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THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



it to the atmosphere until it becomes carbonate, we 

 will render those soils sterile for a long period ; 

 and in the absence of greater knowledge than we 

 now possess, we must adopt the hypothesis that 

 the carbonate of lime arising from the coral has 

 functions not possessed by that consequent upon 

 the manipulation of the limestone, and that these 

 functions are the records of its progression, from 

 having been so frequently in organic life before. 



From the foregoing, we think it is clear that 

 the ocean and the land are reciprocating continu- 



ously, merely assisting each other in following na- 

 ture's grand effort — progression; that new por- 

 tions of primary matter are continually being 

 progressed, probably in the ratio of the increase of 

 population, and that the probable effect to be 

 looked for is a greater amount of organic life. 



Nature never makes mistakes, and while we see 

 the race of man increasing, it is more than proba- 

 ble that his necessities will be supplied by the same 

 laws which created him. — The Working Farmer. 



THE ALPACAS IN AUSTRALIA. 



On the 29th of November Mr. Ledger started from Liver- 

 pool with the flock of alpacas and llamas, and proceeded with 

 them along the Southern Koad. Their destination is a reserve 

 contiguous to the township of Nimity Bell, in the Maneroo 

 district, situated between Bombala and Cooma, and about two 

 hundred and sixty miles from Sydney. The locality is that 

 recommended by Mr. Ledger upon his return from his tour of 

 inspection, as the most suitable for the settlement of the ani- 

 mals, the pasturage being well watered by the Snowy River, 

 and the mountainous character of the country allowing of the 

 removal of the flock whenever a change of temperature should 

 be thought desirable. Mr. Ledger is still upon his journey^ 

 which, with the view of ensuring the safety of the animals, is 

 divided into short stages. Some of the settlers along the road 

 traversed have promised the use of their paddocks for the 

 alpacas, and also hospitable entertainment to Mr. Ledger and 

 his South American shepherds, while on their journey, the 

 enterprise being regarded as of great importance as well as of 

 interest, by those who have realized wealth from pastoral occu- 

 pations. Some, however, who would willingly have rendered 

 this assistance to Mr. Ledger, had the flock remained in his 

 possession, are disposed, now that they are the property 

 of the Government, to charge the full price for the accom- 

 modation. 



The process of shearing was in operation at the date of our 

 last summary. As many of the females, both llamas and 

 alpacas, were in lamb, it was not thought advisable to shear 

 them just before starting. Only about two hundred animals there- 

 fore were shorn ; the wool produced is about six cwt. The 

 fleeces are of three kinds—those obtained from pure alpacas, 

 those from llamas, and those from hybrids between the two 

 breeds. It is intended, we believe, to ship the wool to Eng- 

 land, to be sold at the London wool sales, when due notice will 

 no doubt be taken of the sale of the first shipment of our new 

 —perhaps, in future, our staple — export, as well as oi the fact 

 of its being the first importation of alpaca wool into England 

 that has ever taken place from any country, except Peru or 

 Bolivia, the occasional receipt from other ports in South Ame- 

 rica beiug merely trans-shipments of cargoes from those coun- 

 tries. As the entire flock were shorn, either just before em- 

 barking, or directly after landing, the wool is essentially the 

 produce of Australia, and will give an assurance to the English 

 manufacturers of the yearly augmenting quantities which they 

 may expect from this colony. We understand that samples of 

 the wool are being forwarded by this mail to the Manchester 

 Chamber of Commerce and to other mercantile companies, 

 who are likely to regard with interest the gradual development 

 of this new branch of producing industry, and to appreciate 

 «ln1y it« importance in relation to BtitiA commerte. 



The alpaca fleeces are characterised by the length and fine- 

 ness of the fibre. These qualities are particularly noticeable 

 in the lambs born in the colony, which Mr. Ledger asserts to 

 surpass any he has ever seen in Peru of the same age. The 

 fact is highly satisfactory as proving^the adaptation of the 

 climate and pasturage of Australia to their development, and 

 as iuauring the ultimate success of the undertaking. One 

 important feature in the fleeces of alpaca wool is the entire 

 absence of the yolk, or grease, the presence of which diminishes 

 80 much the commercial value of the staple of this colony. 



Now that the experiment of introducing the alpaca into 

 Australia has been fairly tested, it is thought desirable by 

 those who have throughout taken an interest in the enterprise, 

 that a testimonial should be ofifered to Mr. Ledger for his 

 costly, hazardous, and most valuable service to the colony. It 

 will be remembered that the sum of £15,000, which the 

 Government paid for the purchase of the flock, was accepted 

 under composition by the agent of the firm who furnished Mr. 

 Ledger with the means of pursuing his enterprise when his 

 own resources failed, and that Mr. Ledger did not touch one 

 farthing of the money. In his undertaking Mr. Ledger sank 

 the whole of his own fortune, amounting to about £7,000, and 

 was therefore, on arriving in this colony, a ruined man. His 

 reception here being very dififerent from what he had been led 

 to expect, and involving the disappointment of all his cherished 

 hopes of remuneration, he recently memorialised the Govern- 

 ment, urging his equitable claim on them for the amount he 

 had expended, referring to the distinct assurances of remune- 

 ration which were held out by the Government six years ago, 

 and stating that in the event of his claim not being recognised 

 he must resign his appointment in connection with the alpacas, 

 as his own interests and those of his family in South America 

 would be sacrificed by remaining in this colony. Mr. Ledger's 

 claim was refused by the Government, who stated they con- 

 sidered the transaction settled by their predecessors, but un- 

 dertook to increase hia salary, as superintendent of alpacas, 

 from £300 to £500 per annum. Although Mr. Ledger has 

 throughout displayed an earnest and patriotic interest in the 

 successful propagation of the alpaca in these colonies, he natu- 

 rally feels that he has sacrificed sufficient in its accomplish- 

 ment, and is anxious to return to South America, where hia 

 former career and his numerous friends would command for 

 him a position of which he does not see any prospect in this 

 colony. He has accordingly definitely resigned his appoint- 

 ment after locating the animals in Maneroo, but has offered 

 to instruct any party who may be appointed by the Govern- 

 ment to succeed him in the management of the flock, and 

 also the shepherds, as the Peruvians who came over with 

 him cannot be indnced to remain after his departure, 



