FASHION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 6

FASHION.

In a review of the position of stockbreeding in New Zealand in these columns a few weeks ago, it was remarked that there was a danger of the Clydesdale horse stock of th© colony losing might and power through the influence of the reoent numerous importations of "modern" Clydesdales, much lighter-built horses than the type for which New Zealand has gained a reputation. Th© cihange of opinion regarding the true type of the Clydesdale is an instance of the power of fashion. Wheu.it originated 1 cannot be definitely stated, but certainly there were judges and breeders in the Old Country 25 years or more ago who favoured or fancied a horse of lighter frame and bone, greater "style," and higher on the leg than the generally adopted type. There : is no doubt the points of weight of body i and shortness* of leg, which had been steadfastly striven for by breeders for the previous quarter-century, or longer, had in many cases become exaggerated, coaiseness had often taken the place of substanoe, and the style and action which characterised the true Clydesdale had sufsered. Many blamed this upon the in- ' fusion of Shire Wood, which had been resorted to in order to correct an earlier lightness, which pessimists say will j shortly again be prevalent, as a result of the present fashion. How far this fashion has influenced New Zealand breedea-s may be judged from the fact ' that at the Manawatu show separate classes axe provided for the fashionable ' and for the heavy draught stallions, and at the last Christchurch show the judging in the earlier classes was so cidedly in favour of the modern type that ' owners of horses of the heavier stamp ' later in the catalogue withdrew them from competition. Which is right? Advocates of weight and power declare that if the modern, weedy style is oceepted it will not be long before colonial oreeders will be dfriven to the us© of the /Shire horse, i like the Scottish "breeders of a generation ago, to regain substance in their mares. On tih© other hand, the new school assert that their horses will pull as much and far longer than, the lumbering heavy sorts, which waste half their strength in carrying their own weight. Probably the best answer to the question will b© to point to the character which is possessed by th© winners of the prizes which have been offered at certain Otago shows for the best type of th© Clydeda-l© on th© ground. It is significant that these prizes are almost invariably awarded to mares. The two mares which earned most distinction during the laet show season are unanimously recognisedi as th© true type of Clydesdale, and horses possessing similar characteristics, and also the distinctive male points in equal perfection, must logically be regarded as true types of tlhe male Clydesdale. A comparison between such an ideal horse and those which have been imported dloring th© last few years as being of the type which is the fashion at Home will naturally follow, and it must be saidi -that several of the latter would come very well out of the ordeal. It ■vvoula be invidious "to name ©xamples, but those who have followed the principal shows and horse parades have seen recent importations which, in symmetary, substance, and power, are all that an expert breeder could desire, while m qualoty, style, and soundtae&s thiey are an acquisition to the Dominion. At the same time, it must be admitted that amongst the numerous importations there are some which are wanting in th© essential points just •mentioned', and whose buyers must have been victims to the glamour -of fashion. Tf -we can obtain horses as good as" the "best of our mares there will be little danger of deterioration in the stock, and. as has been said, there are horses, colonial-bred as well as imported, which very closely approach this standard. The situation calls for the exercise of th© greatest judgment on the part of breeders. Government inspection, which to some is the universal panacea lot .errors in horsebreeding, as well as in other things, would be. of little avail in this matter. The breeder should be guided by the type of stock wtrich Trill sell beet, artd tttis being so hie will very quickly decide that he cannot afford to sacrifice substance for fashion ; the .result .will be <rreatly to the advantage of future generabioins of draught horses. Th© following of fashion for fashion's sake will lead to disaster. An example -of the evil consequences «f excessive regard for fashion is furnished at the present time by the .position of the Border Leicester breed of sheep. Thds breed 1 has hitiherto been supreme in the Border countries of Scotland and England, but at tihe last annual sales at Keleo, the Mecca «f Border JLnedcester breeders, the local "breed was surpassed ;n; n number by the Oxford Downs. Further, while the best sheep x>ld well, there was a serious decline in the value of and demand for ordinary quality — what in New Zealand! are termed flock rams. The incident naturally much comment, and a leading writer, whose opinion is regarded as authoritative, -states that the Border_imen brought the catastrophe upon themselves by ■« servile following of fashion and striving after fancy points. They had 1 produced! a sheep with long head, narrow face, and' -exaggerated llqbwm* nose and long neck — an effemi-

rate specimen— with th© result that they had also obtained a badly-fattening body, deficient in the mutton joints and hardy constitution which had been the pride of the breed. One very satisfactory observation by th© same authority is that the New Zealand buyers wio operated so strongly at this and other sales directed their attention -to the "blocky" type of sheep, and judging by- those of their purchases which nave been seen, in public since their arrival in the colony they have not been taken captive by- f aahion. The Soots farmers, like those of New Zealand, want a ram which will produce prime lambs and plenty of them, and they have found in the oxford Down th© meaty qualities which many of the Border Leicestßrs have lost. The great injury which was wrought in Ayrshire' cattle a few years ago by the craze for fancy points has not /et been altogether overcome. The teats be-, came so -small that the heifers could scarcely be milked. Many will remember the story of an English celebrity who bought a priz& Ayrshire, and on her arrival at liis residence telegraphed to the breeder, " Heifer arrived-; send teats immediately, as she needs anilking." The size of the animals, too, became so small that some of them were compared with nanny-goats. ' . -. The destructive effect of fashion — or fancy, which is much the same thing — upon certain breeds of poultry is well known. Certain points which won favour in the show pen were cultivated to exaggeration, and the useful qualities were lost. Cases in point are the Spanish — once the best layers of the poultry world — and the Cochins and Brahmas. Earlobes in the first and feathers in the other breeds were developed, and the birds became useless except for show purposes. The -egg-laying competitions, which are doing good service in demonstrating which are the— profitable strains, do not number amongst the competitors any pens of these -breeds, nor are any to be found in the poulterers' shops. There have been from time to time in New Zealand many changes in the degree of favour in which different breeds and types of stock have been held, but the vagaries have Deen of "brief duration, though often long enough to have left considerable difficulty in eliminating their effects. Experienced breeders, with few exceptions, give little heed to the freaks of fashion, but direct their abilities to producing a class of stock which will meet the requirements and suit the conditions of the farmers who purchase it. Farmers on theif part now have 'a good' idea of^what stock suits, them best, and buy accordingly, and if they .make a mistake the wonderful climate and soil help to minimise the loss. The farmers' greatest shortcoming is in the quality of their Tireeding flocks o.f ewes, and even -in this considerable improvement is being made. There is no fancy or fashion in the freezing works.