12 THE SHEEP AND WOOL INDUSTRY 



type of fine Cross-bred sheep, growing a wool of 56*5 to 58*5 

 quality. I consider this fine Cross-bred sheep a splendid type for 

 country that is too heavy and damp for Merinoes. This type 

 is not so subject to footrot as the Merino. In starting to breed 

 a line of fine Cross-bred sheep, I would first procure a line of 

 Merino ewes of the large-framed, strong-woolled type, such as 

 I mentioned in a previous chapter, as being best suited to the 

 dry sandy districts. The next thing to do would be to procure 

 the necessary number say 2 per cent. of well-bred Lincoln 

 rams. Care must be taken in selecting a ram. To get the best 

 results you must procure one possessing a large carcase and 

 growing lustrous wool of great length, with plenty of character 

 in it, the quality of the wool being from 36's to 40*5. The progeny 

 of this couple would be a half-bred, the quality of the wool being 

 from 48's to 50*3, any very coarse-woolled sheep being culled out 

 before going any farther. You would always get a proportion 

 of sheep that are not suitable, and as it is impossible to get an 

 even type from two distinct breeds, you must obtain the type you 

 desire by culling any that greatly differ from it. To produce 

 a large carcase I would use the Lincoln ram again. You would 

 then have the Lincoln strain well developed in the progeny, which 

 would have a dense and heavy fleece of combing wool of great 

 length, the quality of which would be about 46*8, still remember- 

 ing to cull away any that are too coarse. On this progeny I 

 would introduce a Merino ram of the large, strong-woolled type 

 that I have mentioned earlier. The progeny of these latter types 

 would give you the fine Cross-bred sheep. This sheep would 

 possess more of the Merino type of wool with a large carcase, 

 which would resemble the Lincoln more than the Merino. The 

 wool of these sheep will be very light in condition, possessing 

 a long length of staple, the quality being 56*3. or thereabouts, 

 which is a shade coarser than Comeback wool, the quality of 

 which is 58*5. On account of the high yielding qualities of this 

 wool, it is mostly purchased by the Americans, who pay very high 

 prices for it. This type of wool has brought as high as ijd. 

 per Ib. American importers of wool have to pay a duty of 



