FACTS FOR FARMERS. SHEEP-BREEDING AND CROSSING.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 207, 6 September 1873, Page 2

FACTS FOR FARMERS. SHEEP-BREEDING AND CROSSING.

In other columns of our current irsue will be found inquiries in refetence to the breeding and crossing of longwoolled sheep, which induce us to supplement the reoent letters on the same subject of our able correspondent, Mr Bennett. The indiscntnii ate distubution of sheep of various breeds, without reference to the adaptability to the conditions of soil and climate under which they will have to light the ba'-tle of life, is beginning to produce the natural results. All over the world the influence of such conditions in modifying the ohiractistics of the local breeds is most distinctly shown. In the case of the Angora goat*, as cited by Mr WiJson, there are several gradations of quality, which owe their origin to comparatively trifling diflerences iv soil and climate. The fleece of the Angora proper is excelled in lustre by that of the Castambul stiain of the same breed, whilst that of the Beituyer strain is inferior to the Augora, the breed being nearly the same in all the three places. "The climate of this district," adds Mr Wilson, "which lies nearly two thousand feel above the sea, is peculiarly favorable to the growth of long silky hair, so much so that greyhounds and even cats found there are said to have lemarkably long silky coats." It may not be particularly noteworthy that the merinos of Germany and of Spain exhibit marked diffeiences. The climates of the two countries are distinct enough to account for such a result. It is otherwise, however, with so small a country as England. Une would haidly expect that the numerous herds of sheep therein found owed their speci-il character is tics chiefly to looal conditions, and yet there is good cause for the assumption that such is the case. Taking the Southdown (the Essexdowu) as a type of a section, the several sub-broeds are regarded as merely varieties of that type. The common origin of the longwoolled breeds is universally acknowledged, and yet the Leicesters, the Lincolns, the Cotswolds, and the Itomney Marsh sheep have each their separate districts, in which they sucoeed better than even their nearest relations. The attempt to thrust the Southdowns on to the wolds of Lincolnshire, and those of the West of England, has signally failed on many occasions ; the Lincolns and Cotswolds hold their own against all comers. They have been long enough bred in their respective strongholds to have become thoroughly acclimatised, and to have acquired peculiarities of form which are really of local origin These peculiarities may or may not be the result of selection ; in the case of the Cotswold's top-knot, selection has most likely establishsd it as a characteristic of the breed. During the bummer months baie-headed sheep upon the Colswoldhills are subject to the attacks of blow-fles 5 hence breeders would naturally select as sires rams having the protecting top-knot, and thus, in process of time, this feature would become permanently established. Dyer gave good aclvico when he wrote— If thy farm extends Near Cots wold Dow ns . . . Regard this sort, and hence thy sire of lambs select. There 13 a whole se.mon in these few words — a principle of action for all purchasers of breeding stock. It is as I tliough he had said, " Don't run afier better-looking stock from the lowlands, but take those that are accustomed to the conditions in which they will hare to lire." The old Leicester*, the old Lincolns, and the Cotswolds of 30 years ago were large coarse sheep, rather ungainly and unthrifty. Scarcely anj of them are left to-day, but there are still a fevr flocks whose constitutions have not been materially weakened by infusions of modem Leicester blood. When ' the latter was first used upon the Cotswold hills, it was done stealthily, and with a view to improve the form and quality of the rams which were annually sold by auction by certain 1 noted breeders. The desired objeot was attained, but at the expense of the constitution. The progeny of such rams J were unable to bear the rigorous climate of the more exposed portions of the hills, and " Leicester-headed rams" (those with little or no top-knot) were soon tabooed. The infusion of Leicester blood undoubtedly promoted early maturity, but the system of folding upon turnips and feeding with hay and corn during winter has had at least as much i lfluence on the maturing of the sheep ; indeed, the old pure Cutswolds are sent to market as those owning the soft Leicester blood, and of a size that cannot be equalled in the same space of time. The old Lincolns, also, are still a hardy sheep ; but selection and the modern system of feeding hare greatly changed their characteristics. The improved Lincoln is simply a cross between the new Leioester and the old Lincoln, It is unquestionably a very fine sheep, possessing great aptitude to fatten, together with a good fleece of valuable wool j in luitre, however, its fleece is still excelled by that of the old Lincoln where the land it adapted to develope that quality. 'Hie inquiries of our correspondents have led us to recite thus much of the history and peculiars I ties of the several breeds, because we could liardly reply to them without iuch preliminary notice. The question — What is the best breed to use for crossing with the merino when wool is the objrot? is mooted by one ; another desires to know w!mt is the begt breed for crossing when the object is simply to grow meat for the butcher, the whole of the progeny to be sold oft' when fit. These are two very different branches of stock husbandry, on which wo should like to receive the opinions of our readers. The points raised hsive not yet been sufficiently determined, nor are they UUely to be so in nn absolute spnae. The lwtuve of the feed and climate are indispensable oleiiients in e\cry sucli question ,°and to these due weight must be gi\en Then there is the generally admitted principle of not mixing too many breeds together, for the consideration of those who wished to breed on to obtain a flock of uniform character ; such consideration having little concern for those who are merely crossing for the butcher.- — Australatiam.

A Fbost, — As some ladj risitors were going through a penitentiary, under the escort of the superintendent, they came to a room in uhich three women were sewing. "Dear me ! " one of the visitors whispered, " what Ticious looking creatures ! Pray what are they here for ?" " Because they have no other home ; this it our sitting-room, and they are my wife and two daughters," blandly answered the iuperintendent,