OUR WOOL SUPPLY.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1290, 5 October 1880, Page 2

OUR WOOL SUPPLY.

Australian wool growers must be avcll satisfied at learning 1 that they have now almost the monopoly of the English wool supply. No other nation or country can compete with them. Europe sends us only u thirtieth of the whole amount, and this, which cornea mainly from Saxony and Spain, is a particular land of fine merino wool. America, with its vast pasture lands md jjrairies, cannot succeed in raising sheep. The fine crisp grasses, which are the sheep's favourite food, will not grow in America, where the extremes of heat and cold are fatal to them. Australian grass is tar superior, while the general dearth of water dues not affect the question, as sheep can do well with a small allowance. But the most favourable soil for sheep is really our own British isles. I'armers may rave at the fickle and detestable climate, with its capricious downpours of pelting- rain at the most unreasonable time, drowning the what crops and ruining the roots; but there is no doubt that the prevalence of moisture gives us some of the finest gTass in the world. The brilliancy of the green turf is always remarkable in England, and never more so than when the country has been drenched with heavy and continuous rain as now. Still, the British Isles, although they may continue to produce the best mutton in the world, will never be able to raise sufficient wool for our demands. How inadequate are our efforts' in this direction may be gathered from a comparison of tho number of sheep raised here and in Australia. At Home tue proportion is one sheep for every individual in a population of thirty million ; out there the proportion is 22 sheep to one person. — Home News.

It may not be generally known that every night the Bank or England, in London, is guarded by the "Bank Piquet" consisting of an officer, 2 sergeants, a drummer, and thirty men. The officer is allowed a dinner for two, three bottles of wine, and the right of receiving a guest ; each sergeant gets two shillings, and each man a shilling i\ night on his arrival,