Volume 71: Macarthur family papers relating to wool and sheep, 1820-1936: No. 137
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 137]
35
principle, acted upon for many years past, has been to make money. Every Ewe is suffered to breed, and every male kept as a Ram. The coarsest animals, it is true, are culled out for Sale, but the selection is made with little care or judgement: and if unsold, they rejoin the flocks.
Few Individuals can now be found, possessing the marks of high breeding. Many of the sheep have their legs and faces covered with Wool, which is scarcely ever the case, with first rate animals.
Since the Year 1804, the flock has been gradually declining. In that Year a Hungarian Nobleman was permitted to select any Sheep he pleased from the whole flock. It is true, he paid enormous prices - but no price could compensate for such a sacrifice.
Extensive Sales have been made every year since, and the well known