AGRICULTURE. 159 



proportion of stock, by reason of such deteriorated herb- 

 age, is of less positive or -actual value) to arrange the 

 grazing of the flocks on certain portions of his ' run ' at 

 certain periods of the year, in as near an approximation as 

 possible to the system he would adopt, supposing it to be 

 fenced. 



A careful examination and study of the herbage of 

 lands, the period of its growth and ripening, is necessary 

 to a correct estimate of its capabilities for carrying stock ; 

 and it is not too much to say that on this the greater or 

 less profitableness of sheep-farming is dependent. 



The stocking of land must necessarily be regulated with 

 regard to season contingencies, as well as to the nature of 

 the soil and its grasses. The openness of the country, 

 without wood or hill, exposes it to a very unequal rain- 

 fall, and long and occasionally severe droughts occur. 

 An effective and rational method to avoid the conse- 

 quences of such recurring evils is that of always main- 

 taining an extent of tillage land proportioned to the whole 

 stock and its probable requirements in exceptional seasons, 

 and as an auxiliary in others, on which to grow deep- 

 rooting artificial grasses and other fodder plants, and to 

 stock a portion of the same as a reserve. This, like the 

 4 fencing,' can only be done when the ' stock ' is of a value 

 commensurate with the necessary labour and expense, i.e. 

 when the stock is worth taking care of, or can be made so. 



Probably the most effective step towards a complete 

 system would be the lessening of the extent of the esta- 

 blishments or estancias, when the capital is not in propor- 

 tion to the extent. A man who has half a dozen or a 

 dozen leagues of land (or even much less), with means 

 disproportionate to it, must necessarily be overwhelmed 

 by the magnitude of the work that would be required to 

 place the whole property and stock on a proper footing ; 



