AGRICULTURE. 163 



The object is to supplement the indigenous herbage, 

 and constitute a reserve to meet exceptional and unfore- 

 seen necessities, as before stated, and to provide a superior 

 class of food for that portion of the stock which is de- 

 stined to raise the standard of the whole, and stamp on it 

 its type. 



On estancias the means of enriching the land under 

 tillage, and producing from a small surface enormous 

 proportionate produce, are unbounded. A deep and 

 thorough tillage and ample manuring, as fully explained 

 in this treatise, are the means. A superabundance of 

 fertilizing matter supplied by the corrals and rodeos, is 

 at the command of the estanciero, and a free use of it 

 will result in a great economy of labour ; as through its 

 instrumentality an amount of produce will be obtained 

 from a given surface, equal to that which would other- 

 wise be obtained from double that surface. 



For the better conveyance of my views I will describe 

 an establishment and its working, such as will probably 

 meet the requirements of most. 



On an estancia of any given extent and number of 

 improving stock say, sheep a central agricultural farm, 

 of an extent corresponding to circumstances and the neces- 

 sities of the system proposed to be carried out, should 

 be formed on well-selected ground, both as regards its 

 quality and convenient position in respect of the various 

 ' stations,' or 'puestos.' From this farm all the important 

 regulations must be directed, and on it must be kept the 

 whole of the ' sires,' which, through their superior vigour, 

 class, and type, are looked to, to stamp their charac- 

 teristics on, and engender uniformity in, the general 

 stock. Such farm must necessarily be under the imme- 

 diate direction of the owner of the establishment, or a 

 thoroughly competent manager. 



M 2 



