656 



SHEEP 



He set to work to build up a flock and started out by buying the biggest 

 framed and sturdiest looking Merino ewes he could get, four thousand being 

 thus selected. These were bred to Lincoln rams, and from the best ram lambs, 

 the progeny of these Merino ewes and Lincoln rams, 100 of the best ram lambs 

 were saved, then further severe cull was made, and 20 of the best picked out. 

 These were mated with the pick of the half-bred ewes, the progeny of the 

 Merino ewes and Lincoln rams. The flock did very well, indeed, under heavy 

 culling and careful management, and the chief points which worried Mr. Little 

 were a tendency to droop in the tail, a rough hip and weak shoulder. These 

 defects had to be rectified, and the ideal that Mr. Little kept before him all 



FIG. 309. Ensor's Double Brand, an aged Corriedale ram owned by C. H. Ensor, 

 New Zealand. From photograph, by courtesy of Professor F. R. Marshall 



the time was to get the solid, well-shaped carcass of a Shropshire or South- 

 down, well covered with a good staple of the best quality half-bred wool. He 

 also recognized that to make the breed worth while it must be a sheep that 

 should be able to fight for itself and -need no coddling, and there was the 

 point of early maturity to be considered, as the development of the frozen 

 meat trade would make this of considerable importance. Mr. Little's fleeces 

 soon began to be known overseas, and there was very flattering competition 

 for- the clip on the market which he began to top. 



Others engaged in crossing and culling on much the same line as 

 Mr. Little, notably C. H. Ensor, who used Leicester rams, and W. S. 

 Davidson, who, like Mr. Little, depended on Lincolns for sires. 



