60 STATES OF THE RIVER PLATE. 



a fair relation of value between the yield of wool and 

 yield of grease, and so long as a sheep-farmer can get 

 anything approaching this relation of value, it will pay 

 him better to steam than to keep anything in excess of 

 the breeding ewes, even under favourable circumstances ; 

 and he need never have his camps over-stocked, and need 

 never be hard up for dollars, as so many must be when 

 the wool market is dull. In fine, one of the main sources 

 of profit in sheep-farming consists, after the accumulative 

 increase has reached a certain point in relation to the extent 

 of land, in a marketable increase, in being able to realise 

 in one form or another the increase year by year ; failing 

 that, the business ceases to give a fair return for the 

 cattle represented by land and stock. It is a mere truism, 

 that meat and fat-producing qualities constitute marketable' 

 stock, and the breeders' sheet-anchor. 



Some few years ago the Hocks were larger double 

 what they now are in general. The reduction of the 

 numbers in the flocks was found to be advantageous, and 

 was a move in the right direction. To the end that an 

 improvement in the class of sheep may be effected, that 

 they may yield a better class of and more wool, and 

 much larger quantity of grease, and that the increase may 

 be larger and of stronger and better lambs, it is desirable 

 that the flocks should be still smaller half what they 

 now are and consist of breeding-ewes only. This sugges- 

 tion is the reverse of unimportant, and, coupled with the 

 highly important aim of fat produce, merits the earnest 

 consideration of the sheep-farming body. 



It results from a careful consideration of the all-im- 

 portant matter of selection and development of breeds 

 (as adapted to the country, in its extent and variety of 

 soil and climate), and of the existing stock, that there are 

 four types which stand prominently out : 



