AGRICULTURE. 161 



occupy the land, were it not for its overshadowing. Its 

 extirpation, however, is an impossibility on estancias, and 

 all that can be done for generations to come will be to 

 clear fractional tracts, by cutting it down with thistle- 

 mowers, year by year, so as to admit of the growth of 

 grasses and their seeding, and consequent re-stocking of 

 the land with them. To effect this, the cutting should be 

 at two periods early in the spring, and at the time of 

 flowering. 



On the lower lands there is little or no thistle. It 

 cannot exist on what are called the ' banado,' or bathed 

 lands ; but there are certain plants of an extremely preju- 

 dicial character, bearing abundant seed-pods of oval form, 

 densely covered with serrated prickles, which are apt to 

 infest them, and which if not eradicated spread rapidly, 

 and render the camps comparatively useless, or worse than 

 useless. Of these the abrojo, or large burr, and the sepo 

 caballo are the worst. The seed-pods fasten into the 

 hair of the legs, manes, and tails of horses and cattle, 

 are carried about by them, and ultimately bursting, scatter 

 the seeds, which vegetate in any soil or land, high or low, 

 although flourishing with greater strength on the lower. 



In the wool of sheep they are known as the worst of 

 banes. The ' cutter' that has been lately invented for the 

 thistle answers well for these plants ; and so great a pre- 

 judice are they, that it is a public duty to eradicate them. 



Lesser evils, at the same time by no means small 

 ones, are the biznaga and wild camomile, which spread 

 extensively on lands somewhat bare of good herbage. 

 Poisonous tall-growing plants, such as the ' siente,' hem- 

 lock, and others, require to be carefully eradicated, as 

 many animals are lost by feeding on them. All these, 

 being either annuals or biennials, are to be got rid of by 

 cutting at the time of flower. 



M 



