174 STATES OF THE RIVER PLATE. 



night feeding, more especially for such animals as have 

 attained an advanced stage of fatting, and require to be 

 ' finished off,' or hardened, for slaughter. It will be clear 

 to practical minds that essential elements of success con- 

 sist in procuring a never-failing supply of pasture-feed in 

 the most nutritious stage of its growth and productive 

 yield ; over and above this, stored feed to meet all require- 

 ments, and in the economic arrangements of gathering it 

 and supplying it without waste, in quantities sufficient and 

 not in excess, and in dispositions which will admit of the 

 feeding being effected with the least amount of labour 

 consistent with efficiency and regularity. The sowing 

 of the little seed, ' discretion,' with these matters, or its 

 omission, may, in most instances, make the difference of 

 a profit or a loss success or failure. There is no branch 

 in the agricultural sphere which requires higher practical 

 powers, or more complete knowledge of climate conditions, 

 soils, products, and mechanical detail, than the embryo 

 business of bringing the staple commodity of the country 

 into a realizable condition ; and it is earnestly to be hoped 

 that the conduct of the first movement in this direction 

 may fall into the hands of earnest and thoughtful, as well 

 as practical parties, and that such parties may be fortunate, 

 as well as deserving, in the selection of a course of prac- 

 tice. There being no landmarks, it is hardly possible 

 that we should not owe much to the ' genius of fortune,' 

 inspiration, or induction. 



