A VISIT TO PENROSE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1957, 14 January 1914, Page 10

A VISIT TO PENROSE.

the building of a stud flock. A FEW IMPRESSIONS. Possibly there is no Now Zealand stud that looms more largely 111 tho public cyo at the moment than that of ''Penrose," situated in a well-shel-tered and courenietit spot aboiit live miles to tho'south 'of JiasterUm. Tho reason; is that the owner (Mr. \\. Perry), who has recently returned from a visit to tho Old Country, has determined upon ail entirely new method of disposing of his stud and (lock rams. In past years the Penrose sh'cep have been selected by purchasers on the farm, on the basis of priority of application, with the result that many who desired to avail themselves of this breed were disappointed. This year the whole of.the output is to bo disposed of by auction, so that, in tho matter of purchases, all breeders will bo placed on tho same footing. The experiment is one that is being watched with interest by breeders -throughout tho Dominion. Incidentally it. may be mentioned thai the salo takes place at Solwav (Masterton), on January 27. Tho Penrose Romney and Lincoln slieop have now a reputation not only in New Zealand, but throughout Australia. -A visit to the farm is interesting, for it gives an idea of the methods that have been employed in building up that reputation. Mr. Perry's whole life lias been spent in the atmosphere of sheep. But the secret of his success has largely been that he has always boon' willing to learn. There are few breeders in New Zealand.who can bring to the highest state of perfection two distinctive breeds of sheep. Mr. Perry is one of the few. It has not been alono in the process of selection and crossing fhat lie "lias brought his Lincoln and Bomnev sheep to their present standard. Feeding, shelter, and good water have had an important influence on his stud. .The Penroso estate, which is of clay subsoil, has been thoroughly drained, and each paddock has its patch of shelter trees. Parts of the land havn been manured with basic slag and dressed with lime, so that it produces pasture and root crops which nave a tendency to develop bone and strengthen tlio fleece of the sheep. Tho Lincoln flock was established many years ago, but has been improved upon from year to year by judicious crossing. Tho first ewes were imported by lir. Every of Auckland, and were purchased by the late Mr. 13. P. Perry from a disposal salo of Mr. J. Q. Rockel in 137 G. The Sutton strain was subsequently added. The rams used were originally procured from the New Zealand and Australian I Land Company, Mr. ' Menlove, the Hon. Matthew Holmes, Mr. J. B. Sutton, Mr. W. Wilson, Mr. F. Sutton, and Mr. T. Tanner. It will thus bo seeu that tho Lincoln stu<l has been built upon tho foundation of tho best flocks in the Dominion, and a process of elimination and selection has enabled Mr. Perry to produce a typical Lincoln' —a. sheep which, possesses a heavy eoat of lustrous wool and an excellent carcass, and which lias won the highest encomiums from judges 'throughout tho Dominion. It was because ' the Lincoln-Ronmey cross was tho utility sheep—the sheep that produced carcass as well as wool — that Air. Perry was influenced in adding Romneys to his stud. Tho Romney will live and thrive on plainer and coarser, foods than most sheep, and it has'the constitution and carcass that find favour on the London market. It was in 1907 that Mr. Perry purchased iifty Romney ewes from Mr. G. R. Sykes. In the following year he ■secured another fifty from the same flack; in 1911 thirteen ewes at the late Mr. G. C. Wheeler's dispersal sale; and in 1913 twenty-one ewes from Mr. A. Matthews's flock. On tho occasion of his visit Home last year Mr. Perry secured five ewes —three from Mr. Quested (which have never been beaten in tho show-ring in England), and two from Mr. A. Finn. The Romneys have already gained a very high reputation throughout the Dominion, and have taken championships at almost everv allow.

"I havo never seen a bettor, or more even lot," said a. well-known WairSrapabreeder, who was inspecting thirty shearling stud Lincolns with a reporter. ''"They , .are true to type, well-shaped, and of grand constitution," lip said. Ho ventured the. opinion thai this isthe best collection of stud Lincolns that has ever been produced on Penrose, and that they would be an eye-opener to those who visited the sale. Eighteen shearling Romiiny rams, which were in another paddock, are in the pink of condition. "I would say tho same about them •as I said about the Lincolns," 'was the remark of the visiting breeder; "they are a magnificent lot." In another field were to be seen a collection of aged ranis, including tho recently-imported Lincoln, which could easily be selected from tho rest, on account of its longer leg and broader back. Here also was to be seen Chief 11, which Mr. Perry declared to bo the best Lincoln ho had produced on tho farm—a picture of symmetry and substance. Tho flock rams were in adjoining paddocks, and were found to bo altogether a very fine lot. Somo neople are'of opinion that a carefully-handled stud may not be so prolific as ono upon which less care has been bestowed. Tho experience at Penrose docs not support that opinion. On the contrary, it shows that stud sheep that are well cared for and of. selected type aro highly prolific. Tho percentage at Penrose last year speaks for itself. From 358 Romney ewes, 471 lambs were docked (267 ram lambs and'2o4 owe lambs), representing the very high percentage of 131; while from 456 Lincoln ewes 560 lambs were docked, a percentage of 122. Tho success of tho Penrose breed of Lincohis and Romneys in tho showring is well known. A writer iii an agricultural journal, speaking of RoiuJiey sheep, says:—"The Romney has already taken possession of a large number of districts, and seems likely to keep its hold; therefore, it must be to the interests- of all concerned that an endeavour should be made to bring tho mediocre sheep up to ,i better standard." An opportunity of giving effect to this very sound advice is undoubtedly afforded by the sale of Mr. Perry's Penrose rams, which takes place on January 27. It may bo mentioned, in this connection, that in past years Mr. Perry has supplied Romnoy and Lincoln rams to all parts of the Dominion, to Australia, South America, and United States. When tho New Zealand Government wanted specimen Lincoln fleeces for exhibition at Home, it had no hesitation in going to Penrose for them. It is not a matter for surprise, therefore, that breeders from all parts of tho Dominion, and from as far off as Australia, hnvo intimated their intention of being present at tho sain at Solway this month. Mr. Perry has intimated that ho would be pleased of a visit to Penrose by any interested person prior to tho dato of tho sale. An endeavour is being made to form an industrial union of dairy employees in Wellington. It's easy enough to make money whon yon know how—anil it's easy enough to mako letter cheeso when you have "Victor" Vats in the factory. If you're nftpr best cheese and more money' iiiyestifrato "Victor" Vat claims. Tho sloping bottom, centre drainage, and .sonnet construction make the "Victor" the most efficient and reliable vat yet made. "Victor" particulars from Albert J. Parton, Plumber, CartortoE.—A(bt.