ON THE LAND.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2401, 16 January 1909, Page 2

ON THE LAND.

AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS. With the close of the year 1908 it .night not he unprofitable to review the progress made bv the agricultural ind pa.storail industries during the present century, with a view of forming an opinion as to whether til wire is .my justification for the complaints, ica-rd* occasionally• that the advanccnent of the dominion is not siuTieientv rapid. The returns in connection villi the statistics taken a couple of

months i.igo are not yet available in .heir entirety, but sufficient are afcjessi’blo to give an idea of ’what has boon' done since the down of the twentieth century. The total area of the dominion is (36,341,120 acres, of which, according to the latest statistics, only--37,5(54,273 acres are occupied. The area cultivated, including tlrnt sown in grasses, is 15,001,940 acres, and the number of holdings is given as 73,581, or an increase of 10,581 during the present century. In 1900 1,436,373 'acres were devoted to crops, while in 1907 the-area was 1,709,592 acres. The totgl area under cultivation in 1900 was 12,728,617 acres, while in 1907 it had increased to 15.001,940 acres. . The areas under the various crops in 1900 and 1908 are set out in the following table:

It. .will be noticed that t\heat and oats show -a very satisfactory increase in spite of the .very serious results Mowing from the closing of the .South African markets for the latter cereal, cud the compinatively low prices now ruling as contrasted with those of eight years ago. The great advance made by the frozen' meat industry is clearly "indicated by the largely increased area devoted to turnip and rape crops. Tho lire stock returns give the fallowing figures, revoking substantial increases in all classes with the exception of pigs: 1900. 1908. Horses 266,725 353,257 Cattle 1,256,680 1,810,299

Dairy cows (included in above 372.416 3-11,3(53 Sheer, 19,355.105 22,449,053 Pigs ' 250:07.5 241,123 The exports of grain- during tho_ past eight years show an alarming failingoff, tlie figures being as follow: 1900. 1907. Wheat (bushels) 3.354,211 17,914 (>.at« (bushels) 4,597,48/ 20b,4(2 Bariev (bushels) 103,390 (52,520 Ilnur (tons) 3,311 214 Oabncal (centals) 44,141 Ma'fc (bushels) 229,32/ Grass and clover seeds (c-wts) 30,759 36,414 Potatoes (tons) 24,350 11 o Onions (cuts) 51,101 3,822 Hemp (tons'! •••- 13,253 29,040 The values of the principal prcdiwta exported were: 1900. ISO/. £ 41 Wo-,1 4.749,282 7,429,727 Wu! ton 1'.100.073 1,323,053 Lamb - •- '603,722 1,533,680 IP, ( ,f ... 209.459 436, 107 Wheat 390.541 3,025 OatT 401,003 23,4(56 Bariev 13,475 16,400 Flour' ... 20,80 S 1,811 Potatoes _ 68,030 803 Crass seeds ... 5v ,G4o A?’oo? Putter 69b,/01 1,004,0JlCheese 208,258 071,30 l Hemp 266,702 804,280 Total < xnorts of Now Zealand pro- ' fliTpfj ITlclll IT"* ISures £12,782,039 £19,687,573 The increase in the export of dairy produce is the most startling *,nature ef the statistics of the past two ueoades. For the year 1,883 the export aggregated 8869 cwt, valued at £42.020. Ten years liter the es;jovt amounted to 58,149 cwt, valued at £99,626. The opening year of fine century .saw the export increased to 161.792 cwt, and the value to £643,701', while in 1907 the export totaled 335 040cnvt, of a value of £1,604,991. The strides made by the cheese industry have been equally satisfactory. Tn 1883 Hie exports amounted to 2ol9cwt and the vlilue to £6892. In 1893 the exports had *? .16 201owt and the value to £44,626. The opening of the century saw the total raised to 98,001ewt and the value to £208.258. The figures demonstrate' in a'very striking the. progress made hy the dominion during the last twenty years, and •there can he no doubt but nil of on rural industries arc capable of almost indefinite expansion. The Homo Country affords an almost limitless market for frozen meat and lamb, and there can he no question that on the pastoral industry very Sdrgcly depends tho future of New Zealand. ROMNEY MARSH SHEEP. AN' ANCIENT AND USEFUL breed. (By “Bruni,” in the ‘‘Australasian.’’) One of the most distinct and hardy of the many breeds of sheep in the world is tlie one that lo.r many centuries has occupied a wet, bleak dis-

Farm and Station.

tract in the South of /England, named Romney Marsh. This breed, accord, ing to Sanson, is of different origin to the longwool sheep of England, -being a variety of -a race occupying a portion of the low countries, the original home of which is thought to be the Te.xel. The geographical area oc eepied hy this race was always restricted, and it was not until modern ,'irnes that it was known outside the region from which it tubes its name, it is found in France, but its -presence in that country is due to importations from England in 1773 and 1815. Their ancient home in England was well named, for it was a groat marsh in which no other breed of sheep con'd live. More than a century ago the Eomuey -Marsh sheep was. doscrilbecl -as mi ill-shaped animal, high, on the leg, with heavy bone, and yielding excellent mutton. As ii was then, it had -probably been for many centuries previously. The improvement of his -breed of sheep was undertaken by Sir R. Goord, of Coleshill, who. died 'when over eighty years old, about the yoar 1844. lie adopted the methods employed by Bakewell, and effected his improve-* moats -by skilful selection and -good feeding: He was doubtless greatly assisted in liis work by the improved condition of the Marsh, chiefly by draining. 'The earliest mention. I have met with of these sheep occurs In Mr R. iFurley’s “ Weald of Kent,” and is to the effect that -when the widow of do Montfort—s-ister to Henry 111. —was living in Dover, tlie garrison at that place was supplied with sheep from Romney -Marsh at 2*2cl per head. Air D. G. F. Macdonald, in “C/ittle, Sheep and Deer,” mentions that in the year 1550 laws were made for the -preservation of ibis breed of sheep. Tho Romney Marsh sheep were never favorites with British sheep farmers. outside their

r.wn district, until comparatively a very late period, but- they attracted the attention of sheep farmers in other parts of the -world. Tlie new Kent- sheep, ns Mr Goord’s improved Romneys were called, were selected by Mi. Malingie over sixty years ago as chief foundation stock in the formation of the Charmoise breed. This ffock is still in existence, and is held in good estimation by French shoe]) farmers at the present day. Of date years there have been frequent indications that the Romney -Marsh sheep are finding flavor with sheepbreeders in England, and in all the large sheep-breeding countries in the world. ROMNEYS IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. A. striking proof of the value of the Romney -Marsh sheep is_ afforded by experience of them in Y ictoria. Over half a century ago the late Air William Lye.ll imported some specimen:, of the breed, which he put on his property in the Wcsteimport district. The coutntry whs flat and marshy, and sheep on it suffered greatly from foot-rot- and fluke; indeed, a -permanent flock couhl not be maintainedon it. - Instead of suffering from the diseases named-, the Romneys did well, and I bc/’.ieve that- some of their descendants are still on the place. J know they were there'a few years oga. (Sheep of this breed were introduced into New Zealnnd with gieau i*access, their grades doing -better on' the bleak hiillsYaf the south, than any other. They have since spread over a large portion of the Dominion, and at- the present day they are largely used in raising the freezers and export lambs that realise, such excellent nr ices in the Old Country. In the . last return of the sheep in the Doruin ion tho number of stud sheep is Kot down at 635,684. and of these 174..667 were Romneys, by far tlie largest of any breed. The Lincolns conic next, their number being 111,* 506. Some time ago the Romneys were introduced into New South W; los. where they are highly esteemed as 'mutton sheep. There are now several studs of Romneys bred in the mother state. Of late several small flocks of Romneys have been established in Victoria, and they generally apooar to give satisfaction. "Whenever the conditions of life are trying,-there the Romney is sure to lie tlie favorite, for he i-s not only an extremely hardy sheen, but he is good door. In some localities the Romney promises to be an excellent farmer’s sheep. Good as the Romney is under certain conditions, he will never supplant the Lincoln, Leicester, or Border Leicester in the- estimation of the general ljocK r of sliuep farmers throughout Australia. They have beon greatly improved in form and fleece since 1 Goord took them in hand, but for wool-growing they are still inferior to the longwool sheep of Britain, and in all probability will continue to be so. Tlieir value lies in. this, that they thrive and produce good mutton in localities that are not adapted to other -sheep. They are- good lamb producers, and for this purpose- tliej are worthy of the attention of. Austialian sheep-breeders in certain, localities. . < ENGLISH SHOW AND SALE OF ROMNEYS, it is evident that Romneys are taking a high position in the estimation of British sheeepfarmers. This was shown by tho results of the last sale of the breed held at Ashford on September 28. At this, show and sale thirty-five flocks wore represented, and 770 sheep were entered. The prices realised compare favorably with tlie sales of the most favored breeds, 1

and though there were a number of nferior sheep sent m, the average was a very good one. Commenting on die precenec- of these -inferior sheep, die “Live Stock Journal” writes:—lilt* lesson of both the*.-show, and sale .vac to emphasise the increased value m the better specimens of the breed, and the reduced range of prices, as compared With last year’s secured by he low grade rams. Tho sale, in effect, brought out the well known feature in the ram trade—i.o., that af (he beet there were- none too many, but of the others the supply, exceeded the demand.” One of tho most interesting features of the show was the -competition in the class for the. bestwoolled ram, in which the- prizes were awarded by the export buyers. The winner was Air. 0. File’s Eltliam, No. DO. This 'young sheep has scored handsomely -at the leading shows in England last year. He secured first sizes at the Royal, the Royal Counties .East Kent, Mid -Kent, and theLaurence Hardy Challenge .Cup at Ashford. At the sale he realised 150 guineas, the highest price ever paid for a yearling Romney Marsh ram. He was purchased by Air. D. Murray, one of the judges for New Zealand. The breeder of this fine ram realised the best average at the sale, namely £4O I.os 4d for seventeen rams. The other two rams realised over a century, tlieir prices being 140 guineas and 110 guineas reflectively. Prices varied greatly, some lots being quitted at 4j guineas per head. Mr. D. .Murray purchased three rams besides the one mentioned for New Zealand, at twenty guineas, twenty-one guineas, and fifty guineas. Mr. Elgar bought four .rams for New Zealand at 130 guineas 25 guineas 33 guineas and 80 guineas. The total result ol the sale were that 410 rams- realised £5286 los, making an average of £l2 I/s per head.

1900. 1908. Wi’ieat 208.084 251,102 Oats 041,041 ’ 729,011 Barley 35,337 52,142 .Maize 15,751 13,640 Peas u-ml 'beans 8,900 . 8,044 Potatoes 28,524 29,544 Turnips 404,333 526,157 M.-mtrels 7,341 11,784 Knpe 124,318 212,965 Carrots ... ••• 1,627 • 2,013 Beet 385 . 30S