ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 94, 15 January 1919, Page 8

ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP

INTRODUCTION TO WAIRARAPA. ~ A VALUABLE STUD FLOCK. In the carlv days of the Wairarapa 1 ,- very few. settlers bred other than me,ririo'alieep. The experience of the lnsfc ' few decades, however, has demonstrated that the most profitable sheep are the Romney-Lincolu cross, combining as tboy do the constitution and carcass with tlie staple and quality. Tho Romnoy Marsh sheep had their origin in the marches of. Kent (England). A newspaper man visited .the "Tipua" stud farm on Saturday, at tho invitation of Mr. G. E. Allen, and while there hail the pleasure of: meeting Mr. - W. B. Allen (Mr. G. E. Allen's father) and of learning something of the introduction of Bomney Marsh sheep to New Zealand and of the methods adopted for bringing this breed to the very high standard of perfection it at ! present occupies. • The First Shipment. According to Mr. Allen, the first shipment of Bomneys to the North. Island of Now Zealand was made from Kent, by Mr. Leonard Young, in 1853. They came out in tho ship Lady Cornwall, and the late Mr. John Eaynor (formerly of Taratahi), who came out with his parents and family in the same vessel, looked after the sheep on the voyage.. On their arrival the sheep were placed on the farm of Mr. Drake, at Porirua. The first snie of i five ewes was made to Mr. Arthur Ludlam, of Lower Hiitt, and these may ■ bo said to have been practically the foundation of tho Wairarapa Bomney flock. Mr. Ludlam imported further stud sheep from Kent, which hB mixed with those bred front the stock purchased from Mr. Leonard Young. It was not until 1875 that Mr. Ludlam parted with any of his ewes. In this year, he made sales to Messrs. Euston Campbell (Wainui-o-mata) and Mr. John Dick (oF the same place). In 1881 Mr. W. IS. Allen, then located at the Hutt, purchased fifteen ewos and .five ewe lambs from Mr. Euston Campbell, and his first sire from Mr. tJolm Dick. This sire was by "Young Monarch," bred by Mr. J. D. Boyes, of Bangiora. Mr. Alien established his stud .at, Clarevillo early in the 'eighties. Meanwhile Messrs. Alfred Mat-! Hhews (Wairongomai), Riddiford, and others had built up their studs from :the original Young and Ludlam stocks. ! Mr. Allen first exhibited at the Carterton show in 1884, when his exhibitwas very highly commended. Since then hardly a year has passed without one or more show championships being secured. "The. lines I bred on," j said Mr. Allen, "wero uniformity of j sheep and class of wool." His aim, j he said, was to get sheep which coni- j bined the mutton and wool qualities I and came to maturity early. This | meant a shorter, better-coupled, _ and I lower-set animal than the original type, with a good length of staple and good, serrated wool. In 1886 Mr. Allen purchased the ram ."Young Colonel" from Mr. Alfred Matthews. The grandsire, "Colonel," was imported by Mr: A. Ludlam. In.' 1894 Mr. Allen imported the ram "Duke of Kent," bred by Mr. Finn, and two ewes bred by Mr. Godwin. He selected his ewes from -year to year, and 60 built up his stud. The "Tipua" stud. Mr. George E. Allen,, of "Tipua," founded his stud, which is now known from one end of the Dominion to the other, in 1902, from purebred stock acquired from his fatbci\ The farm has been highly cultivated by Mr Allen, and is ideal sheep-raising country, as it is dry, warm, and healthy, with an abundance of water from water-races and creeks, and useful clumps of manuka shelter. Mr. Allen, has rid the (property of sorrel and other weeds, and has provided adequate feed by sowing grass and sweet turnips together, with a judicious mixture of mustard. Successful Breeding. Mr. G. E. Allen has built up his magnificent stud, solely by judicious mating and selection. The predominant strains aro the "Duke of Kent" and "Colonel," with a blending of the .Wairongomai strain from Westbrokc No. 1 (i.Vported by tho late Mr. G. C. Wheeler): A few outside purchases thai; Mr. Allen has made for the pur.p'oso of guarding against in-breeding, are.rams from Mr. Alfred Matthews, Mr. T. Munga.vin (Porirua), Mr. Eglinton, and : Mr. Ernest Short., Purchases of ewes from other well-known studs have also been made. His stud lias reached its present high state of perfection by the selection of rams from certain strains, notable among them being "Pioneer," "Uniform," "Uniform II," "Uniform Stamp," "Uniform Again,". "Uniform.-Yet," and "Boniform." Some of these 'sires 1 have been sold to breeders in other districts for high prices. "Boniform," which is one of the finest types of the Bomney ever bred in the Dominion, has an' unbeaten record. He took first prize as a hogget at Hastings, Palmerston, and Carterton. Ho secured tho first prize and championship at Daiinevirke last year, and also first and reserve championship at Hastings,Palmorston, and Carterton as a fourte/th. ■ He.is an animal'-possessed of fine bone, and tissue, typical Romney head, immense ' chest and quarters,; ideal pink'skin, and covered ,well;down' with clean, serrated wool, of strong) fibre. Mr. Allen has received "many, tempting offer.'' for '.'Boniform," but' will not part with him. , ■ The complete Stud, Breeding from 600 ewes, Mr. Allcnl last year secured 100 per cent, of lambs. The lambs are well-grown, and are running in excellent pisture, which should make them exceedingly valuable as shearlings. FJ is stud' rams are running together in a turnip' paddock, and are in the pink of condi-, tion. In another paddock are fifty-six' stud ram lambs, from selected ewes, and purebred owes are running elsewhere. The practice of Mr. Allen in past years has been to sell from fifty to sixty stud ranis overv venr.. Thesn have been in keen request, and have gone to all parts of the Dominion. One ram sold to Mr. T. H. Smith, of Tasmania, was highly spoken of by Tasmanian judges. This year Mr. Allen has decided to offer his stud ewes and rams at tho fair to be held in Masterton on January 23 and 24. His entry will cmbrace one hundred shearling owes'and fifty rams, all of which aro well constitutioned, typical Romncys. Trophies.

No better evidence of the success of Mr. G. E. Allen as a stud-breeder! could be found than the medals, o»ips,shields, and other trophies which adorn his picturesque homestead. Here is it diploma and medal for fleece wool sent to the. Panama Exhibition, therei a t'core or more of. valuable silver cups won at different shows. On tha <valls are' eight shields, presented by the Homiiey Marsh Shcspbrcoders' Association, and photographs of such champions as Pioneer, Uniform, and Bonii'orin. Mr. Allen is regarded as one of the best judges of llomney Marsh sheep in the Dominion, and his services are eagerly sought after by A. and P. Associations. There are few men who have built up their studs on such sound, scientific lines, and few who deserve the success he has achieved more than Mr. G. K. Allen, of "Tipna."—(Published by arrangement.) '