26 STATES OF THE EIVER PLATE. 



sions there is a flock of finer sheep kept at the estancia 

 house for the purpose of furnishing rams to the other 

 flocks. These sheep are of Merino origin, and certainly 

 are as fine in wool as the average of Spanish Merino 

 fleeces. These, though having a little extra attention, and 

 in some instances sheds for protection, have been treated 

 as breeding flocks in the same way as the others, all ages 

 procreating and lambing, and all seasons of lambing. 

 These fine- wool flocks have almost everywhere diminished 

 in the weight of wool yielded, in some instances not 

 averaging over 2^ Ibs. per fleece. From such flocks the 

 rams for the cross-bred flocks (Mestiza flocks) have been 

 drawn ; hence it is easy to account for the general cha- 

 racter and deficiencies of the wools of these countries ; 

 and it accounts for the still (compared with other wool- 

 producing countries) small value of the individual sheep. 



There are other estancias, on which a much higher class 

 of sheep are bred, for the sale of rams. A considerable 

 number of fine Saxony and Negretti and Eambouillet rams 

 and ewes have been imported, the rams of which in most 

 instances have been put into the Merino flocks with great 

 advantage, though by no means as the rule, with all the 

 benefits that would have been attained on a better system 

 of management. The same practice, as described, as 

 that with the Merino flocks has been followed with 

 these higher classes in the majority of cases. 



There are other establishments again where the pure 

 breed of these imported varieties is maintained, and 

 where there are large, and in some cases, costly sheep- 

 houses and sheds, c galpones,' and paddocks fenced in. 

 On these * cabanas,' pure-bred and various grades of 

 crosses are produced for sale of rams. Pure Negretti or 

 Eambouillet, and crosses of the two : crosses of one or the 

 other with the Merino, and with cross-breeds to meet the 



