[23] 



is cheap and the population sparse. But the restless and 

 predatory character of the population, and the unsettled na- 

 ture of the government, constitute no inconsiderable draw- 

 backs to this, as to every other branch of industry. 



"Australia is another large sheep producing country, but 

 it also has its drawbacks. Professor McCulloch states that 

 the bad land in this country bears a much greater proportion 

 to the good than in almost any other. It is also subject to- 

 long continuous droughts, often lasting six months. The 

 effects of the drought in 1841 is thus described by Mr. Hood : 

 'It will scarcely be believed in England that the estimated 

 number of sheep which have died within the last twelve 

 months in the colony, from catarrh and drought, is 70,000 ; 

 that colonists are compelled, in order to secure the dam 

 from starvation, to cut the throat of her lamb ; that no means 

 are adopted for securing a stock of lambs for next year, or 

 that a stockholder would give 8,000 sheep to any one that 

 would remove them from his runs, and finding no one who 

 would accept so dangerous a present, had recourse to con- 

 suming them by fire.' 



"'The wild and poachy nature of a considerable portion 

 of the pasture/ says Mr. Youatt, l gives the foot rot a pecu- 

 liar character, and, if neglected, it 'becomes inveterate and 

 destroys the animal. The scab is a prevalent disease, and 

 the convict shepherd, who has a pique against his master, 

 can easily, by bringing his flock in contact with a diseased 

 one, subject them to this dangerous and troublesome malady/ 



" ' Epidemics, supposed to be owing to the astringency of 

 the water, and some other causes, have, some years, cut off 

 half the sheep.' 



" The above extracts are from English writers of reputa- 

 tion. 



" In considerable portions of Hungary the climate is fine, 

 soil rich and labor cheap. Sheep raising on the large es- 

 tates is very profitable, but she lacks facilities for cheap 

 transportation. The Danube is her only natural outlet to 



