomed in beautiful woodland. It is the ver, bower of peace, and his Majesty loves it. PEDIGREE LIVE STOCK. The Royal estate has chief fame in the world of agriculture for its pedigree live stock. The herd of Red Poll cattle maintained at Sandringham is the best known in England, and most often gains disrinet'on. It was formed by the late King Edward in 1886, and thus it is within a year of its golden jubilee. But it did not come into the Herd Book until 1914. In fifteen yeui it has

£2OOO in prizes. The most famous member of the herd was the cow Royal Mavis, which at the Sandringham sale of July, 1923, made 460 guineas. She then had three Royal show championships to her credit, and later she won two more. At 21 years old she is still alive in a Suffolk herd. The latest sale from Sandringham was the 2-year-old bull Royal Antonio. He was sold to Mr J. MacCallum Smith, of Perth, West Australia, a member of the West Australian secession delegation. A herd of Jerseys is kept for the supply of milk and dairy produce to Sandringham House, and there are also some nonpedigree Shorthorns which, with the Red Polls, fulfil the dairy needs of the estate.

The neighbouring county of Lincolnshire has a justifiable pride in its red dual-purpose Shorthorns, and of these the King maintains a herd of about 30, representatives of which also appear with success at certain agricultural shows. Then there is the small group of Highland cattle regularly kept on Wolf'erton farm. These picturesque animals are not bred at Sandringham, but yearly three steers and two heifers are bought in Scotland and fed in Norfolk for beef. Examples of the breed are shown as beef beasts at the fatstock exhibitions in Edinburgh and London, and (in the last two years) also at York, always with success and often with championship honours.. Commercial cattle are bought for grazing the marshes and fattening in the yards, to be sold locally as finished beasts for the butcher.

The King’s flock of Southdown ewes was established as long ago as 1870. In a county where the Suffolk sheep is paramount, the Royal Southdowns preserve the proud name of their breed. The rams are in much demand overseas, while representatives of the flock constantly win successes for His Majesty in breed and fat stock classes at the leading shows. There is also a commercial flock of Cotswold-Suffolk first-cross ewes which, bred to a Suffolk ram, give lambs that, alter fattening on turnips, are sold from Christmas onward. STUD OF SHIRE HORSES. While the King keeps pedigree Southdowns in a Suffolk country, he also preserves the fair fame of the Shire horse in a country which is seeing an ever stronger invasion by the Suffolk Punch. His stud of Shires at Appleton is not the least known and successful in the world of the premier draught horse of Britain. Some Berkshires and purebred Middle Whites are kept for supplying porkers, and about twenty Large White sows for breeding bacon pigs. His farms are no closed book to his Majesty. All that is done, every new enterprise, the welfare and successes of his stock —in everything he displays a lively interest. Successes are telegraphed from far-off shows to Sandringham with as much certainty of appreciation as would accompany their despatch to any farm in the land. The King on his walks round his estate comes in touch with responsible

herdsmen and others, and some of the servants have spent long periods ot their life in his employ. The King’s sons on their ambassadorial tours of the Empire sometimes meet scions of these old Sandringham servants and chat with them about the home country. It is in these personal considerations, arid in his intimate knowledge of his estate and its people, and concern for their welfare, that the King shines as squire, as Lord of the Manor. His Majesty’s deep regard for Sandringham springs from the fact that it gives him health, pleasure and peace. All the world knows how eager he was to get back there to grow strong and well after his serious illness of six years ago.

There is also the infinite pleasure of his gardens and chastely-planted home grounds Many improvements have been effected in the last few years by planting here, or opening up there, which His Majesty himself has directed. “And if,” states Mr. Izzard in conclusion, “from all aesthetic points of view the grounds at Sandringham were never so beautiful, and their vistas so full of varying interest and charm as in this year of loyal rejoicing, it is largely due to the fact that the King has a true eye for landscape and a great love for trees and flowers.”