SHEEP AND WOOL. 159 



Government. Although inferior to Colonel Gordon's, these 

 were added to the Camden flock, and from these two lots 

 Australia has gradually risen to the first rank of the great 

 wool trade of the world. Mr. Cox, of Mulgoa, also 

 purchased some of Colonel Gordon's sheep, but he does not 

 seem to have been so successful with them as Captain 

 Macarthur. At a subsequent period, however, having 

 purchased the flock of Mr. Riley, of Raby, he added some 

 Rambouillet ewes from the French flocks, and removed 

 them to Mudgee, and from this dates the origin of the now 

 celebrated Mudgee flocks. 



The Australian Merino. The flocks have been spread- 

 ing over the land ever since the Macarthur days. The 

 merinos being now, as then, the sheep for wool. 

 The experience of years has proven that merinos, 

 when well cared for, are as suitable for small 

 flocks as large. With the cessation of impor- 

 tations, the European names Saxon, Negritti, Rambouillet, 

 &c., have almost dropped, and the great family name of 

 Australian merino adopted. 



Country for Wool. The wool of the Australian merino 

 varies in quality with the influence of climate and 

 pasturage, but it may be divided into two classes, combing 

 and clothing. Clothing wool is the class principally grown, 

 but of late years it has been found that a large portion of 

 the country lying on the western slopes of the main 

 dividing ranges favours the growth of a staple considerably 

 longer than that recognised by the manufacturer as clothing, 

 hence many breeders so situated have adopted, and with 

 great success, the growth of the longer combing wools. In 

 the far inland and saltbush districts, a medium combing 

 has been found profitable. The coast lands have been 

 found unsuitable for the merino, and are being gradually 

 brought under cattle. But here, as in other lands, quality 

 of soil has its decided effect on wool. 



Sheep for Mutton. These are the coarser wool 

 producers, with heavier frames, and giving a carcase more 

 suitable than the merino.s for European consumers. The 

 development of chilling and freezing and export of livestock 

 have given an impetus to the breeding of mutton sheep 

 which was quite unforeseen a few years since. 



