SHEEP UNITED STATES, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTEALIA. 11 



for the locality on which they are depastured. But on account of the varying 

 conditions met with throughout Australia, such as difference in country, climate, 

 etc.. as was stated in an earlier portion of this chapter, no definite type can be 

 suggested for each locality; still, taking for granted that the object of the 

 wool grower is to keep sheep which will yield most money per head, and not 

 sheep the wool of which simply realizes fancy prices per pound, some authori- 

 ties maintain that, in most localities at any rate, financial advantage would 

 be gained by the keeping of a more robust type of sheep than is generally 

 found to-day. Whether such authorities be correct or not, it is a fact that the 

 trend of wool is fast developing in the direction of a little more robustness or 

 strength. 



In proof of this some of the best known fine-wool growers in Australia, who 

 have for years past obtained amongst the highest prices for their wool, are 

 purchasing rams from well-known robust- wooled flocks, in which, for a con- 

 siderable time, great attention has been paid to this type of wool, with the 

 most satisfactory results. 



It would be folly to suggest that the robust-wooled sheep, such as are found 

 in South Australia, would be entirely suitable for every locality in Australia; 

 still, a strain of stronger blood in most of the fine-wooled sheep would perhaps 

 be of advantage. 



In the drier or more arid parts, such as the Barrier district of New South 

 Wales, the north of South Australia, and other similar localities, experience has 

 proved that it is impossible to keep fine-wooled sheep with anything like the 

 most satisfactory results. This type of sheep (if greasy) is much inclined 

 to sweat, and the skin is too thin to withstand the severe punishment which 

 is met with in such localities. 



The hair follicles or bulbs on the surface of the skin are very susceptible to 

 the withering effects of the climatic conditions met with there, and the some- 

 what tender or delicate fiber can not endure the hardships which are so com- 

 mon under such conditions. 



All this will have more weight when it is remembered that wool has a tend- 

 ency to become finer, and in the hotter and drier parts, should it be fine to 

 start with, it generally goes "off" and becomes loose and open (particularly 

 on the back), with the result that the dust and sand, which are so prevalent 

 there, find their way right on to the very skin of the sheep, causing more or less 

 injury to the fiber. 



Further, on account of the excessive openness, the heat of the sun much more 

 easily operates upon the wool, extracting from it the yolk, which is the very 

 life of it. thereby leaving it tender, mushy, and lifeless. 



On the other hand the robust or stronger-wooled sheep is eminently fitted to 

 endure the hardships met with under such conditions, the skin being thicker 

 and less inclined to sweat, the hair follicles or bulbs less susceptible to climatic 

 effects, and the fiber stronger and hardier. 



Again, the wo<»i being strong to start with, will not so readily "go off" 

 ami become loose and open ns the fine and delicate wool would, thus making it 

 more able to withstand the ravages of the sand, dust, and sun. 



,\t on<- time it was objected thai strong-wooled sheep of the robust type, on 

 being taken to the drier parts, produced wool which became coarser, in fact, 



Which developed Into hair, and h has lo bo admitted that (here was much truth 



iii the objection; but the aonsuccess lay In the fad thai the wrong type of 



robust wooled sheep was taken op to these parts, and not that the robust sheep 



in itself was at fault 



Tin- failures were, generally speaking, caused by the use of rams of nonde 



pt type without any character la their wool, whereas, whal is required and 



