CHAPTER III. 



THE ROMNEY. 



This is the most popular breed in New Zealand. It 

 is more of a general purpose sheep than any other, 

 giving satisfactory mutton, not so inclined to abnormal 

 fat as the Lincoln and the Leicesters, and good wool. 

 The flesh of the animal more nearly resembles that of 

 the Downs breed than does that of any other long-wool. 

 Its hardiness and power of resisting footrot and fluke 

 adapts it to conditions that are often unsuited to other 

 breeds, and this clearly has enlarged the scope of sheep 

 farming country. The way in which it withstands un- 

 favourably moist climates makes it a general favourite 

 where sheep conditions are at all doubtful, as witness its 

 apparent success on the west coast of the South Island, 

 where the rainfall is an excessive one for ordinary breeds 

 of sheep. The Romney came originally from the 

 marshes of Kent, a fine training ground for the breeding- 

 up of a sheep to unfavourable sheep conditions, which 

 are the diametrically opposite of the surroundings of the 

 ancient sheep family, the hills. In New Zealand the 

 Romney has suited itself to almost any state, and in 

 consequence of this there has arisen contrasts of type in 

 the animal, according to the particular country where it 

 is pastured. Fundamentally, the breed shows less uni- 

 formity than any other, and it may therefore be realised 

 that variety of environment conditions will help to 

 accentuate this irregularity. No other longwool sheep 

 shows such marked differences, noticeable in the car- 

 case and the wool of the flocks of the different parts of 

 the Dominion. The Romney ewe is a good mother, if 

 not very prolific. On most New Zealand Jiill lands the 

 wool of the Romney has a tendency to become light and 

 feathery. The introduction of strong-woolled rams will 



