ON THE LAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13755, 6 February 1919, Page 3

ON THE LAND.

(By "Agricola.")

An Example to New Zealand.

The great asset of New Zealand is its live, stock, and the higher the standard attained in breeding approved -types, and the consequent greater economy in production, the larger the contribution will farmers be able to make towards tlio national wealth of tho country. Yet what has tho State ever done to encourage the breeder to advance the standard of his ilock or herd, asks a writer in a northern exchange. .It has imposed disabilities, and that is all, and new breeders of dairy stock, the men who require assistance most, are. prevented from importiug tho animals they want to advance their herds from Australia, (disease prevention being -the reason of the embargo), while the Government ha is imported stock from the same quarter' to compete against tho private brooder. Other countries have a differout way of doing things. They may not be considered so highly civilised as wo are, but their methods certainly indicate that they know what policy is most beneficial to their particular country. Take the caso of Brazil. If a private breeder in that country desires to import pedigree, stock from England, the Government will pay halt! the cost of the oversea freight, makes no quarantine or other charge on arrival, aud pays the whole of the railway freight to the breeder's farm. It is easy to foresee that before niauv years have passed a- country that fosters live stock in this sane manner will be a. formidable rival in. world markets to this country. Where the breeder of Jive stock imports highclass pedigree animals to advance the standard of his stock, his work is of national importance and should be encouraged in every possible manner. Not only does tho .New Zealand Government do nothing to encourage the private breeder in this vital matter, but it does not oven subsidise the leading Jive stock shows of the country, where it might surely be expected to give such monetary assistance as would enable show societies to provide fitting awards and in other ways make these important exhibitions- of the highest educative value.

General-purpose Sheep. A striking feature of the pedigree sheep market ol: Britain during the past few months has been the exceptional appreciation of the dual-purpose types — sheep that will give a valuable ilcece of wool as well as a good carcase of mutton, the Uoinnev and the Lincoln. The ])[<! prices being paid I'or rams of both these breeds is being pointed to by Hume writers as an indication that not only the Hocks of Britain but other Hock-owning countries of the "world have reached such a stage of depletion that there is brought about an urgent and immediate for increase unless the. world in general is to experience a still greater shortage of mutton and a still more severe, lack of "wool, it is ;>u evidence of an .improving- standard that rams with full pedigree are meeting with increasing preference at the Home sales, and this tendency is general. This augurs well for British breeds, but it also indicates that .New Zealand breeders will have to leave no stone unturned to main type, constitution and utility character in their sheep.