8 BULLETIN 313, tf. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The expenditures of the boards are paid from funds derived from 

 rates levied upon the land and stock within the district. 



FLOCK MANAGEMENT. 



In general the policies of Australian flockmasters are more contin- 

 uous and more completely worked out than in the case of the general 

 run of American flocks. Remoteness from markets and limited crop 

 production have occasioned less attention to mutton and more to 

 wool. The method of selling the wool and the system of land tenure 

 have facilitated progress in breeding and in management. The ma- 

 jority of sheep raisers appreciate the value of good blood and careful 

 matings and steadily adhere to a plan of breeding to produce sheep 

 having the peculiar characters necessary to adapt them to the partic- 

 ular sections. 



Whether it is due to a peculiar attitude toward his business, the 

 insistence of interested capital, or the favorableness of the climate, 

 the general custom of having the station manager reside permanently 

 upon the property he superintends is in marked contrast to the cus- 

 tom of American sheep ranchmen, and in general the management is 

 in most respects more efficient. 



It has already been explained that Australasian flocks running at 

 liberty in large fenced paddocks require and receive no such continu- 

 ous shepherding as is necessary in American flocks. Although the 

 flocks of considerable size are all of Merino blood, the propensity to 

 herd closely is not desired. The sheep in a paddock form into groups, 

 each of which keeps to its own general area. The sheep are rounded 

 up or driven only when required for shearing, classing, etc. Practi- 

 cally no supplementary feed or cultivated grasses are used. Part of 

 the labor saved in herding is offset by the employment of boundary 

 riders to attend fences and wells, and a great many men are needed to 

 keep rabbits in check. The number of hands steadily employed upon 

 a sheep station in Australia is less than for an American ranch carry- 

 ing a similar number of sheep, while the number of extra men em- 

 ployed at shearing time is greater. 



CLASSING SHEEP. 



Ewes are ordinarily classed for breeding just previous to being 

 shorn. This time affords the best opportunity to judge of the fleece 

 and divide the ewes into uniform lots, each of which is later mated 

 with rams chosen to improve defects of fleece or form. Classing at 

 this time also gives fleeces of fairly uniform character, which facil- 

 itates the work of the wool classer who is always employed at shear- 

 ing time. In some cases a lot of young ewes once classed up are 

 kept in the same groups as long as they are bred from. In other cases 

 classing of all ewes is done each year. 



