SHEEP-FARMING IN CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14566, 31 December 1910, Page 8

SHEEP-FARMING IN CANADA.

A STEADY EXPANSION.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Christ church, Friday. The special correspondent of the Christchurch Press, writing on agriculture in Canada, and discussing the prospects of sheep-farming there, says a point of some interest to New Zealand is as to bow far sheep raising ie likely to be carried out with success. It is characteristic of the thoroughness with which the Canadian Pacific Railway does its work that when ho asked for information from one of its authorities at Calgary, he had placed before him the office file on this subject, which included a report by a New Zealand paetoralisfc, Mr. Foster F. Neil, of Otago. This gentleman stated that the soil in Alberta was for the most part of an alkaline nature, and in Australia and New Zealand the soundest sheep country was found on soils of this nature. He thought the "short grass country" of Alberta exactly suited for sheep. He added that the blizzards in spring were the most serious proposition which the sheep farmer had to face, bub pointed out that sheepfarming was carried out in 'the Mackenzie Country, New Zealand, although \ there were at times heavy losses from snowstorms, while in Australia the industry flourished in spite of droughts. On the whole, he thought that the extra price of mutton in. Canada would compensate for the risks from blizzards.

Mr. Petersen, the company's commissioner of lands at Calgary, who has given a good deal of attention to the subject, says that already sheep-farming is showing steady expansion, and he is evidently a believer in its future. "Sheen ranching" is at present confined entirely to Southern Alberta and West Saskatchewan, the foundation stock being mainly Merino, Lincolns, and Shropshires, used for crossing. The flocks vary fram 2000 to 23,000.

A resident of Alberta, who had lived for about 25 years in the district, assured the writer that the merino wool raised there was of exceptionally fine quality, and now that the country wasJbeing fenced and divided, he had no doubt there would be a great development of the industry. Doubtless moro attention would be given to sheep as the country became more developed, and settlers turn their attention to mixed farming, but, personally, he did not think that Australia and Now Zealand need fear much competition from Canada in this direction.