SHEEP TALK

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 443, 27 February 1909, Page 3

SHEEP TALK

; ■"'; -;;' ( A;COMPAJUSON OFBREEDSr '.','". ( Farmers-like''doctors .and. lawyers : are allowed to differ'.-' :Two_ men from the land met 'in(a train on' the Main .Trunk..line,'and the conversation (turned (on sheep.'' : -; ',' ■'.': "I ; see,"' said one, "that there's:a'.slump in (Border- Leicesters,' : That is (a' pity, as. they' are 'the means' of producing- some. of the finest sheep.in: the:'Domihion'."' (~'■:'..o . • i'.• .;■:•::'.. : :-("Rubbishl" said..the.other, .',' they are not up to the English' Leicester." . '■':;. "English .Leicester I ',A7hy,, .they.'-are" the worst kind- of (sheep (that' wero. ever landbd. here.":.-''-/((-:'-:'•■.:;(; : :.' -:-,'■ ■-■.:'■ '■■-:^'. -("How.can(that.be; when it is the English Leicester: which (will always..give, you constitution and form?■•,(-If:,your Lincoln- flockever, goef,: back; ih('form-pr (constitution,' 1 ybu' can( '.'always',.breed.,up,'every' (three or, four years/by mating, (your Lincoln rams .with ..English Leicester-ewes.'': ''•; . ,' ■ : ':i\.:. ■"' ("That! may be; but ;it.is (a fact' that 'one of •the best-, flocks (in the North Island wasbred from' Border.(Leicester, ewes: by: Lincoln rams,.and;is,now :a : flock of:hybrid LincolnBorder, Leicesters.-' •:/ ";.(-':.--'(.'-■'/; : ((':-V--;i■''■' ■'; The:talk then.ranged upoii generally. v:■;Said•':No;f;-l;.'■farmer::(^' , l.■■have'■-'been"'■in'■■.T;he' business- for- fifty/years;(/I; started'.'with a Lincoln-Merino.'cross, and (my ..fleeces cut (4J pounds;.'. It'is now: 12 pounds per fleece. This result'. has. been (brought, about by careful culling and feeding. ~lf a farmer dobs this, he will: never, go. wrong,', but (when ne t ] OC S' "get: off the track, he:caii always'right: himself with 1 , the English::Leicesters." - ■■,'..•'.:.-:■'..'.: ■'■'". "What-about';(the Romneys?" ''•','-':.":•':v(^ :^, ■';':'■ ;:;/"Thoßbmheys?(^ ■better-sheep than .they .were' sonie 'years ago. They'are vastly:improved.-, \^- they are not everything,.and never,will;be.".: •■•-.. ' (. ( .. "What is your''idea of breeding for wool '?.'.': "Well, you will-find that you cannot breed, .to grow..fine' wool on a coarse sheep. Nobody has.donoiit yet.", ,(',;. . : ,'