June 2, 190S.] Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W, 491 



Such rams are purchased because they are offered at lower prices than 

 those asked for pedigreed stock, and then the buyer blames the breed (of 

 which he has never tried a pure representative) for failure to meet his expec- 

 tations which have been founded on results obt'iincd by others from the 

 use of pure sires. 



Short-legged blocky rams showing good width of hind quarters, standing 

 on legs set wide apart and carrying meat well down to their hocks should be 

 selected when mating for producing freezers. 



It is not necessary that the farmer shall breed his own ewes, as it will be 

 found more profitable to buy them as required from breeders on a large 

 scale. If found desirable thev may be fattened and sold after having reared 

 their lambs. 



Four-tooth Wethers by Shropshire Rams from Lincoln-Merino Ewes. 



The following rams have been used at Wagga, viz. ■ Shropshire, Border- 

 Leicester, Dorset Horn, Lincoln, Suffolk, Hampshire, and Cotswold, but some 

 of them have had only a limited trial. 



So far the results have been in favour of the progeny of the Shropshire 

 rams from the Lincoln-merino ewes. 



The stock resulting fi'om this cross are very shapely animals, making very 

 rapid growth, dressed w^eights of 40 to 50 lb. at 4 to 5 months being numerous, 

 while the drop in all seasons has been of even character, very few lambs 

 having to be rejected at sale time. 



The wool has proved of fair quality and the quantity has been satisfactory, 

 averages of 9 to 11^ lb. having been obtained from a small flock of wethers, 

 while lambs at 3 montiis have averaged in a goovi season 3f lb. from a flock 

 numbering sr;me hundreds. 



Under adverse conditiojis th^'ir loss of weight has been less than that of 

 any other cross-breeds, and their gain under hand-feeding in a season of 

 drought has been greatest. In fact in one feeding test in which every other 

 breed lost weight the Shropshire x Lincoln-merino showed a fair gain. 



The Border-Leicester ram on the Tiincoln-merino ewes has produced lambs of 

 excellent type which slightly exceeded the Shropshire crosses in daily growth 

 for the first four months. The risk in lambing to rams of this breed is some- 

 what less than in the ca.se of any other cross, owing to the heads of the rams 

 being smaller than others. 



