To the Editor of the "Nowri-Cumn Dany News Sty—The.most interesting part of Mr. A. J, Ricnanoson's letter in your lsaue of yer'erday is where he tells tua he has nothing further to say, In no part of my former letter did 1 infer that 'Australian wools were not good. 'The whole world knows they are' good, 'I merely corrected Mr. Riciansson's figures. as. to. the number of sheep In Australia and pointed out that they were not all merinoes, but that this breed was in the minority. 'There are no mongrel sheep in Australia. Crosses are Te-Sorted to in order to produce a she that will do est ina it, ven district. reds 1s Just another. with Tt fs all a ques tion of which gives the best' net relumn for' the "district concerned. Corriedales are-an evolved type that meet general utility purposes—fine wool, a heavy fleece, and good framed animals for export mutton—4 breed that is hardy and able to essist maladies that" tess statinch types would fall to survive, Me. Ricnawosow made any study of wool prices in Australia he would note the tremendous difference for Ex, Sup. Merino at 4d. per Ib. and coarse crossbreds at 13d, with bbulke classed merino and comebacks at 22d, quarter-breds at 10%4d. hale breds at 17d,, and three-quarter breds at 14d, in between, which were real= ized at a recent sale, These figures give a clear indica of a very wide range from fine merino and if the comparatively low average return is noted, it apparent at once that less fine quali tea are greatly in excess, recent issue of thai reliable Australian Journal "The Australasian' statess—"Most of the wool in New Zealand is crossbred. 'There has been similar, inerense in crossbreds In 'Australin'
'Your correspondent _"Juatavex' {alla Into the same error as Mr. Rrcuanpsox in assuming that all. fine and Medium quality wools come from merinos when in' reality most. Is shorn from the bucks of Corriedales, Comebacks, fine Crossbreds, ete, 'AS this subject 1s not one of general interest, T will not take up too much of your valuable space, but may be permitted to quote that well-known authority on Australian sheep Mr, E. W. Cox, who recently wrote the merino as follows-—
"Something to Say"
To the Faltor of the 7 "Worri-Cua Datty News"
SmI have something to say today; it {s really Important.
in Mr, JR. Lo Catoen's letter of yesterday he Jumps to other than forrest conclusions and gives explanation why, his first loiter men~ fons "mixtures" Ju the Australian sheep population" which actually means "mongrels", yet he contradicts his own slatement "and, now sao there are Ro. "mongrel" sheep 'Aisstralla, "Then he says nothing about' the marvellous "new "names given to sheep breeds in Australia Such as the Lincoln, Shropshire, ete. which every English child for the ast hundred years knows well to be old" English breeds.
T have never at any time main tained that there were only merinos.
Australia, but it should be clearly. pointed onl to Mu. Catoen, if be knows anything about animal breed-ug, that to keep up a supply of crossbred sheep and to have reliable eross-bred wool there must be a very. appreciable supply of pure-bred animals with which to obtain the necessary reliable crosses, T do not for a moment believe that only 20 per cent. of the Australian sheep population are merinos, but 1 am thoroughly convinced that the minimum is at least 60 per cent. and over.
'Mi Catoe called the "Correidale" sheep a eross-bred in his previous etter of one of his crosses, why does he not Hate he has made'a mistake and' that my statement that it is a Fecognized" purebred animal is correct? Personally I like to be fair fand admit mistakes at any time.
do not need to study wool values os suggested by Ma. Catoen but when merino woof is 24¥id per Ib, and other qualities such as cross-bred Tad to 14d it stands clearly to reason that the merino wool is the most valuable and that it is the more highly prized and that it holds Hig true value to-day as formerly.
"The public of Shanghai are very sporting at all times; they are lovers of and own pet dogs with a rather high standard of pedigree and T feel they will be quite able to understand what "erosses" and "mongrels" mean, to them; it gives a clear idea of the "stut" which Mr, Catoen wishes to. put down our throats as It were with hig "ideas of animal breeding, "etonses" and "mixtures."
have nothing further to say on the matter to-day.
"A. Jo Riewannsow, Shanghai, Jan, 28.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.