182 STATES OF THE RIVER PLATE. 



Eailway will give access to these lands, and many agri- 

 cultural and sheep-farming colonies will be formed on 

 tracts granted for the purpose. 



III. 



The estimated capacity of a square league of land for 

 carrying sheep is from 10,000 to 20,000 head ; few, how- 

 ever, could be safely counted on to carry over 16,000 

 sheep, imless fenced in and trespassing cattle and horses 

 excluded. 



The value of sheep generally offered for sale is to-day 

 much lower than the quotation of a year or two ago, by 

 reason of the necessity there exists of relieving a large 

 number of establishments which have become over- 

 stocked, and the expediency of weeding out inferior and 

 aged animals and improving the remainder. The quota- 

 tions for fair to good average cross-bred sheep are 2b$ to 

 35,^ per head, or, say, 3*. IQd. to 5.9. 6d. as they run ; 

 the better classes bear a proportionately higher value. 

 After shearing, they can be had proportionably less, and 

 average sheep have been sold at 18,^ to 20,^. 



The average yield of wool from this class of sheep is 

 31bs. per fleece, and its value from 70;^ "to 80,^ per 251bs., 

 according to present market rates — say b^d. to Q^d. per 

 pound. The deductions for carriage to market are gradu- 

 ated by distance. The wool of a few very superior high- 

 caste flocks is worth from 20 to 50 per cent, higher. 



The usual calculation of increase under the general 

 system of management is, that a flock will double itself 

 in three years ; and this is accumulative so long as there 

 is room on the land to receive and feed the increase. 

 Thus, 2,000 sheep in three years would reach 4,000, and 



