49 



legs are set wide apart, the ribs well sprung, the backs level, and the legs 

 relatively short and stout. They carry a leg of mutton superior to that 

 carried by our own Merinos. They are not, of course, plain-bodied sheep, 

 but carry very pronounced neck-folds, and occasional body- wrinkles, but not 

 in the exaggerated style of the Vermonts. The wool is on the fine side, but 

 showing practically no yolk at the time that I examined it. I was not able 

 to form any idea of the length of the staple, as the sheep were not in full 

 fleece at the time. The manager, however, informed me that the rams 

 averaged from 201bs. to 221bs. of wool. I was anxious to know what might be 

 the average carcass weight of a wether : the manager, however, informed me 

 that he was without experience in the matter, as they very rarely killed any on 

 the premises. He was of opinion, however, that the carcass weight would 

 vary between lOOlbs. and 1201bs. I am inclined to think, however, that he 

 was in error, as it did not appear to me likely that they would kill at more 

 than 80lbs. to 901bs. 



The Kambouillet flock, which has continued State property ever since its 

 initiation, is kept exclusively for the purpose of rearing Merino rams, which 

 are sold by auction to private owners. At the time of my visit the flock 

 consisted of about 750 sheep, 500 of which were ewes. 



When comparing these sheep with our own there is one point that must not 

 be lost sight of, and that is that for over 120 generations these sheep have been 

 very largely house-fed, and, from our point of view, more or less pampered. 

 It is more than probable that under average South Australia conditions they 

 would be found to lack stamina and constitution. I found the rams to be 

 housed in roomy closed buildings, with an abundance of litter ; whilst in 

 fine weather they are given access to neighboring yards, in which they are 

 permitted to sun themselves. Whilst I was examining the rams I overheard 

 the manager and shepherd discussing the advisability of opening or closing 

 certain windows which might expose the sheep to dangerous draughts. The 

 fact of the matter is that the climate of Paris can hardly be described as an 

 ideal one from the Merino point of view, and it is a matter of surprise to me 

 that they should have continued in good health for over a century. 



I was pleased to have the opportunity to look over this flock, if only for 

 the fact that it afforded a clear demonstration that the Merino admits of 

 being converted into a far better mutton sheep than is usually thought in 

 Australia, and this without unduly sacrificing the wool. I have always held 

 that so soon as we shall have produced strains with better bodily development 

 than at present obtains we shall have in the Merino the ideal farmer's sheep, 

 just as at present it is the ideal grazier's sheep. 



As I had occasion to observe later on, there is no doubt that the Ram- 

 bouillet Merino is now a vast improvement on the original Spanish Merino. 

 The following figures, taken from the work of a former manager of the Bergerie, 



