AGRICULTUKE. 137 



«xist in every square league of land. These conditions 

 the agriculturist (it must be understood that there is a 

 marked difference between the ' agriculturist ' and the 

 mere ' tiller of the soil') can readily detect and appreciate. 

 Other conditions which are not at present so favourable 

 as is desirable, wiU be modified by the extension of tillage 

 and planting ; the rainfall, for instance, will be more to 

 be depended upon, and the absorption of moisture into 

 the soil greater, both fi-om rain and dew, so that the 

 recurrence of drought (seca) may be less frequent or less 

 felt. 



IL 



I have stated that pastoral pursuits, unassociated with 

 agriculture, are incompatible with a stage of material 

 progression, certain hmits having been reached. 



I believe that these limits have been attained within a 

 certain radius of Buenos Ayres and other cities ; and that 

 that interest must inevitably dechne in point of standing, 

 if, from this time forward, there is not an union of the two 

 to a certain extent formed. 



I have shown in previous papers that marked augmen- 

 tation of the value of stock cannot be expected without 

 feeding both sheep and cattle ; that the lands as they are 

 in many districts, are incapable of supporting the stock 

 now on them, and hence heavy losses and degeneration 

 must be expected. Allied with tillage as an auxiliary, of 

 only to an extent to meet pressing necessities, the pastoral 

 interest is capable of very considerable development and 

 increase of value. Incalculable national and individual 

 wealth must be the result of the combination. There is 

 no surer way, indeed there is no other way, to national 



