180 STATES OF THE RIVEE PLATE. 



of Buenos Ayres. The grasses are stronger and coarser, 

 and a considerable extent of woodland, which is more or 

 less general through the country, reduces the grazing 

 area ; also on the higher lands the rock is near to the 

 surface and crops out in many parts, and there are numer- 

 ous boulders, all of wliich reduce the grazing surface. 

 On the other hand, the numerous streams afford a rarely, 

 and in many parts a never-failing supply of water, and 

 the wood, a grateful shade for sheep and cattle, and both 

 thrive well and increase rapidly. Of late years, very 

 many estancias have passed into the hands of foreigners, 

 more especially those in the vicinity of Colonia, along the 

 course, or within comparatively easy reach of the river 

 Uruguay, and on the banks of the Eio Negro. 



In the province of Entre Rios, there are extensive 

 tracts of low land, frequently imder water after heavy 

 rains, and bearing coarse, hard, and rush-like grasses ; and 

 there are also extensive woods. In some parts also, there 

 is so much of the Flechilla, or arrow-grass, that sheep 

 suffer severely, owing to its seed-sheaths penetrating 

 through the wool and into the skin and flesh. In the 

 northern parts of this province, this plague, coupled with 

 the high temperature of the summer season, which super- 

 induces fly-blow or maggot in the injured parts, causes 

 many losses, and to a certain extent renders the sheep- 

 industry undesirable. Hence the extent of good sheep- 

 pasture does not bear so large a relative proportion to the 

 whole area of this province as in Buenos Ayres, or even 

 the Banda Oriental. There exist, however, tracts of land, 

 more especially in the district of Gualeguaychu, which 

 leave nothing to be desired, and which are equal, perliaps, 

 to anything in the Eepublic for sheep-farming ; and the 

 very best of these are in tlie hands of British proprietors, 

 and were purchased years back at mere nominal figures. 



