SELECTING ROMNEY SHEEP

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18499, 11 September 1934, Page 11

SELECTING ROMNEY SHEEP

(To the Editor of the Herald.) Sir,—Please grant me space to defend a true friend of the sheopfarmer, viz., that if you buy a good head you buy a good sheep’. Mr. E. A. Black ilatly denies it, but when at the Matawhero ram yards last February 1 drew that particular statement to the attention ot some farmers, and one thanked mo in explaining the matter to him. Unit is something to he thunklul ior. The first thing to know is what constitutes a good head ; an attractive one docs not. Mr. E. E. Black omits to mention two of the most essential parts of a good head. One is the nostrils. They should be wide apart, capable of taking in a good supply of air, by which to feed the lungs. In other words, what is the good of putting down a six-inch water pipe if only one inch is to feed it. He omits the eyes; they must bo bold and wide set apart-and not sunk in, with the correct color for the breed. Then there is the teeth. In Zew Zealand I have noted the sheep have much better teeth than the English sheep in a general way. Some pay great attention to the shape of the nose. The Kouthdowns, in in}" opinion, their noses are greatly at fault —not bold or full enough. Then he tells us that the head must show constitution and character, but not one word what constitutes constitution. Well, my readers, Bushy Park shelter belts will never do it, anil what is character? That is different in. every sheep, and to explain my meaning better, 1 am enclosing a photogrfipli of Kent or Romney sheep so that Mr. Editor may be able to judge i'or himself. There is just one other point I have been asked' to bring to the notice of our leaders, and that is we prefer the levy to the quota at all cost. It is out ami out rank folly to antagonise our best and only customer. We must sell, and we must make the best bargain we can in a. friendly way. Mr. Elliot has definitely said with Mr. Thornns, that i! the Dominions and others will not agree to a friendly agreement over levy when all agreements cease in 1906, a levy will he imposed sufficient to pay oil tin money that has now been advanced to keep British agriculture on its legs. In other words it means that, England is not going to tax herself to keep British agriculture solvent to oblige either the Dominions or the foreigner, and why should she?—Tours, etc., A. KENT.

[The photographs sent by Mr. Kent are available for anyone interested to see at our publishing office. —Ed. Herald.J