AGRICULTURE. 163 



The object is to supplement the indigenous herbage, 

 and constitute a reserve to meet exceptional and unfore- 

 seen necessities, as before stated, and to provide a superior 

 class of food for that portion of the stock which is de- 

 stined to raise the standard of the whole, and stamp on it 

 its type. 



On estancias the means of enriching the land imder 

 tillage, and producing from a small surface enormous 

 proportionate produce, are unbounded. A deep and 

 thorough tillage and ample manuring, as fully explained 

 in this treatise, are the means. A superabundance of 

 fertilizing matter supplied by the corrals and rodeos, is 

 at the command of the estanciero, and a free use of it 

 will result in a great economy of labour ; as through its 

 instrumentality an amount of produce will be obtained 

 from a given surface, equal to that which would other- 

 wise be obtained from double that surface. 



For the better conveyance of my views I will describe 

 an establishment and its working, such as will probably 

 meet the requii'ements of most. 



On an estancia of any given extent and number of 

 improving stock — say, sheep — a central agricultural farm, 

 of an extent corresponding to circumstances and the neces- 

 sities of the system proposed to be carried out, should 

 be formed on well-selected ground, both as regards its 

 quality and convenient position in respect of the various 

 'stations,' or 'puestos.' From this farm all the important 

 regulations must be directed, and on it must be kept the 

 whole of the ' sires,' which, through their superior vigour, 

 class, and type, are looked to, to stamp their charac- 

 teristics on, and engender uniformity in, the general 

 stock. Such farm must necessarily be under the imme- 

 diate direction of the owner of the estabhshment, or a 

 thoroughly competent manager. 



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