OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 7

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

(Feoii Ock Special Coheesfondent.) BRADFORD, APRIL 22. SHEEP ENVIRONMENT. Environment has much to do with the thrift of animals, just a3 it has with the human race. The same, sun's rays which would bo death to us is "innocuous c!c-sue-tude" to the native of Bengal. The various Ex)glish mutton breeds of sheep arp children of environment. They are productions of different localities, and are. peculiarly adapted to the environment of thc*^ localities. Thf nature of the soil has a lot to do with the thrift of the flock, and this mu?t be rated among; the cardinal factors of cm iromnent Thii. however, does not altogether mean the fertility of the soil. Take the rich le\u'l ]pn<U of the American corn btlt. It ij hard fur ni--» to -atisfy myself that the Down biecds of *iioep wjM lhri\e so cati-factordj* on 'iieii soils a.s they will 011 the equally fertile ?oiK in certain sections of England and thy United states, for tin reason th.it such soils are of a tougher, gicaaior, and le-os poious nature, and are naturally vciy hea\ lly impregnated with lime, salts and cthrv minerals ; to say nothing— in tho case of Eu^lard particularly — of those added m the shape of arti» iicial feitihsers. such as phosphates, nitrates, potash, =alt, lime, etc. Whi'e I b-eikvo that the. English soil to which I have made-, reference would show a much higher analy-1 — - ■ *■

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sis, pound for pound, than American prairie soil, but wouid be nowhere with it in matter of depth, it is ideal sheep land, for it ensures a firm footing, which means a good deal to sheep. The shepherd who is a keen observer of nature cannot have failed to notice how reluctantly lambs play on soft, spongy soil, but how readily they unlimber and skip and play when they reach a hard, eolid footing. The same is true of the adult members of the flock. When on. spongy land they walk as if they have a fear of falling, much as wo do when walking over slippery places. Although the Down breeds may seem to thrive for a v/hile on such land, it is not usually very long befoi*e they become unhappy, restless, and appear to be out of their proper element. The original and natural home of the sheep is on high, dry, hilly, or mountainous lands, and lie has not yet lost his instinct in this respect, even after his longterm of domestic servitude, as it will be noticed that whenever oj^ortrunity affords he will take to high land with the same eagerness that we shuffle off board ship after a long sea voyage, or the readiness ivhich a hen-raised duck take 3to water.

Another cardinal factor of environment is elevation. Localities which might be a paradise to the heavier of the mutton breeds ar© in some oases a hotbed of ailments to the active little hill country breeds. As with the poorer classes of humanity, perhaps high, living is too much for them. The Hampshire may bt transferred to bleak and barren hi'ls with a certainty of its becoming dwarfed in tho process of adjusting itself to its new environment. Therefore, it must be- seen how very easy a matter it is to unconsciously abuse a breed by placing it in unsuitable environment. There are but a few of us that cannot recall instances of where enthusiasts have entered the sheep business equipped with the best of locks and ap-

pliances for their management that money would buy, and a stock of hope that was admirable, and in, three years had quit the business in disgust and pronounced the breed they once doted on as useless. In many instances the cause of their failure •was mismanagement, but in many more environment was responsible, and so long as we do not make -environment a study, other failures will be chronicled, and we shall continue to import to hold up the starch rd of our fiock— not to say improve it. While abundant rations are l^eded to keep the modern, mutton breeds thriving, the character and location of the farm upon which grueh rations are raised have their significance. Hill sh&ep are really freer from epidemics, notwithstanding the hardships and privations they are called upon to endure, than those 'breeds raised under more artificial oonditions. In some of the very rich grazing districts in England thousands of big, strong wethers are fattened each year where not a single breeding sheep is kept, for the reason that a breeding flock cannot long endure the strong land! and rich pastures afforded. "VVe do not give enough attenton to the matter of environment. Time, perhaps, would bring about a kind of reconciliation between a breed and unsuitable looal conditions, so that at tho end of a series of generations it would become "to the manner born."

(CONDITIONS IN BRADFORD.

Tbc-re seems at last to 'be a stif among il:o dry boras of Bradford, and, speakng generally, thngs are a shade better, moreparticularly in crossbred descriptions. Fine wool tops move very tardily, and prices respond very slowly indeed in the absence of any keen demand. There is far moro inquiry and far more being done in crossbred qualities, and so far as one can judge, there is a distinctly more hopeful feeling for coarse, giown descriptions. Merinos

somehow hang firo a great deal, and precious little is being don© by way of anticipating any further wants. There are plenty of tops offering of a super 60's quality at 234 d, and no uneasiness in felt over the future. I can find nobody that is at all concerned about stocking tops, and the general tendency is to go strictly from hand to mouth in the hope of buying to better ad-vantage later on. Spinners have perhaps experienced a little more inquiry for merino yarns the last ten days, which has rather strengthened their position, and as far as o»o can judge consumption, if anything, is a sbade better. It will be a movement in this quarter that will tell the most in favour of Botany wools, and if Bradford dress goods can be boomed this next season, it will nudcrially benefit the very department that needs most support. At present there is much complaining among Bradford wholesale houses at the pronounced quiotness of the dress goods trade, spring repeats being below the average. In an indirect way the splendid advertisement given by royalty to t-he Bradford trade should materially benefit the fine wool trade, but. of course, it will be a question of time before the incident tells upon the general trade.

In crossbred wools we have a mighty faeior which is telling materially on the Bradford trade to-day, and a 9 far as one can judge thei'e will be no cessation of demand for some time to come. There is every prospect of prices being fully maintained next series in London, anything from 32's to 40's bein^ tho turn dearer. Prices generally have been advanced to 13d for a 10's top, and more is reported doing in crossbred yarns. Irish wools are worse to buy, and holders will not sell under increase. Mohair shows no change, and only low ports arc selling.