THE PURITY OF ROMNEYS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 556, 10 July 1909, Page 8

THE PURITY OF ROMNEYS.

MR. WHEELER IN DEFENCE. Mr. GcoTgo Wheeler, president of tho.New Zealand Romney Marsh Sheep-breeders Association, has written tho following letter to tho "Pastoralists' Rovicw": — "Sir,—On pago 272 of your May publication appears a letter signed 'Longwoql,' with quotations from a correspondent to, liud also from tho editor of, the 'Sydney Morning Horald,' stating that 'Leicester rams wero largely used by Romney breeders in the Marshes'; and deducing therefrom that tho 'fixed, typo' of the Romnoy 'was departed from by tho Kent breeders in largely introducing the Leicester.' Thcso aro statements which, appearing in such an influential ; papor as..the 'S.AI. Herald,' become mischievously misleading, owing to their-.want of explicitness, because while thoy may bo founded upon'facts, what they imply is opposed to. and contradicted by, tho histories of tho stud flocks: ' ■ ' "Wo want first of all to know whom tho writers referred to as.'Kent breeders.' Did they refer to tho farmers generally of Kent who breed and fatten for tho London market, or are the stud breeders meant? If tho former, no doubt English Leiccstors have been (and Southdown rams still are) used, by Kentish' fanners to breed fat lambs for London, but, then, theso comments are quite outsido tho mark. In years to come an editor or anonymous writer might just as truly state that towards tho end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth centuries, Longwoolled and Down rams wero largely used by breeders in Australia. It would b,o quite true regarding some thousands of fat lambs for London market,* but it might be most misleadingly quoted as an 'historical incident' to detract, from tho reputation of millions of Merino sheep, for which Australia is famed. ■"Corresponding, as I have, with a few English breeders, I found that all repudiated tho introduction of Leicester blood 'into thejr fathers' and forefathers' flocks, and their statements aro of more valuo than the generalities of writers, who, liko Mr. Arthur Young,' described tho agriculture 'of tho United; Kingdom in the eighteenth century, 'at which time many flocks were depastured on tho' 'commons.' When, however, tho editor "of tho 'S.M. Herald,' leaving the eighteenth century behind, proceeds to say that 'in New Zealand'the Leicester has again been introduced,' tlie inference to your readers outsido New i Zealand is that they, have been introduced into pur s'tud Romney flocks. ','As president of tho Now Zealand Romney Marsh Shoep-breodcrs' Association, I do not •hesitate to give this a most emphatic .denial regarding the flocks registered by'our incorporated'association, and I hope/that writers when referring to the crossbreeding which,is practised throughout Now Zealand for. the supply of fat lambs will make it clear that such'is'unthong'ht of and impossible.with our stud flocks. We Romnoy breeders maintain that the improvement of carcass has been obtained by selection, and that just as Ellmair and Webb with their successors have evolved tho Southdown of to-day, so hare the Kentish and New, Zealand breeders evolved the Romney of to-day. Crossing would never have given this success, but careful selection will, and has at the same time retained tho type. —I am, etc., George; Wheeler, president N.Z. Romney Marsh Sheep-breeders' Association, Burford,'N.Z.,Jime2, 1909." ;