OUR CROSS-BRED WOOLS.

Southland Times, Issue 1986, 21 September 1874, Page 3

OUR CROSS-BRED WOOLS.

(to the editob op the times.) Bnt, — The season of the year is now approaching when preliminary action is usually taken to provide for the exhibits of such stock as the district usually produces— or is supposed to produce — at the ensuing agricultural shows, held here, or in other districts where society is so organised as to offer rewards for the best product ons of the several kinds within its ra/iius. As su;:h action may be taken by our Southland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, with jour kind permission, I would respectfully offer a few remarks on the subject of our cross-bred wools. It is a notorious fact that these wools are not receiving the attention, or realising prices equal in a corresponding ratio with other wools, or even equalling the prices of the coarser woolled animal, of the cross, compared with the same class of wool bred in England. How is this to be accounted for, seeing that our climate is milder, with an equal measure of humidity to excite vegetation ? If we carefully inquire into the first causes ot this variety of breeds, it is possible tbat local societies have unwittingly more to do with it than at first sight might appear. The origin of many, if not the majority, of thb9e societies may bs traced to a few enterprise . ing tradesmen and well-wishers of the country, many of whom may have but little experience in wools, or the breeding of sheep, but who are quite willing to put their hands into their pockets, and contribute liberally to excite competition at a show. And as money is usually the object of all business pursuits, a few wideawake breeders see an opening for a reputation for certain classes of stock. From 1863 may be dated the conglomeration of the crosses in sheep. About this period, the Cheviot, Leicester, Lincoln, Cotswold, Southdown, and Romney Marsh sheep were prominently brought before the notice of the public through the means of agricultural societies, each in their turn having their day of popularity. Thus many of our farmers, owning land only Bince their arrival in New Zealand, have taken as a guide the awards of the judges as a criterion of merit. The conBequence of this has been Buch a variety of crosses with the merino ewe as the following list. The experience of wool buyers amply proves this view, which is supported, if further testimony was wa ting, by their meeting with no attention at the hands of manufacturers at home. We will now add up the list, and see whether I am justified in characterising it as a conglome- ■ rate of crosses r— Leicester and merino, § bred ... 1 cross. ■do do | do 1 do J Merino and Leicester ... 1 do Lincoln and Merino, & bred ... 1 do do do f do ... 1 do | Merino and Lincoln ... 1 do Cotswold and Merino, £ bred ... 1 do do do | do ... 1 do $ Merino and Cotswold ... 1 do Komsey Marsh and Merino, $ bred 1 do do do f do 1 do | -Merino and Komney Marsh 1 do Southdown and Merino, \ bred 1 do do do f do ' 1 do % Merino and Southdown 1 do Cheviot and Merino, \ bred 1 do do do f do 1 do i Merino and Cheviot 1 do Total ... ... 18 crosses. Now, sir, if sheep are bred in these colonies specially for their wool, societies ought to be careful in awarding prizes to any except those whose fleeces are most likely to suit the wants of the home buyer. It may be said that the judges should see to that. I may here remark that judges invariably come from a distance, beyond the radius of local influence, and have no hand in framing either the rules of the show or conditions of the awards, and may be but very indifferent judges of wool, however proficient in the knowledge of stock generally. It will be observed by the above list that I have omitted the 3rd returning cros9 to the long wool sheep, or f Lincoln for example, which Bometimes occurs. This would still bwcll the list higher by six more crosses — 24 in all. If our local societies would offer prizes for cross-breds— containing fineness of wool, uniformity of lustre — the mind of the public wouli ba schooled into a uniform cla?s of wools that would command attention from its very uni~ „. fortuity and quantity. Small paicels of such mixed wools are seldom bought by t c manufacturer ; they pass into the '■?■ hands of wool staplers, who sort the fleeces out and re -sell them at an advanced price to local manufacturers. This indeed is the usual course with all unclassed wools, the wool grower losing in price the profits obtained by those wealthy ' wool-stapling fi-ms in the old country. I may be asked my opitaun, Vi hat then is the best-' cross to make ? I don't like to offer an opinion, not from the want of any conviction from long experience in these wools, but from a delicacy in wounding the sensibilities of popular , itj craftk breeders. Every mother saj s her child is J the best in 'the world, but the schoolmaster soon tails which excels; and it is but charitable to suppose that a l.ke feeling may exist among ' itock owners. If the course I have suggested be y acted upon, lime will work its own cure, and w eventually eradicate this " conglomerate" of crosses.— l am, &c., J. C. FOBSTTH.