824 Agricultural Gazelle of N.S.W. [Oct. 2, 1908. 



able to thfive iniicli better th;tTi the English Leicesters on rough or st-aiit 

 pastures. Their lieads are long ;infl naiTow, nose aquiline. 'I'lu' sliai'j) 

 protubi^ ranees of the eye-caps arc a^tt. to do damage to the uterus in lambing. 

 Tiie wool in the cross is of good leji<fth and (jualitv. though rather light. 

 Tiamhs in the cross mature (juicklv, have good l)ai'ks. and gcncially of xciy 

 dcsirahh' shape. They are likclv to take a iiromincnt ]iktcc in himli bicfding 



Ritnineij Marsli-Merino Cross. — The pure Jibmney is a large heavy sheep 

 with wool of (h'mi-lustre which, when crossed with a faii'lv hue volky merino, 

 produces a wool of much value ; also mak(!s a line heavy wether at an early 

 age and produces good m-arketable lambs in the cross with the merino ; but 

 tl)ey ai-e rather lacking in tli" sliape desired Itv tlic trade. No couidiy 

 except the desert should be without the Romney Marsh, for it t'irives wliere 

 others cannot d ) well, viz., in tlie low svvamjn', coastal, regions, as well as in 

 poor hilly country where lluke anrl foot-rot abound. The constitution that 

 enables this breed to resist these terrible scourges will make the Romney breed 

 desirable wherever these diseases are found. Like other sheep, however, tiiey 

 suffer from \\-orms. 



Shropshire- Mcri 11') Ciosx. — Th^" Shropshire is a u)utton sheep well-known 

 to fat-lamh raisers. As a shapely sheep with good mutton and early maturing 

 (]ualities he is to be reckoned with. The wool of the pure-bred is much 

 improved by crossing with the merino. The i-ams if allowed to get too fat 

 are very lazy and slow at mating time, and a good deal of difficulty is ex- 

 ])erienced with the ewes — especially merinos when crossed with them — as their 

 heads are large. The Shropshire belongs to the L)o\\-ns or black-faced breeds. 



Southdown-Merino Cro^s. — The Southdown is a ti'ue mutton sheep, not so 

 heavy as the Shi'opshire or Suffolk, but a better shape in the hind parts than 

 eithei- : it is nnstirpassed for the quality and flavour of its mutton : the cross 

 with the merino is compact and shapely, though small, and much sought after 

 by butchers. The wool of the pure-bred is somewhat harsh, short, and fleece 

 is light, but becomes softer and better when crossed \\\k\\ the merino. The 

 breed is hardy and sprightly, but not exempt from foot-rot. Tla^ head is 

 small, and the progeny of the cross with the merino gives little tioublc during 

 parturition. 



Suffolk-Merino Cross. — Last, but perhaps by no means least, is the Sullblk 

 she^']) for crossing. The lambs from this cross are amongst the heaviest of all 

 the half-breds. The Suffolk is not a handsome sheep, neither does the quali-y 

 <if the mutton come near the Southdown, but it does weigh. The wethers 

 from tliis cross also attain a great weight and size. 



The Heece of the purebred is of fair (luality oidy, but in the cross with a 

 fairly fine merino the improvement is wonderful, and experts pronounce it to 

 be one of the best of the Downs half-bred wools yet produced. The Suffolk 

 (pure) is a big, long sheep, with laige black bai'e head and legs. The mutton 

 is f-iir, fat and lean being w ell mixed. The ewes are prolific and good milkers, 

 therefore first-rate mothers. 



Comebacks, if bred judiciously, ai-e useful sheep for eithei- mutton or wool, 

 according to the purpose for wdiich they ai-e required. 



