THE MERINO OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2387, 30 November 1899, Page 18

THE MERINO OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE.

MY NEW ZEALAND CRITICS.

(By "Lana," in the Sydney Mail.)

When I wrote in June last the article with tho above heading, I expected some criticism on it, and thought it would have coma from the colonies most concerned — viz., Victoria and Tasmania, but the first I saw came from New Zealand in the shape of invited criticism on my article by the proprietors of the Weekly Preas, who had done me the honour to reprint my article in' full, and had asked some of the ' leading merino sheepbroeders in New Zealand to forward them, their opinions "As to whether tho merino in New Zealand has been improved of late years to "the same .extent as is said to have' been in Australia ; , whether the introduction of the American strain,, or a more extended? use of it, would bo' advisable from either a wool or mutton point of view j and whether there is any foundation fojr the belief that the American strain produoes mutton of inferior flavour and texture." Breeders were also. asked to give their views as to the future of merino sheep-breeding in their colony, and whether the right lines are being pursued to produce the beat paying wool, and "afc the same time' produce a sheep that will nob bo inferior to the present merino, as the foundation of the prime freezer." The proprietors of the Press can congratulate themselves on the fact thai their invitation h.ia been responded to by a far ' larger numberof sheepbreeders in that colony than the mosfc momentous question affecting- the pastoral industry ' ever received • from breeders ■in New South Wales. From-the appearance of tha first to the last letters-! carefully noted tha salient points that my., critics, touched upon.. A few of those I hafte.lost, but I have quit© sufficient matter in hand to place, before my, readers a digest of the whole. Before doing so, however, I ami sorry ta confess that the result has left 'the most points I touched upon still in'the sanie position. E did not expect otherwise, for "doctors'! (sbeepbreeders) differ in New Zealand jusfc in the same ratio as in the other- colonies* However, my readers will bo the beat judge*' of how my contentions liavo been disposed of by the breeder?. Mr 11. O. Campbell, Otekaike, is of opinion! that New Zealand has not improved her merino flocks to the same extent as Australian Says that the Australian mutton of to-day ia not to be compared with the Australian mutton of 15 years ago. Thinks that New Zea-< land should try to produce a merino pecu> liarly itß own, ewes to be large pawed*.--Fancies a judicious introduction of Steiger oi'-JFisher blood, and advises breeders nqfr & gQ too deeply, into, the, American, gtxsigu

Mr William Gardiner, Ngapara, is of the same opinion as the last writer as to the need of improvement in the New Zealand merino flocks. Does not like Americans, but gives no logical reasons for the dislike. Likes the Fisher blood.

Mr H. E. B. Tripp, Orari Gorge, has also similar opinions on the lack of improvement in. the present merino in New Zealand. Says it has gone back. Does not like either Americans or Tasmanians, but, like Mr Gardiner, produces no tangible argument in support. The New Zealand merino of the future should be a dense-woolled, strong oombing, clear-eyed, large-framed cheep, more like the South Australian type. Mr W. Thomsdn, Balmoral, is of opinion jhat the strides made in the improvement of the merino in New Zealand have been as large as in Australia, and that she is breeding the right stamp of sheep. Does not know anything of American types. Sir John Hall, Hordrata, states that when merinos were imported from New South Wales, in the fifties, these sheep were short6tapled,' fine-woolled, black-tipped, and abundantly wrinkled. They clipped barely 51b of wool. He is of opinion that the increase in weight iD New Zealand has kept pac,e with that in the other colonies. The tendency of the New Zealand pastures is to produce a rather strong quality wool. Of the American cheep he cannot speak as yet -authoritatively, but is giving this- type a trial. At the same time, he thinks the South Australian breed the beet adapted for the colony. He started with Rambouillets and Tasmanians.

Mr C. Ensor, Mount Grey, is very decided that the merino in New Zealand has much deteriorated, although a good improvement is now taking place. He says there are two types of merinos in the >.olony — the fine Spanish and the South Australian. He does not know anything .of the American type. If New Zealand wants fine wool, he thinks, it should stick to the Belle Vues (Tasmania). Mi Ensor lays down a type foi the future, which should be a dense sheep with but few wrinkles.

Mr C. W. Reid, Clifton, Elderslie, Oamaru, is of opinion that the merinos are not as good in the islands as they were 10 years ago. He is a great believer in the American strain, which he bought first in 1894. Thinks there is no question of theii -superior constitution and heavy clipping qualities. It is a sheep suited to" the high country. The mutton of the American sheep he considers good. Mr John H. Davidson, sen., Leonards, Culverden, pays that from 1881 to 1896 there has been no improvement in the wool of the colony. He does not know much of the American sheep. Mr C. Pattullo (New Zealand and Australian Land Company), Dunedin, is of opinion that the merino in "New Zealand has not improved to the same extent as in Australia. Ho thjnks that a judicious, use of the American strain will give an increase of wool, but ho would advise using it only to a slight extent.

Mr Watson Shennan, Conical Hills, Pomahalca, is in favour of the present stylo of New Zealand sheep, and prefers the Tasmanian type. Says the merino in the colony has improved. He writes a good deal about the American sheep, but his remarks show that he is very little conversant with that type. Mr George Rutherford, Dalethorpe, says that the New Zealand merino has not impioved of late years, owing to many breeders using fine-woolled Tasmanian. Since he discontinued using the sheep the average yield per fleece increased over 21b. He thinks ihat it would be advisable to use the American sheep in the cold, hilly country. He is a believer in the Southt Aurlralian type. Mr Charles Goulter, Hawkesbury. filenheim, is of opinion that in the province of Marlborough and Amuri Valley the sheep liave improved, as any flock of standing will average over 81b wool, and will also hold their own a? regards price per lb with Australian clips. He thinks a right flaynp of American would improve, provided it was not too wrinkly. ' Mr John Anderson, Kerehu, Hawke's Bay, Tays that New Zealand made, as good an improvement in her merino sheep as the other colonies. This gentleman objects to the table of weights and prices from 1881 to 1896 which I quoted in my article lo r s«pport my contentions. He says they by no means prove my argument as regards New South Wales being « country with so many seasons. He thinks I have taken a three years' basis only. Hil, .views on American sheep are much distorted, and he evidently knows little about jhem. He has taken tills year's ihow and sales to "nipport his views. Mr Gideon Rutherford,. Castle Rock, PJeuuant Point, is a great believer in the American sheep, and says that the New Zealand sheep lack the density ot this type, which .will stand hardship and tussock feeding us .well as any colonial merino. As regards .he flavoui, quality, and texture of their mca.'; ho can find n-o difference to any other. Mr John Murohieon, Lake Ooleridee. tauufiT

that the New Zealand merino has improved J in the same ratio as the merino in the other j colonies. Has never been in Australia nor i knows little of the American type. Mr Frank H. Smith, Waratah, Albury, says the sheep in the colony have not improved, but have been neglected. He quotes the opinions of Mr Thomas Shaw as" to the value of the American strain. Mr Smith also, by his remarks, has little knowledge of the American sheep. Mr A. W. Rutherford, Mendip Hills, writes ] the longest letter on- the subject, and lays \ down rules as to the -class of sheep New Zea : " land breeders should go in for. He saw the American sheep in Sydney, and condemns them wholesale, for he particularly mentions their minor frames. In fact, if this sheep were human Mr Rutherford would bp overwhelmed with libel actions. He is evidently a believer in the South Australian jheep only. " There are a few more criticisms, but as I; mentioned already I have lost them. From the above I fancy that several of my readers will be rather amused at the contradictory evidence. The evidence as to the New Zealand merino having improved gives 10 against and 6 for ; as regards, the use of .the American strain, the replies, so far ac 1 have them, say, 3 for, 6 against, 4 half and half, and 4 neutral. In many of the replies there is shown a lamentable ignorance of these aheep. Nor can I understand any of the antagonism against the Tasmanian sheep. Sir Jolin Hall says he is giving the American strain a trial. Unless he does so in the most practical manner, and uses the right blood, as well as the right cros3 on the dam's side, he may probably not succeed. In Messrs C. W. Reid, j C. Pattullo, and Gideon Rutherford we have gentlemen who have more than a super- J ficial knowledge of these sheep, and two of i the three speak decisively of the merits of this j strain. If Mr A. W. Rutherford had gone ' to, tay, either Coonong or Widgiewa and seen ' the American sheep on the native pastures, he j would have written in a different strain. I have seen many more thousands of them than Mr Rutherford has hundreds, and I certainly would never condemn them for their narrow frames. i

I have at present the right to maintain that my arguments have not been successfully combated. From what I know of the course of sheepbreeding I must say that the Weekly Press will be amply repaid for the publicity of opinions it has given to the subject, for already there are indications of an impetus to New Zealand merino wool producing, and when in a few years the improvement will be marked, the Press will be able to lay claim to having acted as the great stimulus towards it.