20 OSTRICH-FARMING IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



not so. They are very similar, the difference being in 

 favour of the Cape, which, taking it all through, will 

 carry a heavier stock to a given area than Australia. 

 The difference is partially caused by the farmer having to 

 purchase his land, because at the Cape a large proportion 

 of his capital is sunk in land ; whilst in Austraha, the 

 sheep industry being mainly carried on on government 

 ground, the squatter merely paying a grazing licence of 

 8d. a head per annum for the stock the land is supposed 

 to be capable of carrying, his whole capital goes into 

 stock. But the great cause of difference is in the labour 

 supply. In Australia labour is dear, but it is White, and 

 does not require close supervision ; therefore, large 

 flocks, extending to a radius of twenty miles from the 

 homestead, are practicable ; and the fewer homesteads 

 the less expense and more profits ; whilst at the Cape 

 the labour is very cheap, but very untrustworthy, great 

 supervision being absolutely necessary; consequently, 

 not more than one or two out-stations are practicable, 

 and in most cases all the sheep are kept at the home- 

 stead, where they can be counted morning and evening 

 and guarded from thieves, without which care they 

 would soon melt away ; the greater number of home- 

 steads, therefore, up to a certain limit, the greater 

 profit at the Cape ; and this applies equally when com- 

 paring the size of the herds of cattle and horses in 

 Australia with the Cape herds. 



