68 SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



that the young men of his country going into the sheep 

 business could not pay these high prices, and make a living. 

 He therefore reduced the prices of the high-bred rams which 

 he had raised in Texas, to from five to ten dollars, and sold a 

 great many more by so doing. This had the effect of greatly 

 extending the improvement of the flocks in the country. 

 Another step taken by him was important for the develop- 

 ment of the country in the direction of sheep-growing. Mr. 

 Shaeffer found that contests were constantly occurring be- 

 tween the cattle-herders and the shepherds. He, therefore, 

 began gradually to purchase all the lands he required : his ex- 

 ample was followed by others ; and, at present, the greater 

 part of the land in the sheep-region is held in freehold by 

 the respective flock-masters. 



There has now been so long and extensive an experience in 

 this country as to reduce the methods of the peculiar pastoral 

 sheep-husbandry to a well-established system, which is so 

 simple that it may be easily learned by any intelligent per- 

 son. The plant required for the business, except the first 

 stock of ewes and rams, is exceedingly small. No buildings 

 are required, if we except the covered platform for shearing. 

 A rude camp is all that is necessary for the flock-master, and 

 a wagon with a pair of horses for his supplies, of course, he 

 will have a saddle horse. The well-arranged ranche is an 

 after luxury, to be earned by the profits of the enterprise. 

 The aim is to have flocks of at least 1,000 or 1,100 head, for 

 each of which one shepherd invariably a native Mexican, 

 called &pastore is required. It is desirable that the proprie- 

 tor should have at least three flocks of this number. The 

 separate flocks, each with its shepherd, are so located that 

 they can be brought at night to a central camp, where the 

 laccierro, or sheep-overseer, also a native Mexican, is estab- 

 lished. This overseer is necessary, in all cases, to relieve the 

 shepherds in case of accident, and to cook their rations. The 

 baccierros, as a class, are remarkable for their fidelity. The 

 impedimenta of the camp, if they may be called by this name, 

 consist only of the rudest cooking utensils and the stores of 

 provisions ; no shelter being required, and the bed of the 



