The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, FEB. 21, 1888.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2436, 21 February 1888, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, FEB. 21, 1888.

Some little time since we pointed out that farmers in Waikato would find it to their advantage to turn their attention more to the breeding of sheep than they have done, and less to the fattening of beef. If wheat is to be the chief staple of Waikato, and it is possible that, large as the area sown in wheat this year has been, it will be much larger next season, a corresponding area, must, in order to maintain the fertility of the soil for wheat, be grown with swedes, turnip-, or other green crop t'orsoi ing. The question then arises, By what process in turning this green crop inio manure for the wheat can the farmer extract the most profit, or indeed any profit at all 1 He has not in a large number of cases made any profit by the feeding of cattle, though, now that the price of store cattle is more proportionate to that of fat beasts, there is a small margin of possible profit to bo looked for in beef, and this is indeed a satisfactory outlook for those few whose farms are not yet adapted for sheep. In sheep, however, the farmer will find the true solution of the diflicnby. For wool, like gold, he can always find a market, and a price which does not depend altogether on local buyers. Fat lambs, too, can always command a local market. Since writing on the subject wo notice from the report of Mr Alfred Buckland's Itemuera sheep fair on the 7th inst., that breeding sheep are selling at prices much in advance of sales of late years, showing that farmers generally are beginning to see that there is more money in sheep than has recently been the case. This is, no doubt, due, in a great measure, to the steady rise in the price of wool, which, if peace; is preserved in Europe, bids fair nob only to be maintained, but to lie increased. Sheep of late have paid as a speculation where cattle dealing has been a failure. Many people who bought sheep iasW autumn and kept them till well on in winter, sold them at an advance of over 150 per cent, on cost price. Here was something for their grass and turnips which beef has never returned for many a long year. As we have said, Jhe farmer mint have some stock to manufacture his turnips into manure for the wheat, ?md sheep will not only be found the most profitable but the best in other respects. Throwing 39 much land into grain-growing

shortens the area of summer feed, and he will find that sheep can be run harder in the summer months than cattle, while the old proverb that "sheep tread with golden feet" will be found verified in his wheat crop, which will be b >th heavier and more even after turnips or swedes fed by sheep, than if the same crop had been fed by cattle.

It is to bo regretted that the advantage of sheep over cattle has not been earlier thought of, for, owing in great measure to so many sheep dying in IJawke's liay last winter and so large a demand for them existing on the West Coast, prices have run up from those of last year. We learn from good authority that the returns from Hawke's Bay this year will show some quarterof a million less sheep in that province than in the preceding year ; and it is probable that prices will, on this account keep up for at any rate a few years. Even though prices have hardened, this is in oik; sense all the better, as the market is a rising one.

The noxt and a very impoitnnt question for the farmer to consider is, what class of sliuep to buy. A first-class sheep eats no more than a scrubber, but there is all the difference in the returns. Those with small holdings, and having much of their land in swedes and turnips, intending to put in wheat, and having little room to run sheep in summer will no doubt prefer to buy wethers or sound-mouthed ewes for fattening. Others who have plenty of run during the summer, will go in for breeding as well as fattening. These farmers should bo very careful in the class of sheep they select: a class of sheep that will produce lambs that will readily fatten, and will, themselves, and their lambs if kept on, cut a good fleece. Now that frozen mutton and lamb do not give the returns they did, black faces will not find so much favour as heretofore, for their wool is of less value than that of other breeds. xVs in cattle so in sheep, the man who breeds his stock having a yearly increase of his own growth, (instead of wasting time at auctions, and often buying dear and selling cheap) will make the most prolit. At any rate what he gets for his beef or mutton will go to the farm and not to the auctioneer. It seems to us therefore, that farmers would do better by buying young ewes and keeping them on till four or five years old, instead of having every year to buy a fresh lot, as many do at present. They will have young ewes coming on every season to replace, the old ones, instead of, as at present, sending thousands of pounds to Napier every year for sheep. To begin a Hock good young half-bred ewes, bred from Lincoln rams and merino ewes, or vice versa will be. as good as any, and can be put to Lincoln, Leicester or Romney rams. In the South, we believe, Border Leicester are largely used for crossing with merinos and half-bred ewes, and give splendid fat lambs, while their hoggets will cut ten pounds of first-class wool. On the West Coast, Komneys are said to begetting much into favour and are no doubt an excellent breed, making as fine fat lambs as can be wished, and cutting an even, fine, close fleece. They mature early and are often sold fat oil'the shears at a year old. There are, however, we think, few if any Roinneys in this district, and this being so, Lincolns will, we believe prove the best aiil most readily available—that is a certain type of Lincoln, those that are fine and even in the wool and show constitution and hardiness. By and by we shall doubtless have choice of breeds, but at present, and on our poorer lands, nothing will beat the cross with the Lincolns.

As wo have said on a former occasion, there is move money in sheep than in cattle, for if our lands only average four sheep to the acre, there are thu four lambs at 7s Gd eacli and the fleeces, ail a certain return in a certain market. It has not boon so, nor is it so now, with cattle, but should sheep breeding •ind fattening, as we trust it will be more generally followed, it will to a large extent cause a decrease in the raising of cattle, and such as are raised and fed will fetch better prices. Farmers from various reasons will always lind it desirable to keep uiijeed, stock, cattle and sheep upon their farms, «.nd if the thousands of acres of fern, which form the chief back ground of cultivation, as seen from the top of Pirongia and other hills, were laid down in grass, and farmers kept their calves from the time they were dropped by the cows till fit for the butcher, having thus every year a ertiiin number of four or rive-year-old beeves to sell, cattle grazing would be found more profitable than it now is.