CHAPTEE XI. 

 VARIOUS KINDS OF SHEEP FARMING. 



The large holdings of pastoral areas are surely dis- 

 appearing before closer settlement, and soon their num- 

 ber will be confined to holdings of more or less rough and 

 high country, deemed unfit for subdivision. They will 

 be the last sanctuary of the great Merino breed that has 

 played such a prominent part in making New Zealand 

 what she is. The frozen mutton interests have diverted 

 the course of sheep farming largely from the Merino 

 and wool to the crossbred and wool-cum-mutton. The 

 Merino, however, appears as if it will always be keenly 

 sought after by many South Island farmers for breeding 

 half-breds, and the large pastoralist, who sees to the 

 maintenance of a good class of Merino sheep, should 

 derive profit from this branch of the business, and mate- 

 rially supplement his income, often none too certain 

 through losses by bad seasons. 



Next in importance with regard to size of flocks, is 

 the grazier of lesser areas, not so rough or broken, and of 

 a milder climate than the pastoral runs. The land might 

 be said to be third quality, holding native grasses. The 

 small run grazier has, like the large pastoralist, often to 

 contend with distance from market, and those parts of 

 his run that may be subject to improvement by plough- 

 ing, grassing, and cropping, have in the meantime to 

 await improved access, which, with better prices, is 

 coming along fast. At present he looks largely to wool 

 as his source of income, but the time is not distant when 

 it may as much depend upon mutton, if not directly 

 then by supplying a good stamp of store sheep for the 

 better and more fattening lowland country. 



