10 Sheep in relation to their Surroundings. 



the conditions at hand. Not only is the pastoralist's 

 occupation a study, but it is one of constant scientific 

 investigation. 



With respect to sheep-farmer's flocks in New Zea- 

 land, the aim is to obtain a sheep that produces a good 

 meat carcase and at the same time grows a satisfactory 

 fleece. The importance of this may be grasped when it 

 is stated that the wool returns for year 1914 came to 

 8,200,000, and mutton to 6,300,000. A dual purpose 

 sort of animal, like the dairy farmers are after in com- 

 bined milk and beef capacity, and the poultry farmer in 

 egg production and flesh. The cross-bred is generally 

 conceded as the most desirable for average conditions, 

 but which cross-bred is the question that opens up scope 

 for disputation, which must remain disputable ground 

 so long as climates and soils vary; observation applied 

 to each individual property's potentialities settling it. 



Broadly speaking, the breeds that are known popular- 

 ly in New Zealand have characteristics that suit them to 

 the following conditions. Good country, with abund- 

 ance of rich grasses Lincoln, Leicester, Romney. 

 Such country is comparatively limited, cattle breeding 

 and agriculture taking up most of it. Good and easy 

 hilly country Crossbreds, Corriedale, Southdown, 

 Shropshire. High and sparsely grassed country 

 Merino. 



Whilst the Lincoln suits good country, with not too 

 much rainfall, the Romney will thrive where the land 

 is poorer and rainfall heavier. Heavier the breed more 

 suited is it to a pasture of strong - growing 

 grasses, like cocksfoot, perennial ryegrass, meadow 

 foxtail, and such, that grow robustly on good 

 land. Finer the grasses, as the fescues and dogs- 

 tail, whose fineness of growth is accentuated by the 

 hills to which they are adapted, more suited are they for 

 the grazing of the lighter or mountain breeds. Cocks- 



