Romneys to the Fore Again.

Manawatu Herald, 1 September 1898, Page 3

Romneys to the Fore Again.

We extract the following from the Queenslander of the 16: b ult. : — " Roraoey Marsh theep came over, principally from New Zealand, to be sold at the annual fair (writes ' Lana ' in the Sydney Mail), purchasers were astonished at the variety of aizea of the anim il*, and also the differences in their respective fleeces. One of the best lota, if not tha bis', sent over from New Zealand, cime I from the Ilaukawa stud farm of Mr RobertOobb, near Pal merstoa. These sheep were very large in s:z?, and carried magnificent fkeces. Prices ran high for them, and amongst, those who were fortunate to secure ■some of them were Mr J. D. Hill, | Bngalarn, near Bonkbam ;* and j Messrs T. H. Mate & Co., Tarctuta. ; Tbe former had already established | -a good flock of fine framed sheep, and the addition of the Cohb strain strengthened the good points they already po^sepsfd. The climatic cou- | dition.s were al?o in their favour ; \ thus it was no trouble to produce | progeny equal to the best importrd. j Notwithstanding the Ferere season I just experienced, Mr Hill was able I to send a number in to coraptfta nt j ihe late New South Wales Sheepi breeders' Show, with the result that !he obtained tv?o fiivfcß and four i thirds, being only beaten by sheep J bred from the Cobb importation. There U no dnobt that we can pro duce Bomneyß in this colony equal to anything imported ; ond they stand the climate of Australia without it in any way impairing their best characteristics." An exchange says, that these fheep should thrive equally well on the burning plains of Queensland, as well as the bleak lands of Romney Marsh, speaks well for the breed as an all-round money making mochir.p. But it must be born in mind that these gentlemen have proved beyond a doubt that tho ho called " improved " Eomney is of little use for Australia, being too open in the fleece and too delicate to stand the excessive .heat and pinches during a drought. The class of sheep moßt approved , of are such a 1 ) Mr Oobb proposes to breed, viz., the •• origiual " type, as kept by the late Mr Lndiain, of the j Hutt, with perhaps a little more wool on the bead and points. Now that the demand for wool is ' more on the fine crossbred?, and a very apparent neglect of anything showing pigns of a Lincoln tendency we may anticipate a return in favour of our Romney Marsh breeders, who well deserve an innings, especially when experienced men like Mr McHardy have discovered i hat tie' most profitable breed for New Zea land is a cross between Romney and Lincoln, vide his speech last week afc the Farmers,' Club dinner at Woodville. We understand, when leaving 14 Raukawa," Mr Cobb •» culled " off every ewe which in his opinion was not first class, and his now model flock is thriving on tho Tararua heights, behind Shannon.