SUEEP-FAEMING. 47 



means to meet the estancieros' outlay, by the employment 

 of corresponding labour, to bestow upon the flocks that 

 care which material improvement rendered absolutely 

 necessary ; and very few ' medianeros ' had the know- 

 ledge of the business essential for the suitable management 

 of an improving flock. Again, under the ' Medianero ' 

 system, the estanciero ceases to be the sole master of his 

 property, and cannot dispose of his sheep as is desirable ; 

 that is, he cannot, year by year, throw out the old or in- 

 ferior ewes, or separate the ' borregas ; ' it being the 

 ' medianero's ' supposed interest to breed from everything 

 young and old, in order to acquire the greatest possible 

 number during his term of contract. 



Under existing circumstances, I see but one course, 

 which is, tliat flock-masters (estancieros) should make up 

 their minds to a present sacrifice — an apparent sacrifice 

 to lead to an ultimate benefit to themselves and the 

 nation ; let them get rid of a considerable portion of 

 their stock, all the old and inferior, if only for the vat-^ 

 and the vat is unquestionably the best place for them — so 

 that they may not mar in their progeny the future of 

 slieep-breeding ; then, with the capital realised, secure 

 suitable rams, and take increased care of the remainder 

 of the sheep. 



m. 



We now pass on to consider the individual defects of 

 the sheep, and the best means of correcting them. 



First, the diminutive size of the sheep is noticeable. 

 It is clearly a great defect, as it offers no porvenir 

 (future) of general usefulness and value ; moreover, a 

 small- carcassed sheep cannot, ceteris paribus, produce so 

 weighty a fleece as a large-carcassed one. 



