8 Oct., 1907-] Fifth Corwention, Chamber of Agriculture. 629 



shape, but many new brt'eders were led astray by this ; they saw only the 

 w(X)lly head and other show points and forgot to watch the thin neck 

 and weak shoulders that were creeping in, and now the country is over- 

 run with dark-faced sheep of all shapes — anything witli the least appear- 

 ance of the colour of a Shropshire was sold as such. 



There is no doubt that as a farmer's sheep for using on crossbred 

 ewes too far advanced towards the coarser breeds these Shropshires give 

 every satisfaction for export lambs, but they must be of the right shape. 

 Shropshires when fat are not good travellers. With the small farmer this 

 breed will be found very necessary later on when a large proportion of 

 three-quarter-bred ewes is available. When getting towards pure, these 

 three-quarter ewes, if crossed with pure Longwools again, will throw lambs 

 too coarse in grain of mutton, especially if kept over the milk lamb stage, 

 and are inclined to lay on fat more in proportion to lean. If coarse 

 grades of wool become of low value again, good fleeced and shaped Shrnp- 

 snires are the best cross to bring about a medium grade of wool, and at 

 the same time keep early maturing properties and quality of flesh and 

 shape. 



SOUTHDOWNS. 



These neat and very early maturing and quick thriving sheep, have not 

 as yet come into favour as they deserve. They are particularly suited for 

 farmers on second-class country close to markets, are especially well able 

 to throw off diseases if given any liberal treatment at all, being of all 

 breeds the best constitutioned. They are rather small, but are very weightv 

 and are plenty large enough for poor country. They cross to perfection 

 with Lincoln and Leicester cross ewes that have been bred too coarse in the 

 wool and flesh. That the demand for this breed, of correct shape and fair 

 fleeces will grow is assured, and will increase as the Longwcol breeds are 

 more used and there comes about a larger number of the coarser sorts, for 

 wool itself of the coarser grades must some day be again of low value. 

 Small farmers cannot have the merino ram even if of good shape, as his 

 lambs are slower maturing. It is the quicklv grown milk lamb that 

 pays the average farmer best, and the export people can make it look to 

 perfection also. In addition to this it brings the best price on the home 

 markets. 



Selection of Stock. 



Rants. — When full woolled and fat, rams with a tendencv to narrow- 

 ness and bony shoulders are not so' easily detected. A ram for the purpose 

 of fat lamb-raising should always be handled to see if he is full girthed 

 and even fleshed ; the easiest thing to find is the high sharp shoulders. 

 Judgment must be used, and the condition and treatment of the sheep 

 allowed for. In plain merino rams a fair idea can be gained by outward 

 appearance when walking at a little distance, but it is alwavs wise to 

 handle them. In stud rams, folds filling up the narrowness behind the 

 arms must not be mistaken for width of girth. In Longwools, rams should 

 hQ handled as the wool, especially in flock rams, will part on the top of the 

 shoulder and down the back, and being a long staple will hang over the 

 sides, the locks overlapping one another and giving the sheep a round 

 appearance. The wool, being open and thin on the back, gives the idea 

 of being broad and level. 



In Shropshires and Southdowns, especially the former, the sheep 

 should always be handled. Their wool lends itself willingly to the 



