526 



both these influences have been operative. Buenos Ayres has a dry, 

 hot climate, and vast plains lightly timbered, and originally covered by 

 nutritious indigenous grasses. The increase of wool production was at 

 one time so rapid as to give rise to fears of overstocking the market. But 

 from protracted droughts, from overstocking of pasturage, and from 

 political convulsions, threatening the security of both life and property, 

 this industr^^ has of late years experienced a severe check. It is not 

 probable that the pastures already occupied constitute the whole or even 

 the greater part of the areas of this continent available for wool-pro- 

 duction, but the power of the government is not adequate to the pro- 

 tection of this class of property in large areas of land occupied by a 

 frontier poj)ulation, and but little amenable to the restraints of social 

 order. But as government becomes more stable, its power will probably 

 be exerted to repress such disorders, and thus widen the area within 

 which it will be safe to invest capital in sheep-husbandry. 



In Australia, wool-production can no longer expect those sudden 

 expansions which have so seriously disturbed the markets of the world 

 within the past few years, as in the case of the opening up of the Eiverina 

 and North Queensland sheep-walks. The newly reconnoitered regions of 

 West Australia are said to be of comparatively limited area. In the 

 extreme northern parts of the country sheep cannot be profitably raised. 

 In North Queensland, for instance, imported flQcks, after apparently 

 doing well for a time, began to decline in both wool and flesh, aud finally 

 became worthless. But the regions farther south, by judicious manage- 

 ment, are evidently capable of a great enlargement of wool-production, 

 as well as of a great improvement in quality of fleece. Here, as in South 

 America, the liuiit of wool-production upon natural grasses is indicated 

 by the prevalence of epidemic and parasitic disorders. It is evident, 

 then, that natural resources may be overtaxed, and that wild grasses 

 must be supplemented by artificial grasses and fodder-plants, if wool- 

 production is to experience any further enlargement even in the wilder- - 

 nesses of South America and Australia. Another element of profit is also 

 to be introduced into the problem — that of meat-i^roductiou. The neces- 

 sity of this is felt by sheep-raisers in both these great regions. In Buenos 

 Ayres, where mutton has hitherto been of little value, it is now shipped 

 to London in boxes, and sold at 12 cents per pound. Operators in this new 

 trade now talk of throwing the meat of 10,000,000 sheep upon the foreign 

 market anuual]3'. Such expectations are doubtless extravagant, but 

 they indicate the gradual perception of a change of condition in pro- 

 duction, which will compel sheep-raisers to enlarge the scope of their 

 industry beyond mere wool-production. If these wild regions can be 

 brought under the regime of civilized industry, we may expect a more 

 regular and normal growth of wool-production, with less destructive 

 fluctuations than in the past. 



Sheep-breeding in New South Wales. — At a late meeting of 

 the New South Wales Agricultural Society, Mr. John Smith traced the 

 history of merino breeds of modern Europe, and compared them with 

 the Australian merino. The Spanish merino was introduced into 

 England by George III, in 1791 and in 1801. At a public sale of 

 the progeny, rams averaged £19 lis., and ewes £8 15s. each. Four years 

 later the rams averaged £33 10s. and ewes £113 12s. 0(7. In 1810 rams 

 were sold at an average of £58 and ewes £37 10s. per head. Subsequently 

 the Merino Society was organized, under the presidency of Sir Joseph 

 Banks, with fifty-four vice-presidents. Yet, after all this imposing 

 demonstration, the attempt to cross the merino with the coarse- wooled 



