OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER;

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 8

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER;

(From Our Special Cop.r.!S7o:rD£ifT.) BRADFORD, April 4. DELAINE v. RAMBOUILLET MERINOS'.

Thero is abundant evidence that there is an increased interest in that class of shee}) which will produce a good staple of wool and at the tame time a good, square carcase, capable of taking on a sufficient amount of flesh and fat to be saleable for - mutton at mutton prices. We are aware that there are several breeds which can satisfactorily fill these requirements, but in, this instance we will confine ourselves to the delaine, or American, and the Rambouillet merinos. The Rambouillet in some countries is be3t known as the French merino, having first come from France. The delaine, or American, merino is in . blood and lineage tho same as the Spanish merino, having been bred with a view to securing a sheep which would produce . a quality of wool equal in fineness and . strength to the Australian merino, and a" . stock ram, crossed on the bare-faced and bare-legged sheep in the west" of the v United States, would recover them and still v preserve the herding and mutton qualities. Tho delaine differs from the Spanish merino in this respect, that it has been bred! for a lengthy staple known as fine delaine, which is much sought after by manufacturers for many classes of goods, yet im fineness it is not equal to the pure merino.

The delaine possesses superior muttoix qualities to the former, and the weight o£ carcase has been considerably increased. The quality of the mutton as to flavour ia said to be equal to any sheep, and there are ' few who can tell the difference between it and £hat of the purely mutton breeds. Th« delaine has also been bred with an eye tot taking on fat more liberally than the Spanish; type. The delaine is generally conceded, to be an American product wholly, bredi with great care and by well-known breeders. The lamb-producing qualities have not beeni neglected in their breeding, and the ewes are good milkers, and will raise a lamb afe one year of age without materially injuring or diminishing their own growth. While we cannot claim for the delaine the ability to raise spring lambs for market where they are required, it is nevertheless a most desirable sheep for general purposes. Looking now at the Rambouillet, the early history and character of these sheep are less known than in the case of the delaine. We are not fully aware of tho # important features which the French shepherds had in view except what the sheep themselves evince. Coining from the moun-' tainous sections of France originally, they are naturally accustomed to exposure, and show from their appearance that a strong constitution has been one of flic creat aims of the shepherd. The Rambouillet is a merino, and the name "French, merino" is more- explanatory of their character. Some of the earliest importations were made by breeders in the state of Vermont, but it is only within a few years that they have come into prominence in that state. The demand for these sheep has arisen on account of their extra size and hardiness, which are now evident iff their ram?.

The flppce of jhe Rambouillet contains less yolk than that of the delaine ; the length is about the same, while fibro is a grade coarser and is generally lacking strength as compared with the delaine merino. There is no question su. to ability to thrive on coarser feed than the othei* breed, and the ewes are better milkers and are more productive, often raising two lambs of good size, and they can be bred! every six months, or at least it is being 5 done in several flocks. It is very nuestionnble as to whether such a course is advisable, as it rcourres much p^tra feed and! r-are. which would be impossible to a lan?e band of «heep. They are wonderfully prolific, and the lambs are marketable with a little extra feed in about the same time aa those of the mutton breeds, and they usually brinsr about the game price per liead. "What are the recommendations of these sheen to colonial brppdp-re? Thft Vermont^ hav> been triot] in Australia, and succeeded', and afr-er rhf Rambouillet character of fleece* has been full*- •"•"ieh«H we must say that ifa ■ cannot hold its own aeainst thfi -American! fleeces. Tlkm-p is not that deoth of staple, not tiiat ••ln-,ticity and combine property th/it buvPix like to see. the wool boincr alto-

Never nr-tclect •' bad cough; there is n.9 knowing v hat it may develo|) into. Take TVSSIOURAi

jfcether leaner. In South America the Earnfcouillet was largely bred before paetoralists (were smitten with ihe crossbred craze, but ifchere is little likelihood to-day _of their Bgain returning to the- French merino. COURSE OF WOOL PRICES. There is or all sides an exceptionally strong tone prevailing, and were it not that the week's business has been marred by holidays, a good turnover might have ibeen done. This much can, however, be said, that things are all heading for another good move, and on a basis that indicates some slight improvement on recent Transactions. The price difficulty is the only one that blocks the way, but as topraakers have found out they have nothing •whatever to throw away or to handle loosely with a prospect of replacing stocks at a lower range of values, there is a solid front being shown and a pressing home uf rates that will ultimately compel spinaiers to respond to the asking prices of holders. Consumption continues undirniniahed, and with limited stocks in sight there is no fear being felt about the future. Even crossbreds are maintaining their price, and likely to do. Both combers and spinners have all their machines fully running, indicative of an existing call for tops and yarns. The following table shows the course of the market for standard articles during the past month : —

100 Description of Staple. J 'I pit & X h* 2 *- 1 M— — I I — a. U. d. d. d. Lincoln hoggs ... ... Lincoln wethers Deep-crown hoggs... ... Deep-crown wethers . . . White super hoggs WTiite super wethers [risa hopes [ri»h wethersShropshire hoggs Shropshire wethers Drd halfbred hopes Orel. h«lfbred wethers ... Wiltshire Down tegs Wiltsh ire Down ewes super 60's, col. tops Ordinary 60's, col. tops ... Ordinary 40"«, col. tops ... Ordinary 36's, col. tops ... Ordinary 60's, Bueno3 Ayres tops furkey average mohair . . . Sape firsts, mohair ?:' I! i 5i 5 ? 64" 6§ • c * 6i 6| X} 74 7* ?■?' 6 j 6 9J i<i 91 9i sot aii 19 J 19} 8i 8J 7? 7| 7* 5i ? I 7? 7i 61 si 21" 2©} 1' ' 73 9 \¥ 5} 7 ? 7J 74 61 9i 9J 21 20} Si s" 7f I s 5J 7 1 ! ?! 6i 9i 9^ 21 2i 8i 8 19J 19* J(j 16 14 14 193 16 14 20 16 14 20 16 14