BLACK-FACED SHEEP FOR GLENMARK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 20

BLACK-FACED SHEEP FOR GLENMARK.

THE OVERSHTEfcS FLO/7K. (From an Esteemed Correspondent.) The Scotch black-faced sheep that have been imported to stock the park at Glenmark, North Canterbury, have been released from quarantine, and have arrived safely at their new home, so a few particulars concerning the farm at Overshiels. where they were bred, and' the flock from which Mrs Townend's importation have come, may be of interest at the present time* seeing they are the first sheep of the breed evei- brought to this country. Overshiels is in the parish of Stow-MW-Lothian, and from its high altitude and eastern situation, it is more liable to severe and protracted snowstorms than almcst any other farm in the South of Scotland. The same black-faced «tock have been maintained on it and 4ransferjred from one tenant to another since 1763. •It waa in 1847 that the late Mr John Archibald leased the property, which he and his sons have occupied ever since. It. with other adjoining farms added on within the fast 20 years, now carries a ewe stock of some 500 biack-iaced sheep, and it is one of the hest-known names in farming circles in Scotland. The annual drafc of rams is one of the largest in Britain, between 400 and 500 being sold each year privately and at the various ram fairs throughout the, country- Like most other things, the Overshiele flock has had its ups and downs in the struggle for supremacy, andvit has suffered, as it has gained, from changes in fashion. But in some respects it occupies a unique position, as for a 20-year period — about 186S to ISB8 — every black-faced aged ram +hat gained--a first prize at the Highland and Agricultural Society's show was either bred on Overshiels or got by a siro bred there, and at the Lothian ram sales in 1896 a lot of 60 rams averaged £18 13s lOd sterling by public auction. The highest price for one was £150 sterling, which was the- record 1 prjee ever got up to that time for a sing,le 6heep of the breed, while the average of thar day is still the record tor the number. Nor is there one flock of black-faced sheen of eminence in existence that has not drawn upon it at some time for sires, and frequently Overshiels gained every first prize for black-faced sheep at 6hows. But, as has been said, fashion changes in sheep as in everything else, and the fashion as to what styie of wool should be grown on black-faced sheep has hsd to submit to changes, as' some 20 years ago their wool was much finerf mare curl on it, and it was shorter in staple. Such wool was rather inclined to matt about the breast and' belly, so when it came to what would look i>est off hand, a* coarser wool had the advantage, as it does not matt so much, but flows all round the sheep. Wool-buyers and manufacturers have protested against this change, but prize-tickets and big prices at ram sales have as yet drowned all their protests, and the rage for long, coarse wool is 6till supreme. To such an extent has fashion gone for that style of wool that it is now necessary to have all the ewe hoggets in many flocks shorn before winter on the bellies and up tho arms amdl hips, so that they can work amongst the enow they have so often to contend with on their native hills. The management at Overshiels resisted this change a<s long as possible, and during that period of resistance the showyard success and 6ale-ring prices suffered accordingly. It is difficult, however, to altogether ignore what commands success at scows and top prices for rams, co that now the wool on these- imported sheep is more of the new style than th>© old, and colonial sheep men must not be surprised to find black in the fleeces, as such is common on prize-winnera now in thehome of ' the breed. Many of the lambs up to 6ome months of agt. show a great amount of black wool, as it frequently extends up the legs into tha body, while black round the neck and black tails (which ere not cut, but left long) are quite- common. As the fleece grows this disappears to a certain extent, until old age again brings it in eight. One of the earliest chapters in tho history of this flock has a direct connection with one of our bestknown and most successful sheepbreeding families in this country. It was about 1860 that the late Mr Henry Little, of Ngapara, went to Overshiels to take charge of that hireel. Mr Little went there in the full vigour of manhood and complete health, with a boundless enthusiasm for show-yard success, having been at the game nearly all his life. The eldest of Mr Archibald's sons was "then at an age most susceptible to 6iich dreams of ambition as eoar to the height of gaining a firefc prize at an agricultural show, co that Mr Little found a very attentive audience, while he enlarged to these young men on what he could do by way of winning show honours when the sheep- under hie care tv ere properly prepared for exhibition. He very Eoon accomplished all the succes* he promised, and now we see a few of the descendants of his favourite flock follow him to this remote corner of the Empire. Whether the Scotch black-faces will ever be anything to us but a. fancy 6tock for the parks of tho wealthy or whether they will enter into commercial rivalry with the breeds we have already must remain uncertain until put to the test of practical experience. The fact that the Cheviot breed has made so little headway does not encourage the idea of the black-faces ever disputing the position on our mountains with the merino. Yet the occurrence of such winters as we have just experienced must make all sheep-owners who occupy mountainous country ask themselves the question — Is the pure merino the best sheep. for these snow-covered ranges? Gradually as the carca^se of the sheep comes to be of more importance, and the fleece to bo of less value will this question keep pressing for an answer. The wool which the blackfaces produce as compared to the merino must always be a" serious drawback to them, both as to its lightness in weight and extreme coarseness, and it is doubtful if the superior quality of their mutton or their wonderful hardiness can ever overcome this drawback under the conditions that confont them h-eie. Be that as it may, they

will be a most interesting addition to the breeds of the Dominion, and many a Scotchman will linger long over the sight whea they are exhibited in ChTi6tohurch. and it will not be surprising if many a bumper is pledged to the lady who owns Glenmark, and to her worthy manager, Mr T. S. Johnstone, for having given them an opportunity of again seeing the sheep they always conneot with the happiest memories of the j home they left over" the ocean, and that they associate with all the pastoral song and story that relates to the heath-clad mountains of '" Caledonia, stern and wild."