Aspects of a Sheep Farm. 3 



the greater part of the Dominion is not too much for 

 sheep comfort, and it is fairly well distributed through- 

 out the year ? assuring a more even growth of grass 

 than in any sheep fa-rtoiing country in the world. 

 There are exceptional seasons, naturally, but an inci- 

 dence only in comparison to Australia, South America, 

 and South Africa, where sheep farming is a leading 

 occupation and droughts bear telling effects. But the 

 recorded annual rainfall of a locality is not always a 

 quite satisfactory guide in estimating exactly its sheep 

 farming capabilities. Light showers at frequent inter- 

 vals are preferable to occasional downpours that may, 

 however, make un a considerable total rainfall. The 

 grass is often green in the former case, and frequently 

 dried up in the latter. A very wet climate is undesir- 

 able for sheep ; they do not get a dry footing, and con- 

 tinuous rains, accompanied by cold, biting winds, will 

 undermine their constitution. Sheep will overcome any 

 temporary hardship, but unsuitable weather, long-con- 

 tinued, will put them off the feed and pave the way for 

 the encroachment of disease. 



The shelter features of the sheep farm are of import- 

 ance, and the ideal shelter is composed of patches of 

 bush or plantations suitably distributed throughout the 

 property, and in such places as they will best temper the 

 prevailing winds. Shelter will make the climate more 

 equable for stock, will improve the pasture and make 

 its growth earlier and more sustained throughout the 

 year, winter and summer, will lessen the asperities of 

 rough weather, and will make the stock more contented. 

 A well sheltered sheep farm 1000ft. above sea-level may 

 be said to be better than one but 100ft. above sea-level 

 that has no shelter, and is bleakly exposed to the biting 

 winds of winter and bleaching winds of summer. Well- 

 sheltered stock will require much less feed to keep up 

 condition ; body heat and energy are conserved. It is 

 not too much to say that the most useful and payable 



