Ke Sheep .Hipping Experiments in Hawkes Bay. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1688, 29 March 1884, Page 7

Ke Sheep .Hipping Experiments in Hawkes Bay. TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— Preferring to your issue of March 8, 1 note you give the report of the trial by the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society of the several sheep dips tried by them, and wherein there is a clerical error of Mr Fitzroy's, the writer of the report in the first instance, which was corrected in a subsequent issue of the Hawke's Bay Herald. Instead of reading, " On the 17th of October we assembled at Longlands," it should be, " On the 17th of September," &c — a difference of a month, and a material difference to aid the sheep dip manufacturers concerned. As I have just returned from Hawke's Bay after a stay there of three weeks, I have learnt further particulars of the trial from flockowners who were present, and which are not mentioned in the Society's report.

Firstly. One dip manufacturer, through an agent, sent dip to be tested. There was not a sufficient quantity to fill the Longlands bath up to the proper height for dipping, so as to cover the sheep properly with the liquid ; and this dip did not get a fair trial in consequence. The judges did not mention this fact. Secondly. There are thirteen sheep missing, and not returned to Mr Knight, the lender of the sheep, which I am told died from the effects of using the poisonous dips, whereas tho judges only report those sheep as having died. If thirteen sheep are killed out of 150 (the quantity of sheep used for the three poisonous dips), what would be the loss in Hawke's Bay out of the several thousands there if everyone were to use poisonous dips in the same manner ?

Thirdly. No sheep died after using the nonpoisonuus dips. Fourthly. Notwithstanding the deleterious effects of arsenic upon the wool for months after dippiagj which every flockmaster knows who has used it, the wool experts report iv favour of ali the arsenical dips, which confirms the belief of several of the Hawke's Bay flockmasters that it was a foregone conclusion for the judges to "go for" poisonous dips. Fifthly. The dipping took place only two months before shearing. Who ever heard of such a time for dipping ? The full benefits of nune of the dips could be accurately arrived at at such a season — six to nine months before shearing being the proper time for dipping, as every flockmaster knows.

Sixthly. Several of the flockmasters in Hawke's Bay attach no importance whatever to the Society's trial except that of seeing which dip discolours the wool, which would be plainly seen with so much wool on as the sheep had at that time, and this is the only real good the Society's trials were ; tor a gentleman who has already tried one of the dips the judges repoi Led so favourably upon, has only been too glad to return it and use his old non-poisonous dip. '

Seventhly. A fiftther public trial was instituted in Hawke's Bay in February by Mr Hay ward on the following terms, at the proper dipping season :—(1): — (1) Any maker of sheep dip, or his agent, wiil be to compete on paying his own expenses and finding sheep. (2) Lousy sheep to be selected for the trial, (o) Three or four . practical sheepf armors, in nowisa interested in the sale of a sheep dip, to be the judges. (4) The judges to bo present at the time of dipping, as per H.B.A. and I*. Society's trials. (5) The judges to examine the sheep one month- after dipping, sama as 11.8.A. and P. Society. (G) Lousy sheep then to be put among the dipped ones, (7) The judges then to examine the sheep six weeks afterwards, and report as to the condition of the several sheep and the wool thereon. (8) The weight of fleec ) at shearing time to be taken note of by the owners of the sheep, and compared with previous year's clip. (U) Samples of the wool will bj sent to Bradford manufacturers and users (not to woolbrokers, as H.B.A. and P. Society) for a report from them thereon. — The result is being watched with considerable interest.

Eightly. I saw that the non-poisonous dips were still being used this year in Haw Ice's Bay, and doubtless where they are used properly they have good results. I give you the above facts, so that flockmasters in other parts of the Colony may not be misled by the incomplete report published by the H.B.A. and IJ.1 J . Society's judges.— l am, &c, Justice. Masterton, Wairarapa, March 14.