44 STATES OF THE RIVER PLATE. 



have sprung out of the colonization of the Old World. 

 In both, the climate is similar, and in a high degree 

 favourable for sheep -farming ; though the preference 

 must be given to this country for general advantages of 

 climate and soil. In both, the breeding of sheep has 

 become the most important rural interest, and, by con- 

 sequence, commercial interest. But here the similarity 

 ceases, and the contrast commences. The wools of Aus- 

 tralia and Tasmania stand unrivalled in their class ; as a 

 national product they are preeminent for length of staple 

 and softness of texture. The Australian wool sales in the 

 home markets are more important than, perhaps, all others 

 put together ; and the prices obtained mark the esti- 

 mation in which they are held. Australian wools are 

 attaining greater and greater perfection ; so much so that, 

 even in their own speciality, the great flock-masters of 

 Spain consider it requisite to modify their famed Merinos 

 to compete with the Australian and Tasmanian wools. 



As we have traced the origin of the Buenos Ayrean 

 sheep, and the causes of their degeneracy, so let us now 

 trace the rise and progress of the Australian : — 



As it was natural in a colony deriving its origin from 

 Spain to select its animals from the famed ones of the 

 old countiy, so also was it in an English colony ; and the 

 Enghsh breeds of sheep — Leicester, Coteswold, Lincoln, 

 Southdown, Merino, and others — were naturally taken 

 there, as were also the Spanish Merino and Saxony. In the 

 forming of the flocks the English breeds took their part, 

 and imparted size, weight of fleece, and length of wool ; 

 giving a useful and weU-developed animal as tlie basis of 

 the colonial flocks, placing them in a most advantageous 

 condition for refining. Long and persistent refining on 

 this sound basis with the best English Merino rams 

 (Cabana George III., the term Cabaiia with the French 



