SHEEP AS FARM STOCK.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1696, 19 May 1883, Page 4

SHEEP AS FARM STOCK.

It is'btit'afcw yews since iti\va3 a :bold undertaking for anyone professing to be a friend to fanners or the peijnianent settlement of the soil hi-New Zealand, to adfd&atfilthe "clatona of sheep as ,n -necessary and essential t part pf the Uyn, s.,tock: ol every farm. I did venture, while resident in a part of the colony where numerous fanners where settled and who wejrd.' pursuing the usual course of exhausting and deteriorating the value of their farms by a constant succession of grain growing, to throw ont suggestions hi the local paper on tho short-sighted policy of not keeping sheep to renovate and improve their land. But these hints, instead of being nnp.ntially considered o< adopted, were pool) poohed as indicative of a leaning towards the squatters. Thi Istupid opinion that sheep wciu in souk way antagonistic to farming was for many subsequent ycais entcitained by faimeis. It was one so foieign to all my o\peii cuec — for in every well regulated farm in the old country, sheep were always it garded as a valuable Kind of stock — thai I was convinced of its being a prejudice most mischievous in its consequences ; and I could only account for its existence from the fact that most of the men so engaged in farming were grossly ignorant of the first principles of agriculture, and could not therefore appreciate the benefits to be derived from sheep depasturing. But now there ia fortunately a great change in the opinions of agriculturists, and only a very limited number of men are foolish enough to deny that as a valuable aid to prosperous agriculture, sheep deserve to take a high place. The fortunate change is doubtless larecly due to the success of the export trade in meat, now beyond the stage of uncertainty and experiment, and partly to the i-ict that observation and experience have demonstrated the necessity for Boinc simple and inexpensiv c system of manuring the laivl <unl keeping it fice from weeds. Tins mode of winching the soil has been long recognised in European countries, and how it lias been disicgarded in the colonies for such a lengthened period can only be leasonably accounted ior by the peculiar eh cumstanecs nuclei which land has been taken up and cultivated. The Lno S(ni K Join n<d in this connection says :—"ln: — "In England and Fiance, the necessities imposed on the density of population, and consequent enhanced value of tlie Kind, compel recognition of c\eiy nnnuti.e of profit by the cultivator of the soil. Without sheep the agriculture of England would be a faihuc, and apaifc from the profit derived fiom their caicase and fleece, there is their manure, which makes other branches of agneulttiral industiy to prosper." A remunerative, price can now he obtained for mutton, and with wool at its present value, there can be no leasonablc fear that the keeping of sheep by settled fanners should not be diic^tly pioh'table. It has been noticed that of late years a steady inct ease in the numbcis of sheep depastuiud on fauns has taken place, and nny rctiogie«bion fiom this better style ot faiming is not likely to occur. On the contiaiy it is manifest if we .vie to maintain the .supply of the class of mutton necessary for successful export to the British inaikct, even meatu 1 and moii geneial attention must bo de-voted to this bianch of faiming. Rofiigeiating and frozen nr'at companies me being oiganisod and established in almost cvciy modciatoly "M/cd poi fc town in the colony, and fleets of steameis and .ships aie being littid up and piepaicd for tho com ey nice, of fio/en encases. The period may romo soonci than is generally antici| atcd, when the supply of mutton w ill become exhausted, or at all events sei iously diminished, and hence the necessity foi uiging upon faimeis the duty of looking upon <.hcep breeding and fattening as one essential pait of their business. This countiy is especially adapted fora class ot sheep w ith cai cases ot medium weight, and yielding a good avemgc of wool. The climate is eminently adapted for tho full and profitable development of such sheep. The usual practice at picsunt amongst farmeis is, to keep a " Hying stock.' 1 It is customai y foi them in the. auluinn to buy Meuno ewei to <*ioos vv ith Leicester or Iloinney Mai A\ l.uns, to place theso on the stubble 1 ., and when the limbs aie fat in the &pnng, to sell them and fatten oil the cues in the summer, taking such ■wool as may be pinduced. Othcis again, buy half-bied 01 time pai tshieel-ueeldeis. winch uftoi being fattened and are replaced by other sheep of the same class. Man}' .serious mistakes aie made in the buying of the iw us alluded to, for it too of tin happens that they aie but imsetablc 1 token mouthed "erawleis,' neither lit for bleeding fiom, 1101 can they be fattened easily. When ifc is intended to have a crop of half hied lambs, it is essential thai only f.tiong fullmouthed uwei should be pin chased. For most of the faimeis who aie inexperienced m the bleeding and leaimg of sheep, it is pi eft uible that they sliould buy only good -stoic slice p foi fattening, and lea\e to thoau huttci acquainted with then management the business of hi ceding. I cannot help thinking that at the picsent stage in the business ot mutton production, thcio is a giand opening for home bleeder of skill, cxpeiienec and enterprise, to pioduco a new type of bliecp, suitable Joi thcjfai met , hn\mg the giand lcquisites of good coicisc, and good wool. The Southdown? and Cheviots aie such a class as is do-ddeiated ior New Zealand, but the wool of both these shucp is not m high favour. The half bied between Leicester and Merino is generally admitted to combine most of the qualities suitable , for o fanner's sheep ; the mutton is excellent, and there is a good weight of wool of \eiy fair quality. Bat the difficulty comes in attei the insL cioss. So long as theic is a sufficient supply of culled cues to be obtained fiom stations this difficulty will not be seiious. But I do apprehend a seal city ot the<-e owes, and it would be dc suable to piovide for tin, contingency. Whatever kind of sheep is to be kept, it is essentially ncccsaiy that the fencing of every faun .should be put in older as v\ill not necessitate the woik of shepheidins;. It is a .stupid but a common idea that sheep v\ ill do iu\) whete. Much of the distmstin sh<>op as n faun stock has aus-un fiom tins picvalent euoi as to the easiness of their management. It is to bo tegrelbnl that so many of the fanners in New Zealand have paid so little attention to the piopei Mihdivision of their farms by good sheep-proof fences. Wheic the woik of .sub-division has been neglected or insufficiently done, it will be requisite befoie any attempt to keep a regular flock ot sheep be mad* 1 , to set about fencing in a systematic and thorough maiuiei. I believe in live fences -as affording, when fully gi own and well kept, a considerable amount of shelter— and either gorse or tlioin is adapted for the purpose. The one gieat objection to live fences is the long lime lcquiied before they arrive at a stage, to keep sheep in their bounds. The >oung plints of both gorse and thorn aie also liable to be destroyed by the sheep nibbling and eating them, the thorn being specially fcontftive to injuries from the wool ol sheep. Jn theso days, ~!iowei er, of cheap fencing material it should be no -difficult matter to eictt temporary fences to piotect young lne toncis Wheie it is not cousideied desirable or necessary to have live, fences — a very good permanent fence may be made of potts and vviie put pietty closely tojj;et! er. But with such apologies for thick live fences it \v ill be found absolutely neees sat y to provide good shelter. Sheep puffer moie fiom wet than cold ; but. when the two come together, as they generally do in tho South Island, the loss is very gieat. The 1038 of condition is very marked after lainy. cold weather — as mos>t of the food coi sumed is used up in the maintenance of bodily heat. Every animal on a farm is more or less looked after and protected ftom cold aud rain ■with the exception of sheep. But despite? their warm natural covei iug they require protection, and that it would be

found profitable' there is 'little doubt. In every paddock where they are kopt, part of the division lines might be provided with a tigli^ boarded. fence, some kind of coveting" itgainSjfct ! mio^jvith slanting boards ovci'ljnetl -with thatch. Any larger anim/a^ 6ould bc,:k<jpi;' out by having auu ejjfeance made small enough. Fanners will, find that sheep will thrive much better when tlicrc afc facilities for shifting them from one paddock to another at frequent intervals. Grass is apt to get fouled when. sheep aio grazed too 1 long in ojie' field, and much loss of good food ensues from this cause. Where it is proposed to keep sheep on a farm it is an important matter to know the nnm* her that can bo properly kopt, for no class of .stock sulfcrd so much from a superabundance of food at one time, and bomi starvation at another. O\er-.stoek-ing is much too generally practised in the colony, and very few winters pass over without ni'solutc loss fiom this cause. lint pnpii where there 1 is no actual mortality in the Hocks the loss in eonditiojtis very bcrious, and the wool is greatly dctmoiattd in quality. In summer — for we are subject every now and again to loiig continued droughts — the pastures getdricd up and becotno as baie as a macadamised road. Provision Bhould be made against tliis by having a portion of land under some crop of a succulent nature that could be eaten off on the ground, such as lucerne, clover, prairie giass, Sc, until a change of weather restores the ordinary pasturage to a healthy condition. In winter there should invariably be a supply of root crops such as turnips, mangolds, &c.\ which iiight, in such seasons as when oats are cheap, l)e supplemented by giving a few pounds daily t.) each sheep. The corn so gi\ en would counteract the tendency to scouring which watery food like turnips is apt to cause ; and the increased value of the manmc, with the subsequent better ciops of giain, will undoubtedly remunerate the farmer more than by selling oats at from Is to Is Gd per bushel. 1 am fully confident that with the ceitain piospect of mutton being a payable pio'luct of the farm, there will be gieat impio'vement in the management of shepp on farms. The improvement will, however, be slow, e\en the need be acknowledged and its direction recognised. lam quite sine that your ntiir.eioiH 1 cadets would appreciate a tepoit of actual experience in this busiuewi of sheep fat tiling in small areas of Kind, and as there ate now a good many engaged in the occupation, it is not too much to o\pectthat your columns may ere long contain interesting details of the results. — N.Z, Jucltuti tat Gazette,

Soi'UTK Ahvold, the celebrated dansells/', was frequently asked how old her mothci was. " I really cannot tell you now," bhc replied "E\ cry birthday she declares that she feels a year younger, and, if this goes on, I shall soon be the older of the two !" AVno h the wis-eat man mentioned in the Hcupturcs?" a-sked ISJ iss CJoodeiiou^'ii of one of her Sunday-school class. "J\iul ' ' exclaimed the little fellow confidently. " Oh, no, Johnnie ! Paul was a \eiy good man." " Well, my father says I'liul uo.s the wisest nnn, because ho never luuiedjand I fancy my father ought to know !"' lepliod tlie boy. '• Komi: thing*," baid an excited politician, " can lie fou'scen anil foietold ; and I now foiMjc, and I wdl now foretell, that the day will soon come when our libel ties will be no more. This is as ccitain, my fellow citizens, and it is as sine, a** "Ronioo founded Home."

E\ri,AiM'i> jsy \ Fuii'M).— A wellknown esthete was lamenting to a. veteran ciihc that he could (iml no one rcaily to undoi.st.iud him. " The women," said he, " run after me, but tlio men scofF and tuin a«-tdt\ tain i pally no difl'erenl fioni other people, and only long to put my id( as hcfoie them — just as you do, foi o\ainplo. Why," added he, "will thi'y not listen to mo <is they do to you ? Cm you give me a reason?" " Because you don't cut your hair,"' answered his fiiend.

A Lon'dov clergyman informed his people at the close of his sermon that he intended in a few days to go on a mission to the heathen. After tin* congregation was diiiinssi'il, a number of the mcniheis waited for their pastor, nnd, crowding around him, expressed their astonishment at the new turn in hia affairs, asking whcie he was going, and how long tliey would be depitvcd of liis ministrations, ffe said to them, "My good friends, don't bo alarmed. I'm not going out of town.''

Tin: I imk Kiln Clujj.— Sir Isaac Walpolc desired to state, before passing mound the bean-box for the election of membcis, tli it lie was too old to begin life anew, but lie had given the burglary business consuleiable study of late, and but for his advanced tiqc he should make apaitneiship with wine lawyer— he to do the stoal'tig, and the lawyer to take half and olo.ir him. He then made his lounds, and the following candidates weie duly elected : — Sublime Hastings, Heartfelt Das is, Uncle Taylor, Darwin Jones, Doacon Carter and Taffy "Ringgold. Judge Ohewso didn't want to delay the business of the meeting, but theie was something on his mind. As he undcisitood it, the Lime Kiln Club had something iike.>2,9ooon hand. Tlie money was kept m the safe in the hall. The president had one key and the treasuier the other. What was to prevent either oliieial horn hawking on the money, and telling the club to whistle and be hanged 1 "Biudder Chew so," kindly leplierl the president, "de pint am well tooken. Dai' am nuflin' to prevent dc treasurer or myself fiom robbin' de safe, an' I may add dat $500 of do money would secure de highest legal talent in Detroit to defend an' doubtless clear us. Docs the judge want to flow out any suggestions?"' ff the judge did he was disappointed. He had been holding a marble in his month to polish his back teeth, and just at that moment fci'i-oi ball started to go down his tin oat. The result was a fie of gasping, coughing, and kicking which quite laid him up for the rest of the evening. — iJclioit F)cc I')c>.s. There can, perhaps (says the Canto bury WuMy iVi<..s), bo no bttter preparation for wheat th'tn a crop of peas and beans. Beans thrive bc-4 in heavy clay soils. The value of a p°a ciop and the beneficial influence it exorcisps on the following 1 wheat crop, are well known. Indeed, the pea crop may bo termed a restorer of fertility to soils exhausted of nitrogen thiougli constant cropping with cereals. The leaves and roots of the pea crop left in and on the ground furnish a supply of nitiogcn to the following- grain crops, hones the value of peas in rotation wirh eerc-als. To secure the greatest benefit to the soil this crop must be sown early, so as to obtain a plant that will completely shiido tho soil. Ifcis somowhat surprising that peas are not more generally sown, considering their value as food for all kinds of stock, and their fertilising influence on the soil. The haulm, or straw, is evcelont feeding- for young cattle, and it chaffed, moistened with water, and dusted with crushed lin^ccd, it makes capital food for milking cattle. Beans and red clover aieaLoaii excellent crop to rotote with wheat, but beans will only flirive on btiong soils. Bay fclie best sewing machines, packed. in ho\cs, carnage paid. Home Shuttle, fA~. White, £3 10s; Wcrtheim, £ i 10s ; Fristcr and Rodman's, £4 10-> : in walnut cover, £5. Knit-ning-machincs, £7; Singei's, Howes, Daws', Jones', Standard, and all the better vLissps of micluncs in stock. Cash, or deforced. D. S. Chambers' Wholesale and Retai\ Machine Depot, 70, Queen-street opposite the Bank tf Nt'w /e.iland You will do well to furnish your house from Garlick and Cranwcll's, They have now the most complete Furnish* nf . Warehouse in Auckland, furniture to suir all classes, good string, and cheap. "They hf^e Tape try Carpets from 2s 3d per yard, Brussels f rom as lld per yard, Linoleum from 3s 0 J to ss, Oil Cloths from Is (id to 4s Cd per yard, good' l2 feet wide Oil Cloths at 3s Od per yerd. Immense assortment oMron Bedsteads from Infants' Cots to 5 Jcet wide half-tester Bedsteads. Double iron Bedrteads from 255. 480 Bedsteads in stock to select from. Beddings of all kinds and sizes kept in readiness. Dining, Sitting 1 , Drawing-room Furniture, and and a large Assortment of Manchester and Furnishing Goods, including- a lot of Cretonnes. Book Catalogues sent free to intending purchasers. Garlick and Cranwell, City H,all Arcado, Qwon^treet^AucWsmd; -