CHAPTER XX. 



THE USEFULNESS OF THE MERINO. 



Although the scope for the use of the Merino in New 

 Zealand is diminishing before closer settlement, better 

 access, greater demand for mutton, it may, nevertheless, 

 be remarked that there are certain classes of land, par- 

 ticularly in the South Island, which it might be more 

 profitable to devote to the Merino than to crossbreds. 

 It is seen that the crossbred is sometimes used on coun- 

 try that appears to be essentially the home of the Merino 

 poor high land, dry, growing native grasses or tus- 

 sock, and in places covered with a good deal of fern or 

 scrub. Considerable mortality may frequently be ob- 

 served amongst crossbreds on such country in a bad 

 season, poor lambings, and the flock comes to the shears 

 with but a poorly-grown fleece. All this prompts the 

 question if the best is being made of the particular class 

 of country involved. 



At a sale of Merino sheep in New Zealand a little 

 while ago, no less a sum than 26 /- was obtained for 

 young Merino ewes, and the consideration whether it 

 would not be a more profitable investment to breed 

 Merinos on country which nature eminently designs as 

 their quarter, for their good and sure return in wool, 

 and for the purpose of supplying Merino ewes for half- 

 breeding purposes, may very well be entertained. There 

 is a strong demand for the Merino ewe in the South 

 Island for half-breeding purposes, and it is not long 

 since a section of the farming press of the Dominion re- 

 commended that Merino ewes should be imported from 

 Australia to meet the demand. Half-bred Longwool- 



