34 Value and Prospects of Sheep Farming. 



pasture for increasing flocks, and this would be so were 

 it not for the constant encroachment of dairying. 



The values of the wool and mutton exported for 

 these years are as follows : 



Year. Wool. Mutton. 







1902 3,300,000 2,100,000 



1907 7,600,000 2,800,000 



1912 7,100,000 3,400,000 



1914 8,200,000 4,400,000 



A leading aspect of sheep farming, looking at it 

 from a world-wide point of view, is that the total num- 

 ber of sheep shows no signs of increase. In regard 

 relatively to increased population there is a large de- 

 crease. No better exemplification of this fact could be 

 given than in the tangible increase in wool and mutton 

 prices. Everything points to exceptional inducement to 

 New Zealand to increase her flocks. The questionable 

 point, however, is whether any great increase can be 

 expected. It is true that there are large areas of native 

 and unoccupied Crown lands and partly improved pri- 

 vate properties yet to be developed, but for every such 

 acre that will be allotted to sheep pasturage it is possible 

 that an acre of the more accessible and improved land 

 will be diverted from sheep to dairying and cereals. 



Influenced, however, by the improved prices of 

 mutton and wool, there are already signs of greater care 

 and interest being taken in flocks and a more skilful 

 system of pasturing and feeding undertaken. This 

 should tend to make sheep farming well hold its own 

 against dairying, and it is justifiable to expect such 

 additions to the flocks of the Dominion as to increase 

 their total to 30,000,000 within say five years. With 

 a more generally improved class of animal in the many 

 small farmers' flocks receiving greater attention the 

 annual income to the country from sheep farming 

 should, with increasing prices, soon reach fully 

 20,000,000. 



