162 STATES or THE RIVER PLATE. 



It would not be easy to over-estimate the benefits — the 

 actual profit that would accrue to sheep-farmers and other 

 estancieros by a practical application of the foregoing 

 suggestions in respect of the judicious ' stocking ' and 

 systematic depasturing of estancia lands. Only a detailed 

 study and observation will reveal the full importance that 

 is attached to these matters. Their default is felt every- 

 where, but felt without a recognition of cause and effect 

 in connexion with such default. Inevitable consequences, 

 arising out of natural causes, are set down as ' Epidemia.' 

 The wilfully blind shrug their shoulders when they look 

 upon dwarfed sheep or their carcases strewing the camps ; 

 and stiU the rising consciousness of reproach for the greed 

 for numbers, and the disinclination to take the requisite 

 trouble and make the necessary outlay to attain better 

 results, by the cry of ' Epidemia ! ' as though this was 

 a something impalpable, borne on the breeze, and disse- 

 minating degeneracy and death ; whereas, in ninety-nine 

 cases out of one hundred, starvation is the active cause of 

 nearly all the evils that, from time to time, visit the 

 improvident sheep-farmer. 



X. 



In proceeding to treat of' tillage or arable farming on 

 estancias, I wish it clearly to be understood that I am not 

 suggesting any vast or impracticable scheme for putting 

 the whole country under tillage, or anything more than a 

 very limited accessory to the great pastoro- agricultural 

 economy, or management, of grass or grazing lands. 

 Nevertheless it is an extremely important adjunct, and no 

 estancia henceforth can be considered to rank in the file 

 of progress without it. 



