SHEEP-rABMING. 45 



Imperial Cabana Eambouillet : see the work of the Marquis 

 Perales) and the best French Merino rams, procured re- 

 gardless of cost, has done all that could be done in point 

 of blood and quality. Thus the colonists, having from 

 the first made their flocks of such value that it would pay 

 to take care of them, as flocks from which progression is 

 expected should be taken care of, they have zealously 

 taken care of them, and dedicated themselves to their 

 improvement. Physiological laws have not been neglected 

 there as they have been here ; the debilitated or diseased 

 ram was not looked to as the sire of the coming genera- 

 tion, but well selected, well-cared-for, and vigorous rams 

 were put to their ewes ; old ewes went to the butcher, 

 and the tender ewe lambs (borrequitas) were not allowed 

 to be dams of a weakly ofispriug. Thus have they attained 

 their present perfection, and they are still drawing first- 

 class rams, at first-class prices, from England and France ; 

 and, as I have been informed, the Cabana Imperial sup- 

 plies them with not a few of its luisurpassed Eambouillet 

 Merinos. 



H. 



In the foregoing brief sketch we have traced the 

 origin, course, and causes of the comparatively inferior 

 quality and value of the wools of this country in the 

 midst of the vast extension of sheep-breeding interests ; 

 and I read in this httle short of an impending national 

 calamity — the work of half a century, as it were, lost, and 

 a new start to be made to enable us to hold our way at 

 all with other wool-producing countries. We have also 

 traced the rise and progress of another young country, 

 following a different line of treatment and selection. 



It now remains, knowing the causes, and knowing the 



