Romney Marsh Sheep.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4874, 12 November 1894, Page 2

Romney Marsh Sheep.

pro THE.EDITOR,]

Sib,—l enclose a very interesting letter, en Romney Marsh sheep which lam sure -yon will consider; well worth publishing, I may say that I have just been staying with the writor, Mr Finn, whoso property is situatod very nearly in the centre of the Romney Marsh. This flock' is decidedly the best I have seen.. I am strongly impressed by the advantages this breed lias over all others, in all cases where tho sheep have to depend entirely on grass. For this reason it is peculiarly suited to most parts of Now Zealand, and this particular flock especially is. I have bought some of bis rams, and am sending thorn out by the' Doric,'. I am etc.,

CPIUIUZVH. Burlington Hotel, London, Oct. 4th, 1894.

Brcdonoxposedmarshes,andgenerally grazed upon short and poor feed in its first year, tho Romney Marsh Sheep may bo said to present a result to be expected after many years of the survival of the fittest. . Of a hardy and strong will live and thrive even upon thepoorest lands without auy artificial feeding or assistance. Nevertheless, upon tho best pasture, or when aided by extra feeding,there is no breed which more readily responds, owing to its natural kindliness and quick fattening disposition. It may not be out of place to briefly describe tlieshoepgrazing district, in the counties of Kent and Sussex, known as Romney Marsh, which, for drainage and seadefence purposes, is divided into various "levels," viz., Romney Marsh, Wallaiid Marsh, Denge Marsh, Broomhill, and East Guldcford, comprising an area of about 42,000 acres of pasture land, with a further considerable acreage of adjacent marshes oxtontling inland and of similar character. The Marsh may be regarded as a peninsula, terminating in its southern extremity at Dungeness Point, and having a seaboard of several miles upon the east and west; while a low range of hills bounds it upon the north and north-east.

Probably no more oxposednnd bleak country can be imagined. In some parte miles may bo traversed without seeing tree or hedge, Severe winds from the east, or gales from tho west, sweep across it with full unchecked forcefrom the sea; and, in a hot and dry season, such as we experienced in 1893, there is no shado or shelter from the burning glaro of tho sun, .

The fields are divided from each other by post and rail fences or by water fences called " ditches" and " sowers" (for drainage purposes). Tho quality of the land in tho district, which, regarded geologically, is n recent reclamation from the sea, varies very considerably On the one hand there are parts which, from a • rich alluvial deposit, have become pasture of the highest quality, while on the other, and closely adjoining, or intermixed, are many acres of the poorest laud—hard, stiff, and unkindly clay, or sand and shingle sparsely covered with vegetation, and only barely sustaining stock in tho most favourable seasons. In these circumstances it may well be understood that the sheep "bred of the soil" must be of the most hardy and thrifty nature, and such qualities may be'prc-emin-entry claimed for the Itomnoy Marsh breed.

No sheep are better proof against the diseases which from time totimo play such havoc and devastation among our flocks. Although none can be said to stand sound against, for example, attacks- of liver fluke (or rot), throat worm, or foot rot, under favourable conditions for the development of these diseases, yet the Homney Marsh sheep will be the last to succumb and is tho most likely to withstand them. The system of the Romney Marsh grazior with regard to his lambs is disadvantageous to early development. It is a loss to himself and generally unprofitable. It is not practicable to winter tho lambs uponanylai'gescaleinßomney Marsh. They aro usually placed in August or September in the uplands of Kent and otheradjoiningcounties at keep until the spring. The general manner of this wintering is wasteful. Thousands of lambs aro sent away, often full of flesh and condition, to I simply subsist on such feed as tho [keepers may find them, Heavy losses aro frequently sustained owing to mismanagement and unsuitable feed. The result of a bad wintering naturally hinders the growth, and is visible in all further stages of tho animal.

J a The lambing down of the ewes on the Marsh usually begins in April, | .Shearing commences in June, and il '•' is the practice to shear the Jambs, I ° It should bo mentioned that sheep „ kept entirely upon tho uplands of Is tho county of Kent, and principally |s upon artificial food, arc of a larger £ size, coarser, and with more bone. ;e Thoy are generally called " Kents," o as distinguished from the Romney 0 Marsh breed, While originating t from the Marsh sheep, it is possible [. that a strain of the Lincoln has at h some period been introduced into i, their breeding, » It is difficult for the writer, him- ; self a breeder, to describe the shape . and foim which best represent tlie B RomncyMarshbreed,foreachbr ic der J would seem to havo his ow<\ ideal ; Old Dr. Price, whoWte a most interesting.book «ponsheep-graz-ing in llomney Marsh in 1809 ; gives %olvo, points of a gootl ; «IW,Aniopg.tho S e arc.agood head, 1 » sb °i'tneck,adeepandwidebrea S t | » good leg and width over the i shoulders. Perhaps the last named ; is the most important quality to obten. Given this, and a straight : back a 1 other desirable points usually follow, V Sheep of this breed are held h much, esteem by the bntcher, and neat weights commonlymakeasbigli apneeper stone as the highestquality Downs. •■ The mutton'is usually the best obtainable from May to October, and during that ■ period 'tho markets in |ent and Sussex, and also tho London inai.ket,are very largely supplied Onei of the most important nV ffni , c OBtudy is the quantity andr ( „S af the wool. ItmavbeW T y of heavy weight S?f b ff, s "id decided sL.v ; ' lo,lg V f full'. ull ' pi'oveWentiutlediiv^iy?afcimiww w -' " as teen made n ,gn years by, Capful selection; tl, lessen the amount of tl ie breech ai'ad coarsens,,... ::;... ™ weignt of wool from RomheyMai'flh l?heep : ,keptrin:K e wZeaSJ

factory 'climatic conditions;than here, liaa/"to; tho knowledge of the £'%^ writer,been'most satisfactory profitable.;; ■•'■ 7rVs|v ; As an example of sheep grazed the usual way in Romney Marsh lie : ;K r ;" . may instance, {in one separately ■ kept .growth; '.of .wool :'from-;■'•'!s 1000 head, consisting of: tegs,; ewes r i>M bringi ug up their lambs,and fattening ''/--M sheep, in the dry and trying year of i: 'Ji' 1893, an averago weight of 8 lb, sheep, the wool being washed on the ■ v'f sheep. '■■■ ■•'■■• .■■,■'--■ - : /. : -'fy The Romney Marsh sheep seom 5 well adapted to cross with other -V< breeds. The resultof crossing with : t tho Merino shows that the,, extra '"V-v weight and long staple are secured ; ■ ' while the wool assimilates to tho , fineness of toxhre of that highly /..■■ valued breed. In this country, too, the ewes, are / frequently purchased from the .-'Pi Marsh graziers and crossed with ; ''■, Shropshire, Hampshire Down, or V Southdown rams, for the purpose of r breeding early lambs for fattening J with excellent results., ■;. ' \ ■■ '\ To recapitulate what has been ': stated —the result of yeajipf careful selection, combined witßPe varied condition's of feed, and roughness of climate, of.its native home in the Marsh, havenow'produced a breed •',; which stands first for hardiness and " healthiness, with good kindly disposition, and heavy even wool. • There can, indeed, be but little doubt that the Romuey Marsh sheep is rapidly attaining afavourableand! well-deserved recognition both 'at homo and abroad. Arthur Fib. Westbroke, Lydd, Kent, j . ' ■■: