ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13653, 19 February 1913, Page 8

ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP.

Mr A. E. T. Payne, of Lilydale, Victoria, who acted as tone of tho judges at tho Ashford ram fair (Engjand), and purchased tho champion ram for 1910 at the substantial figure of 170 gns., writes as follows. "I have scr-n all the best Romnoy flock; in England wu\ I've seen eomc grand sheep. The one thing that strikes me very forcibly with reference to the brooders in Kent, is that they have no fix-xl v ;;" f 001 I'or tho brc<>dI've seen vooi >y.uie aa nne n-s we cau grow in Victoria (too fine for me), and aH classes of wool on their sheep, n»o, etirons,. nrcdilum, with and without crimp, lons and short staples, dense ami op-en, but who:i you a*k them tho correct type for tlie Romnoy to carry you can set no satisfactory answer. I pnintod out to them that, as the.other 1-Jritish broods of siu.-p had lixed types of wool, it would ho wcl] (or them to do the some with thoir sheep, and set p uniform standard in this respect.

"I «k-o nntie-'vi iluit many of their otherwise good si.-cop were faulty in tho i>asterns, and ?.rx many bent logs, which to us is a bad defect. The English judges consul-;" that 'mealy noso' is «• bad ■c.I-'.rfect '>nt <h not, in my opinion, attach su-. -': :it importance to the w^ll-VJuap^d h).-ck feet. Sajiidy hind togs are not <-:>;--ijleird to detract from ft sheep's ttu-vv?-, provided it doee not 'appear ek-nl^ ■ r.' ::ii below tho hocks. I notice that t ■•• :'■■■voders i" the Marsh pay mor-e •:.'/■. '"•>.• ■'-I the .well-foTmod h\a<>k hcof t ••- 'Jiooe on the high-

feuds."