THE ROMNEY MARSH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15968, 29 June 1912, Page 13

THE ROMNEY MARSH.

ThG Romney Marsh is making so much progress in New South Wales that an article ou the breed in the current issue of the " British" Journal of Agriculture" is opportune. Tho characteristic of the Romney whioh surprises most people in Australia is its remarkable hardihood, and the way m which it thrives on rough and hungry country. In the article referred to th« original home of the Romney Marsh is described, and makes clear the breed's thrift on peer areas. " This breed of sheep," says the writer, "has for centuries been kept on the extensive sparsely populated tract of alluvial land qn the southern coast of Kent, known as the Romney Marsh. This land was recovered from the sea at a very early period, and comprises an area of some 40,000 acres of pasture administered ns regards the system of drainago and sea defence by ' the lords of tho level.' .... Tho soil varies in character from a poor sand and barely-covered shingle to a rich alluvial loam. . . . The district 's

bleak and exposed; hedges aro absent, tho fields being divided by dyk*s, whioh in a severe winter, when lightly frozen and filled with snow are a serious danger to the flocks; few trees are found For shade or shelter, and the gales from east and west sweep unchecked across the marsh." As long as records exist the breed has been kept practically pure. Probably the improved Leicester was introduced to somo extent into the Romney blood, and it is generally considered to advantage; but the maiu characteristics of the southern sheep were not changed. As a contrast to the tendency to-day to market mutton when very young, it is interesting to recall a writer's statement of 1806, that the Romney wethers "seldom reach the market until they are three years old."

The inCuenee of the Leicester, says the "Journal" article, "was to produce a smaller, better sot-up, more compact, deeper oheep thai? the old type, and these weighed more than the long-legged and long-bodied animals; they wore also ready for the butcher a year earlier; they did not consume so much food, and so permitted of increased stocking of tho land, whilst the wool was improved in quality without losing iifl heavy weight. The breed since this period has been maintained pure, and Iks present high position for utility, both as a meat and wool-producing Animal, is duo to the skill and enterprise of the breeders, who are reaping then- reword in the rapidly advancing popularity <>; the breed in the esteem of flock masters ,iil over the world." The Romney is exfeßed as a forager, and the article then goon ejj to say:— " The breed is a prolific one. With good management ono or two lamb ewes should produce half twins, and tegs 10 per cent twins, or twins from a mixed flock. The <-wes are good mothers, and produce plenty of milk. The record from one fleck shews 320 two-la.mb ewes, owes with double.?, 19 <vjih three and 101 singles." And on tin. question of wool and + he value o: the Romney for crossing purptvses: --" ).;, 0 . tool, ns a •rule, sollr at a t-rifi" i.v.re,- price Down wool (though it. h'.s been known to sell at » higher price.) The & v er"ge clip from e«>«.«, washed before clipping is 81b to K'lb: tegs, 71b to l ti' ; lambs, IJlb. A imi'i iaml) agetl lour months has bee" kmnui t. clip 7* IL-. and runs up to ever 201 b. showing the wseibili-

ties of the breed. For crossing pur* poses the Romney is an excellent sub* jeet, the Southdown, Shropshire, Hampshire and Suffolk rams being used, and the quality of tbe mutton is improved by the use of the Down breeds. t For early maturity the Harap-. shire cross is by some considered the most serviceable; others, however, prefer the Shropshire cross, as they fat -eg more quickly, whilst for quality tha Southdown cross makes a Srst<ißss butchers' sheep. The Romneys, being good mothers, feed their lambs welly and a good inany are crossed, 'ior fat lambs." Mr Charles Whitehead, a few ago, called attention to a peculiar habitf cf the Kent or Romney Marsh sbeepy whioh, he claimed, fits them in a sp-v u } degree for grazing marshes: "Kent sheep always feed singly. On boii> : :t into a pasture they immediate! I , persa aft. over it, and feed it' ■■..-■-<i evenly and thoroughly, whereas Do i* and sheep cf other breeds feed is groups, and make bare paths in alt t& rectione by their ' follow-the-ieader ; habits." This habit, no doubt, is an ■ uteome of the conditions of life.' Sheep which pick uf» a living on comparatively poor parture would acquire the habit of scattering in search cf food. Sheep reared on rich pastures aro under no such necessity.