18 STATES OF THE RIVER PLATE. 



those more recently freed from surface-water by tlie 

 rising of the land or the receding of the waters, the layer 

 of vegetable loam is less deep, .and the soil retains some- 

 what of the character of mud deposits, with more or less 

 sand, clay, or shell lime. In the Banda Oriental and parts 

 of Entre-Eios a rich loam rests on rock formation, more 

 or less near the surface, or on a subsoil of compact sandy 

 shale and clay ; rock crops out from the soil, and the 

 debris of rock mingle with it. There is a considerable 

 extent of woodland, furnishing everywhere abundance of 

 fuel and materials for ' pens ' and hut building ; also 

 affording shelter, but diminishing the available space for 

 grazing purposes. 



IV. 



As the exports and the nature of the country, its 

 climate and special adaptability for the purpose, and 

 the foregoing indicate, the chief industry of the Eio de la 

 Plata is pastoral. Within a radius of a few miles or 

 leagues round the cities or towns, the lands are occupied 

 by agricultural farms, where grain, wheat, barley, and 

 maize are grown ; also lucerne, for soiling and hay- 

 making ; likewise potatoes, pumpkins, and other items of 

 agricultural produce. And there are a few establishments 

 in which this is combined with the breeding of fine stock 

 and fine sheep — for ram-breeding of the Negretti and 

 EambouiUet breeds, shorthorned cattle, and where English 

 blood sires, Cleveland bays, and cart stallions are kept for 

 breeding purposes. The land within the radius is all 

 fenced in with wire fence or hedges of the napondy, a 

 prickly plant of the mimosa order, closing its leaves at 

 sundown and in rain. There are also large plantations 



