SHEEP-BREEDING. TO THE EDITOR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1794, 5 January 1884, Page 2

SHEEP-BREEDING. TO THE EDITOR.

Sin, — In leyly to your conespondent re sheep-breeding— although I do not approve of answeung anonymous conespondents — allow me to state that my idea of working up a Shropshhe flock from Giey-fa.ce ewes is suggested by the knowledge that the Shropshhe Down was oiigmallv made in this way— viz. :By mossing the local breeds with South Down and Leicestei , and then by selection of the Cross-bieds. The OvfoidDown was made by cio^sing Cotswold, Leicestei and Hampshiie Down. My authority for these statements is W. G. Spoonor, M.R.V.G., in his book on the sheep— .see pages 49 and 59. We have never had any pure Slnopshire Downs in New Zealand, but had them when we lived in Cheshire troin 18G2 to 1872. The present prices for good Shi opshhes in England are so high that I don't see how it would pay to import a flock to New Zealaud. By putting pureShropshneb to Grey-face ewes and culling heavily, I think in a few year-, one should have what would be practically a Slnopshire Down sheep. Oui Giey-faces are Southdown-Lineolns. I think Mr^K Maclean christened them Grey-faces. This must clo^e the conespondence as far as 1 am concerned. — I am, &c. J. A. Douglas. Biuntwood, near Cambridge, 4th Jan., 1384.