AMERICAN MERINO SHEEP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6497, 23 December 1881, Page 6

AMERICAN MERINO SHEEP.

It may bo remembered that at the two loot shows held under the auspices of the Jimaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Mr W. Moody, of Kingedown, near Timaro, oxhibited a number of Vermont merino sheep, and that on both occasions, the judges put them out of the competition, considering that they were not St to bo dossed among the ordinary merinos exhibited. The sheep thornselres did not look very attractive. They were wanting in symmetry, although very flKt n_ U Bat Some merino judges would consider as objectionable extent. The wrinkles in the alia were considered another objection, and one that would cause considerable delay in shearing, but the owner contended and with some show of reason—that, notwithstanding the defects in the appearance of, the sheep, they were more profitable than the ordinary merinos. His idea was, that appearance was only a secondary consideration in sheep breeding, the main and most important points being quantity and quality of wool combined. He asserted that the American merino sheep imported by him clipped better than the othersj and on Wednesday invitations were issued to be present at the shearing of some of the imported sheep, and their progeny, 'the following is the result of the shearing;—The first lot shorn was ten old imported rams, (none of them under sixyears old) and they clipped 2201bs of wool, or an average of 281 b per sheep, the highest single sheep clipping 27lbs, and the lowest 16}lbs. The next lot shorn was five fourtooth rams, (pure progeny), and they yielded 1121 be of wool, or an average of 22|lbs each, the highest single sheep clipping 24$lb», and the lowest ISilbs. These sheep carried 860 days* wool. Four two-tooth rams (pure progeny of above), fourteen mouths' wool clipped 781bs, on average of ISlbs per •beep. The owes, as a matter of course, aid not clip so much. Sixteen old imported owes, wet and dry, carrying 855 days' wool shore 3lßlbe, an average of ISilbs, the highest shearing 16}lbs, and the lowest llilbs. Six four-tooth owes the pure progeny of the imported sheep, clipped KH|lb«, or an average of 17ilbs per sheep, the highest weight of wool being SOilbs, and the lowest ISlbs. The wool was very full of yoke, but it was- fine, and of first class quality, with good length of staple. The produce of wool, as seen by the above figures, must bo considered excellent. The weights are correct, bb they were verified by Ur 3. O. M'Kerrow, of Wai-iti, who was present with our representative. The shearing of the old rams was a very difiioalt operation, on account of the long cords of loose skin hanging round their necks, and on other parts of their bodies. This superabundance or loose skin Is a great drawback to tbe value of these sheep, and although they yield a lot of fine quality wool they occupy too much time in shearing. It was noticeable, however, that whore they were crossed with the ordinary merino the wrinsles In the skin hod almost entirely disappeared, and the quality and density of the wool had been greatly improved. These Vermont merino sheep should be very valuable for crossing with the ordinary merino. They arc robust in constitution, and their progeny, from ordinary merino ewes, should do remarkably well in the back country, or in any dais of country where sheep are exposed to very cold weather.

The Gobelin# tapestry hv« been reoenti? restored in the rnorning.room at Holy rood, whom wo the chief relit# of Mary Stuart, including chair# whose coven were worked by her. In twenty yean Iho Queen ha# but twice ejtcut any time at the palace. At the York meeting of the BriUeh A#*oelation Mr W. Galloway, an e a pert on the subject, ««id he had convinced himeelf hy experiment of the inflammability of coal duit, and that if watsr vti iprinklru on the floor of dry mine# before Mailing the wont of explosion# would be prevented. loan old Muteum of Bi'e there i# a cannon over three hundred year* old, with u calibre of JSHin, which hat an interior cloeely re* aemhling that of one of the modern #y»tem» of rilling ordnance. Ih* nature of the bore U tiioh that it i# quite evident an attempt had been made to give increased effect to the abut by a rude specie# of rilling. It i# fully expected that th« new f Kaw castle, Kngland, will loon he constituted, a* only a comparatively amah eunt i» now required to maae up the requisite amount to provide the at initiated income for the newr bishop. 'Hie Duke of Northumberland ha# given £IO,OOO to the fund, the Bi»hou of Durham £OOOO the late Onlooel Joioey, M l*., gave £2OOO. and lard T.ood«i>der»y t* down, for i!UOO, while* herd# Eldon and Boyne gate £6OO each. Mr T Baring, M.P., ha# nbo given £260.