ENTERPRISE IN SHEEP-BREEDING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XIII, Issue 762, 25 February 1860, Page 5

ENTERPRISE IN SHEEP-BREEDING.

(From tlie 'S ; MrHerald.') -- Our numerous readers who are interested in pastoral affairs will be gratified, to learn that a new . form of commerce is likely to arise which will tend to the improvement.bbth of the Australian and European flocks. It has been long known that sheep as well as other - animals undergo important changes by blending different races, or when trans-; ferred from one climate to-ari other.'ln tlie' early-' history of..,.this country' the ".; examples ; were <■■ extremely striking.. The original sheep were ; imported here from, Bengal, ;and their wool was ■ of the character of 'the- hair ;of; goats. ; Cap- \ tain -Macarthur, the , founder/'.qf.; ■, our .pastoral: wealth, first imported three Merinorams and a tew ewes. The improvement of .the wool produce was ' astounding, and soon pointed ,out to ;.the: colonies : that this was the true source of Australian opulence. Since that time, as every,reader is aware, it has been the ambition of Australian flockmasters : to draw from the flocks of Europe the-best stock which money could buy. Weare glad to find that '■ we are about to return some of the benefits which we have received from Europe, in the same form, and that from the Australian .flocks, it isnotim-' probable those of Europe will derive the means of! sustaining their former reputation, and in'some: instances of preventing degeneracy; - .-■ <.'..-"./:.' i Mr. George Rich, for. eighteen years a settler in' iNew Zealand, and for many years the possessor of. | a pure merino flock, has communicated to us some; important facts. He left, for; England in the'! oalsette m February last, and has recently returned; "J the same vessel. There is, as affpersons inter- '! esteu m this subject know, a: splendid flock at. i "ambouillet, near Paris, belonging, to the Emperoiv c" c utmost care has for a long.series of years been uestowed upon its preservation, and purity. It is T v mi™ the management; of,.'. Baron Daurieiv aome of the rams, we are told, are valued at £1000. 0 , . c. h> baying letters of introduction from the gonial Secretavy of New Zealand, was, by Lord introduced to. the Ambassadors of Eng'«tt on the Continent, whofacilitatedhiscommunica"o"s with establishments abroad. ;:.■, -' „ ; in a letter from Baron Daurier to:Mr. Rich, there re noticed incidentally some,important matters inference to the imiterial flock under, his care. He emarks that the magnificence of the ram would not ni v '^.P 1* 6^1* 61106; 11"I^^ we couldbe sure of the 1 Jinty of its blood, because in the.produce, the faults J; a™estry would, reappear without the high snn V^ lch were accidental, -fle lays stress,'too IS! ■<I, mportance of lri-eserving.the purity of the &n llflt. flocks > "so andeA and precious.'! wSi! * m$ !> owever, asks whether it would be of ram! 0/? r- ? ,ch t0 suPP ]y I»m with specimens trenoS- b*autlful conformation, bred for many LTlrn *°%WYe mei'mos> with the wool fine, areThl • y-a,,d m s<iuare docks. These he states opnionT^ sought:for. ;; The Bti£ « V u?S c *° eminent of'what things con r the highest value in even flocks of the finest in na „Lr mec? nsec luence to all who are engaged bow Xr ra1 ,t8! and «till more interesting to Mr W 1 C°lonies Prod«ce. them. Baron S'i a 2? r W"S corresponded with the Csic VlS ted I the flo°lcs of Germany-of Berlin, distS Th 6n ' pastoral not venr **}•? *' of ™ us general inspection was iag S tlßfact? ry- The flocks, thoughtpossess«on Ia T T° l exhlb'ted feebleness of constituHe re te )II1 a(le;ta them. locat do« Vll lfce? a Spanish merino flock, ■™w on the borders of Prussia. These were

found tobe of the' finest description. Hitherto the proprietor Md;refused;fo s.oll any ewes, but at this particular time .the danger of war .with Prance was imminent. Troops were passing through the place for stratagetieul purposes, suggostod by apprehensions of waiv /It whs therefore .possible tot obtain from ,this • proprietor a largo nu-mbor of ewes and rams. Thosei have been placed chiefly in Lavant Park, part of the estate of the Duke, of Richmond. The plan intended is to select from this flock from time to time such as may be adapted for exportation io the Australian colonies; :'-':- "<y :"■■'

j On his, return to Paris, Mr. Rich entered into an; agreement with Baron Daurier to send from his New Zealand flock a sufficient' number of rama for the imperial flock, tlie Baron being determined in this step by the superior Quality of the specimens of wool submitted for hisiinspection, and Which are now in the Crystal Palace for exhibition. ■ - s<'5 <- ' • ' We a*re informed that Egypiwlll not' improbably have the benefit of this "friendly intercourse of nations." On the banks of, the Nile the sheep have- maintained their type -unaltered: for ages. The wool, though plentiful, has but little marketable value. It is, howeveiv possible, by the intrbr duetion of foreign sheep, to change it into a:most export. As the Pacha '-possesses absolute power in all matters of internal'improvement, a movement in this direction... would probably be attended with very extensive;and'rapidresults,;i:: ; The peculiar fact to which :we direct^more particular attention is the growing importance of that system1 of exchange which is now ;clearly established. The superior, qualities; acjjuh;ed; ;in the Australian pastures'will thus be imparted to the European flocks, while the strength and purity of ithe ■ original breeds will be available ;to us—thus constituting an important and novel traffic, which must in theJong run improve the general resources ;of these colonies, as well as add:to the wealth of ; the old world.. .-■■ '.■"'"■'. .\\! --j:* '■''s-\Syy-:'s v>; ;. It is thus from small beginnings that great results, are ultimately secured. No one imagined, when England was totally dependent itpoir the Spanish and German flocks, that her manufacturing industiy could exist by the supply .of raw material from her own dominions. vThe happy enterprise of ithe Ma'carthurs, and gentlemen of the same spirit", so successful for themselves, so advantageous' -to their fellow colonists, and not less so-to England, •goes far not only to place the manufacturers at home in a state of independence of the flockmasters of the Continent, but also to enable us; toi restore to foreign countries those advantages once derived .from them, against their will, and which we are so happy to reciprocate.—Free trade is a grand truth!