CAN SHEEP-FARMING BE MADE TO PAY?

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 184, 17 July 1869, Page 4

CAN SHEEP-FARMING BE MADE TO PAY?

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir, —The sheep-farming interest has fallen on hard times in the colonies. Every mail brings the gloomy news of wool down twopence per pound; and as there is no market for surplus stock, it behoves all those who are interested in this the staple industry of New Zealand to bestir themselves in order to make sheep-farming remunerative. Over-production is, no doubt, the cause of the low price of wool—a price which leaves a very small margin of profit to the grower. This state of things will, in the course of a few years, bring about a remedy ; but in the meanwhile a great many sheep-farmers will have to succumb, and all who have tided over the evil day will have labored in vain, unless some energetic measures are taken to improve the quality of our wool. The bulk of the New Zealand clip is composed of very inferior wool, showing an utter want of quality. Except such may be fairly attributed to the effect of the climate, indiscriminate breeding and overstocking have done their work, and we now possess an animal with few of the characteristics of the Merino, and which is no longer profitable to keep. Fine combing wool has of late years sold well, and been in great request in the London market, and there is every probability that it will be in great demand n the future, for the area on which food combing wool can be grown is limited. Pith the exception of some small districts, Australia is unsuited for the growth of this description of wool; the Cape of Good Hope, and the La Plata, labour under the same disadvantages as Australia, A hot climate and severe droughts will never admit of the growth of good combing wool. The climate of New Zealand is admirably adapted for the growth of. superior combing wool,. therefore sheep-farmers should endeavor to procure good long wooled rams ; ; for it is only by careful attention to breeding that will enable our wools to realize anything like the old, prices.

Some of the best sheep ever introduced into New Zealand have been procured from the Hock of Mr. John Murray, South Australia. They are magnificent sheep, and clearly demonstrate the wonderful results of a careful system of selection during a long period of years. Our flocks in Marlborough are in a bad state indeed. The squatters have hitherto exercised no care for breeding; a system of exchanging rams bred in neighbouring flocks, and not carefully selected, has been pursued for a long time. Since there has been no market South for surplus stock, the flocks have not been culled : this, with indiscriminate breeding and overstocking, has produced sheep which only by courtesy can be called Merinos. Should wool experience a further decline, the wool of those sheep would be sent to the London market at a loss to the grower ; therefore sheep-farmers should lose no time in procuring good rams, and culling their flocks. Nearly all the runs in Marlborough arc overstocked. One third of the sheep on these rums could be profitably dispensed with, even although the owners had to destroy them, Mr. Lovegrove, of Flaxbourne, has taken a step in the right direction by importing some good long wooled rams from Australia. Mr, Tinline, of Fernhurgt, has imported some good sheep from South Australia, but being a clothing wooled description of sheep, they are not so well adapted for crossing with our flocks. It is much to be regretted that Mr. Tinline did not go to a first-class breeder and obtain some superior long wooled sheep ; for there is certainly no place in Marlborough so well suited for rearing a stud flock as Fernihurst. our Amuri neighbors have been importing rams, and carefully culling their flocks for some years, so that there are some good flocks to be seen in Amuri now. The Parnassus flock has enjoyed the reputation of being the best flock in the Amuri : this, like a great many popular fallacies, has long since exploded—they are a short wooled description of sheep ; their wool is of firm quality, but, like a great many sublunary things, when weighed it is found wanting. Mr. Robinson, of Cheviot Hills, has a very good flock; his wool has always realized a good price in the London market. Mr. Rutherford, of Leslie Hills, has the best flock inTthe.. Amuri ; he has since imported some first-class sheep from South Australia, and he has always carefully culled his flock, and the result is that the Leslie Hills’ flock is unequalled in the Amuri. The sheep last imported by Mr. Rutherford are from the celebrated long wooled flock of Mr, .John Murray, South Australia, and are splendid sheep. Mr. Rutherford deserves the thanks of the pastoral community for the spirited manner in which he is striving to improve the staple produce of the country ; but he is already receiving his reward, for the Leslie Hills’ clip brings a higher price than any other wool grown in the Amuri. Mr. John Tinline, of Lyndon, has commenced boiling down, which promises to be a great success. Mr. Tinline will, at the lowest estimate, net five shillings per head on his surplus stock. This will reduce sheep-farming to something like a system, for all surplus stock can be disposed of, if they are in any condition. Mr. Tinline has the high honor of inaugurating a new era in sheep-farming in New Zealand, which does him infinite credit. Mr. Gooch is erecting a boilingdown establishment at Kaikoura, which will be in operation in a month ; every lover of progress will wish him success. The last mail from England brings news that the preserved meat sent home has proved a great success; It is to be hoped that a brighter day is about to down on a much depressed industry.—l am, &c.. Sheep-farmer.