SHEEP AND WOOL FOR PANAMA.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVIII, Issue 147, 25 June 1914, Page 6

SHEEP AND WOOL FOR PANAMA.

AMERICA'S CHALLENGE

Colonial sheepmen wiU lo interested and amused to read a few extracts from _ tlio latest number of the American Sheepbreedor in referenceto_the_ prospects of competition from this side in sheep and wool .at tho Panama Exposition. Here are samples: — The Australian Commissioner at San, Francisco is enthusiastic over the

plans for sheep dog trials on the big polo .grounds. He guarantees the entrance of some of the noted prize winners in Australia. "Jimmy" McLay and George Cavan are lying awake night working out big things for this occasion. They say it will be a perfectly, ripping time for the English and Scotch visitors, and especially interesting to the Yankee shepherds who have -never soon a genuine field test. ,"■■ . The New Zealand representative for the Panama Exposition Wool and Mohair Association will be Mr E: Short, one of the'best breeders and exhibitors in. that great sheep country. Mr Short 'has sent sheep to the United States on several occasions, aaid was a champion winner at the great Argentine live stock fehow {held several years ago at "Palermo." Mr1 Short's appointment 'assures a splendid wool exhibit from- New Zealand. ,

Sir Samuel McCaughey,' the sheep king of the world, may show several huritiord of his pot woollies at 'Frisco, leastwise Sir Samuel told Captain Angle that he had a good* notion to show the Yankees how . Autsralian merinos looked. Come on, Sir Samuel, a royal welcome' awaits you at the Goldea Gate. You left a pot of gold in Vermont once, and we haven't forgotten it. And we don't believe those wrinkly Vermbnters did any harm to your nock either. Don't worry about the Australians walking off with all the wool prizes at '.Frisco. They, will, no doubt, get their share, but the Yankees can grow awfully good wool. The best merino fleece at Chicago World's Fair was Ohio grown. The best merino fleeco at Melbourne was Ohio grown. The best merino fleece at Paris was Ohio grown. Australia has got to fetcJi some mighty good merino avool to beat out the Yankees.

The programme announced for the great international shearing contests and big wool show at the Panama Exposition has excited the keenest interest here and abroad. Enthusiastic support is promised from all quarters. The educational possibilities of this great project are simply immeasurable. The shearing festival will be a most novel and entertaining event. The wool show will bring together in competition all the great wool-growing nations of the world. It will b*l a splendid opportunity to sea how far each nation has advanced in' wool-culture since the great World's Fair in Chicago.

According to our Australian correspondent, the breeders in that great merino country have plenty of trouble with fine wool classification at tho big shows. Our show directors hero complain of two and three daisses for merinos. They say the merino men make them more trouble than all the mutton, breeds put together. What would they do if they had to manage a big Australian merino show with ita nmltiplieit-y of classes and all the wrangling that follows. Believe us, it is no easy job to run a merino show in Australia. The so-called stud-breeders evidently hold aloof from the show ring in Australia. Our correspondent says it is nob likely that many Australian merinos will enter the 'Frisco ring, bub they may send some "view Hocks." We hope they will send both kinds, for we want to compare our merinos with their t>hown ring talent, and we want to see many typical 'view flocks' from the boat Australian breeders. We are not going to be a bit jealous or sma'l about this matter either. This is an international sheep show, and the broad policy adopted by the 'Frisco authorities is going to tea&h our fair and show stock directors many things they ought to learn.