Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 206, 23 December 1864, Page 2 (Supplement)

Prolific Sheer.— A learned "Frenchman, who has studied a Chinese Encyclopaedia, reports that in China there are thirteen kinds of sheep, of which he gives the alarming long names. That introduced into England is fortunately brief and pronounceable, being Ong-ti. This breed produces, it is said twice in the year, and each time from two to four lambs. Hearing of this marvellous fecundity, giving promise of cheap mutton, the Parisian Society of Acclimatization despatched Dr. Cloquet to inquire into the fact, and, if possible, procure some specimens of the breed from the British Society at London. The result was curious. The young specimens which he succeeded in transporting to Pains produced only a single lamb. Supposing that this might be accidental, the society, in concert with the Zoological Society of Acclimatization, issued instructions for the purchase of a hundred head of that breed of sheep, whatever they call it, which the Chinese assert to produce twice a year, and several lambs at a birth. A portion of the animals having arrived in April, 1863, the lambing of one of them took place in July. Sure enough there were four lambs, apparently in all respects of the same breed, but of a different breed from the pair brought to England. Three of the lambs were healthy, but the fourth was feeble and had to be fed by hand, as the mother refused to suckle it. To the great amazement of the Minister of Agriculture, at whose hotel the accouchment occurred, the mother had only two teats to suckle her four little cows. As there is no description of the Ong-ti sheep in the reports of the English Acclimatization Society, we do not know whether this peculiarity has been noticed in London. As to the economy of the Ong-ti breed, M. Jaquemart notices the shortness of the wool, or rather hair, and estimates its fleece at about 5s less than that of our sheep. Still he advises the continuation of the experiment, and holds out the prospect that both the flesh and wool may be improved by judicious crossing. In this direction the experience of the English society is encouraging; 25 ewes of various breeds, crossed with the Chinese ram. have produced forty-six lambs. Mr. Robertson reports for Lord Powerscourt: —“ The Chinese sheep still preserve their prolific character, even by crossing. They have never less than two lambs, sometimes three; and on one occasion, four at a birth. We have now, in all, eleven lambs, the cross being very perceptible in two, more especially about the head and ears, the wool also being of so fine a texture. In further experimenting we shall reserve the cross, and if the animal still preserves its prolific dispositions I fully expect by judicious crossing, they will ultimately prove a useful and paying breed. —Adelaide Observer. New Zealand the Victim of a mistaken Philanthropy.—The following just remarks are from a late number of the S. M. Herald :—“Any man who reflects how the British power has been built tip ; by what means it has been preserved in the world; what advantages it derives from the existence of strong outposts and commercial allies, and how other nations envy thesucces of this policy which England is disposed to abandon, will listen to these expressions of mutual distrust, indifference, and contempt with humiliation and sorrow. Ii cannot be too strongly urged, or too often repeated, that New Zealand is one of the gems of the British Crown. It is one of the finest colonies of the British nation. Its strategical and commercial position gives it the promise of a power and influence second to none in the southern hemisphere. And it is such a colony as this that is to be handed over to the experiments of a mistaken philanthropy, or abandoned to the chances of premature independence! It is deplorable, but lamentation is useless. All we need say, however, is that England must either subdue the natives by the ordinary means which bring ignorant or refractory subjects to reason, or as soon as possible withdraw her ships and soldiers, and leave the colonists to retreat or defend themselves. That they would bo capable of accomplishing much when once thrown upon their own recources we have no doubt whatever. Many lives would be lost, but the vigour and resolution of a British colony, having no misgivings as to its policy or the proper treatment of its assailants, would soon settle the Maori question for ever.” “How are you, John? I’m deuced glad to see you.” “ Very well, Charley. Come and take a drink, old fellow. ’Tisn’t often wo meet.”— “That’s a fact, John—and when we do it’s meet and drink.”

How to Open Oysters.—“ Talk of opening oysters,” said old Hurricane, “ wliy nothing’s easier, if you only know how.”—“ And how’s how?” inquired Starlight. “ Scotch snuff,” said old Hurricane, rery sententiously. “Scotch snuff. Bring a little so near their noses, they’ll sneeze their lids off.”—l know a genius,” observed Meister Karl, “ who has better plan. Ho spreads the bi-valves in a circle, seats himself in the centre, and begins spinning a yarn. Sometimes it’s an adventure—sometimes a legend of his loves. As he proceeds, the ‘natives’ get interested—one by onethey r gape with astonishment at the tremendous and direful whoppers which are poured forth, and as they gape, my friend whips them out, peppers ’em, and swallows ’em.”—“That’ll do,” said Starlight, with a long sigh. “ I wish wo had a bushel of tho bi-valves here, now, they’d open easy.”