LONG-WOOLLED SHEEP.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 5, 11 May 1872, Page 2

LONG-WOOLLED SHEEP.

The " Australasian " soys :— u The sale of iong-woollcd sheep at Barvvon Park lias disposed the existence of a powerful bias in favour of that class of stock amongst' <he oastoral men of the Western d istrict. T wentylve years ago, the value of Lei costers was Droved to Mr. W. J. T. Clarke',s satisfaction >n his statioji of Dowling Forest. In parts >f T;iwaania and New Zealand, the/ have ilways been the leading- breed ; but in this :olony, owing to injudicious crossing, or -ather to a total want of method in breeding, md the omission to keep up a stock of pure iires, to which resort could be had as often is required, the very name of long-wool fell nto disrepute, so that a dozen, years ago Leicesters wetfe very unsaleable stock, some of the unpopularity thnt attached ■jo them was* due to their hawng been ocated upon country fit only far the most ictive merinoes. Under these conditions ;hey were thriftless animals, and it is not .mtil after a very long interval that the idaptability of long-woollel sheep to the :iiraate and pasturage of the Western district vas re-discovered. The spur given to the leraand for this class of sheep by the late sale vill doubtless lead to considerable importations, not only of Lincolas, bat also of Cotsvolds, Leicester.;, and other long-wools, not or getting the Romney Marsh sheep, which r Lvall has proved t> be specially adapted o moist country—the only, breed that has emaiued free from fluke on the nndrained >astnres of Western parts.