Volume 71: Macarthur family papers relating to wool and sheep, 1820-1936: No. 292

[Page 292]

[In pencil at top of newspaper cutting]

(No 298
Capt John Macarthur and the Wool Industry)
Australia's Pioneer Sheep-breeder.

[In pencil] (Town & Country 1st Aug [19]19)
 
WOOL-GROWING IN THE TRANSVAAL.

The latest number of the "Transvaal Agricultural Journal" to hand contains an editorial article in which the rise of the sheep-breeding industry in Australia is briefly sketched from the time of the first introduction of sheep into the country nearly 120 years ago. In concluding, a reference to the part taken by Captain Macarthur in establishing the industry here, the writer observes :- "We do not know if any monument has been erected to the memory of this pioneer breeder; but we should like to think of a noble column erected by national subscription and set upon some proud eminence in the heart of sheep country to the man who first pointed out to his countrymen  the path to great wealth and high honor; and who, by his own unceasing toil, laid the foundation of that industry which has raised the Commonwealth to the rank of a great nation, given food and clothing to the countless poor, and conferred a blessing upon all mankind."

The same article conveys the intelligence "that Mr. Christopher H.. Rowan, late of Jemalong Station, Lachlan River, New South Wales, has been temporarily appointed as an expert sheep-classer and wool-sorter" to the Transvaal Department of Agriculture. Mr. Rowan has been moving amongst the woolgrowers in that part of the country known as the High Veld, and the opinions he formed as a result of his visit are not without interest to Australian flock-masters. He states:- "The wool in the districts from Volksrust to Lake Christie is, on the whole, a very good wool. It is principally medium to strong in character; it is a well grown long staple, but far too loose, big bodied sheep only cutting very light fleeces. Again, we find half-a-dozen different types of wool on one farm, which is very bad. This is due to lack of sheep classing. Our aim must be to grow a uniform wool from medium to strong. The bulk of the High Veld is better than the average Australian sheep country, because it is cleaner, that is, it is freer from burrs and harmful grass seeds. Further the grass is sweeter. Undoubtedly, it is good sheep country. But the farmer of the Transvaal pays too much attention to the length of staple. He must strive to obtain wool of a closer texture in order to withstand the cold winds, dust, and wet of the High Veld of this colony."