1 Juyz, 1898. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 527 
A NEW BREED OF SHEEP. 
Woonerowers are awaiting with interest the final results of the experiments 
which the Agricultural Department of the University of California is prose- 
cuting with the idea of evolving from a cross of the merino with the Persian a 
new and distinct type of sheep. The. males of the merino and the females of 
the Persian are used. The object is to combine the advantages of a large 
fleece of fine quality with the ability to produce mutton of the best class from 
the same flock. The experiments so far are not sufficiently conclusive to 
permit the announcement of definite results, but the indications are that the 
experiments will prove completely successful. Ifa type of sheep which will 
produce wool comparing favourably in quantity and quality with that of 
the merino, and at the same time will equal the Southdown or some other 
mutton sheep in mutton production, is produced, the California station will 
have-accomplished one of the greatest successes in recent years in the improve- 
ment of domestic animals. It is true that this combination of wool and mutton 
is claimed for several breeds of sheep already in general use; but it is also 
true that when many or these breeds come to a final test they are lacking in 
one respect or the other. It seems difficult to get a breed of sheep that 
combines the wool-producing and the mutton-producing qualities to the highest 
degree, and consequently the final results of the above experiments will be 
awaited with interest by sheep-breeders.— Farmer and Stock Breeder. 
AGRICULTURAL AND HORTICULTURAL SHOWS. 
Tue Editor will be glad if the secretaries of Agricultural and other Societies 
will, as early as possible after the fixture of their respective shows, notify him 
of the date, and also of any change in date which may have been decided on. 
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