THE STATION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 981, 11 June 1879, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE STATION.

SHEEP AND SHEEP REARING. (J. Darby, in Live Stock Journal Almanac for 1879.)

When Bakewell, in the latter part o: the last century, made it patent to English floek-masters to what a vast exteni the grazing characteristics of sheep conic be promoted, the desire to improve everj other lowland breed by moans of tlu materials he liad provided manifested itself from one end of the kingdom to the other. The magnificent prices he made at the yearly lettings of his rams shows how universal was the demand for them, and although the crossing in some instances may not have been long continued, it was sufficient to deprive those old breeds of ugly heads, big bones, and ungainly shapes. The Cotswold owes a far slighter indebtedness to the Leicester cross than the Lincolnshire longwool, for the latter may be almost deemed a new modern breed, deriving its invaluable type from two distinct sources. Shapeliness and beauty of form, with high proving character, were imparted by Bak.ewell's rams, but heavy fleeces and good sized carcasses are derived.from the old Lincolnshire stock. The modern. Lincoln longwools are just as well adapted to the improved state of the fen districts in the present day as the longer-legged, more cigantic old Lincolnshire sheep were admirably suited to the circumstances of a century or two ago, when there were more undrained wet marshes than are to be found at the present period, and few ! uniips were grown, while oilcake feeding was almost a thing unknown. In this re3pect the conclusion may safely bo arrived at that the circumstances of a district may in the animal subsisting on it. I'htis, itV6 flock master in introducing improved breeds of sheep, follows exactly the order of Nature's procedures, and carries out her laws implicitly, if the improved types he originates are thoroughly well adapted to the land in its new ebarcater. When ihe farmers of the southwest of England iad If-.ive tracts of downs fi>r their flocks to •nmble over, and small arable breadths ie?.r the homestead for them to be driven ,o ns dung-carriers and folded on by night., he old Wiltshire sheep were the very best iiiited to the existing circumstances ; but '.iibv would bo nothing like so remunerative > r generally s0 wO - 1 adapted to well-cnlti-ated farms in that part ox the kingdom it the present day as the Hampshire lowns are found to be. _ The modern breed which is most popular n the Midlands and all over West Midland erritory, is the Shropshire, and no breed s extending itself more rapidly over other larts of the kingdom, being better adapted o face a humid climate, the exigencies ot •lay soils and other circumstances remirino- hardihood, joined to high proof md wealthy characteristics in producing nutton and wool, than most other kinds. Jntil recently it had a formidable rival m he Lincoln longwool, but the latter has llways been better adapted to good grass listricts than to arable soils besides, vhich, Shropshires, although yielding less | vei-dity fleeces, have a merit impossible ,o be ignored in present times in their excellent quality mutton, which partakes icmewhat of the fine flavor of the Southlown, and is produced with a large proportion of lean meat to fat. The larger in d fatter joints of the Lincolnshire slicK-p lo not sell half so well in the market. | for ;he reason that there are not half so many •uetomers for them. Until not long since here 'w&b no difficulty in disposing of aT .T Q fat mutton to the working classes 7 ho have of . late,, however, displayed mite as dainty tastes in the chpice of small joints as. their masters. Shropshire iheep, it is true, do not when well fattened rield particularly small, carcases, as the loogets are frequently brought out at a ro»r old with flesh for the shambles weighing from 18tbs to 201bs a quarter ; but for irmness of texture and general good malijty, it considered by many equal to fet of Southdown sheep,, so that t.ie 'firmer who adopts Shropshires has the kdv*nt*ge of producing mutton sure to be n good demand, and to command a high jn«o : in the market. This breed is, no 'iosbt, indebted for hardihood and. some jther to the ancient Lotigpynd stock of Cannock Ch*«e, «rhi»h it tots originally derived, the weldna for tW modern breed having been icsowplmhed by the abundant working in if the Southdown element. _ Breeders of improved Hampshire Downs •naintain the plea that their variety da just 13 affluent in the produce of high-clans nutton as. the Shropshire, and tli&fc the eveights of carcass are. heavier, Jn the >arly production of lambs arid rapidity. *;f Ceding, the claims of the Hampshire are ilso-undeniable. A. tolerably candid and. mpartial critic, in comparing their respective .merits not long since, gave the 3aim to Shropshires for more hardihood in .vithstauding. foot-rot and- other diseases ncidental to cold clay districts, .and fur fielding the -largest crops of lambs, but ■hpug'it that in a suitable country Hamp.ihires would produce lambs earlier. Uthough at the Bath and West of England Show last summer, the champion prizes :.or sheep, were awarded to Hampshires in i,. cpmpetitipn which placed them above ;he Shropshires. exhibited at that show, ;here cart, scarcely a -doubt tliat the atter breed has a superiority to the former, jeneraliy. speaking, in ..shapeliness of form Ind pleasing contour. Great improvement, priuiest,outcomes of, the iputh-.western locks during recent years, and althougn ipparently not extending themselves quite io rapidly as the Shrops, the Hampshires, ire occupying fresh ground every suc--sessive-year, . and aire..,now. to bp found .irgely propagated iiv . C^iiibridgesliire,

Essex, Suffolk, and some of tho homo counties. As to products in mutton and wool, there i 3 probably some considerable differences bot.veen the two breeds, Hampshire giving the most mutton, but Shropshire the heaviest fleeces.