SHEEP-FAEMING. 69 



This gentleman is Don Manuel Benavente, of whose 

 stock, my own flock (in association with Mr. Benavente) 

 is composed ; so that I write with a perfect certainty of 

 facts, which any person may verify by a visit to the 

 establishment. 



I unhesitatingly add that these sheep have assumed a 

 type of their own which will vie with any other for 

 general usefulness, and for refining and improving the 

 breeds of this country, are unequalled. They surpass in 

 length and weight of fleece those of the Cabanas ' Imperial' 

 and ' Gilbert,' are finer than the latter, and as fine as the 

 average of the ' Imperials.' Many of the higher types — 

 the picked sheep — surpass the best I have seen of the 

 ' Imperials ' in all points. 



These sheep, like the Australian high-caste, must take 

 rank as an established special variety, — a variety the result 

 of the climate-influences of the country and a treatment 

 suited to it. 



Addenda IV. 



There are several establishments dedicated to the breed- 

 ing of Negretti rams, the stock of which is highly credit- 

 able and equal to the majority imported. At these estab- 

 lishments the aim has been to transfer and perpetuate in 

 this country, the identical type and qualities of the sheep 

 of the European Cabanas from which they were derived, 

 subjecting the sheep to the same treatment. But they 

 have not produced — have not aimed at producing — 

 an improvement of type or a modification of it, to render 

 them better suited to this country. It must be borne in 

 mind that we cannot transfer the German climate to the 

 Eiver Plate, but we have a climate admirably adapted to 

 the development of improved types. 



