197 



SO too has the change of opinion generally. Every one 

 who has occasion to travel in the camp has remarked 

 the interest which prevails at present for "Ganade- 

 na" as compared with Agriculture. 



THE FAVOURING OF' CATTLE BREEDING. 



Is this a symptom of permanent interest, or mere- 

 ly the passim- reflecting of the state of business or com- 

 parative prosperity of one against the other? 



In any case some of the different phases of the 

 problem and some of the possible results are worthy of 

 study . 



The importance of any change of position cannot 

 be overlooked: if, as statistics seems to show, "Gana- 

 deria" is more progressive than Agriculture or ''cha- 

 cra", then presumably a return to pastoral life is in 

 store. Anyone who knows the secret opinion of the 

 average camp "peon'' realises that this would be any- 

 thing but unpopular with the general run of camp 

 hands, but the effects are much more far-reaching 

 than a mere statement of the facts indicates. 



A predominance of cattle raising is evident of late 

 years, as is the tendency to 'limit the extent of land de- 

 dicated to grain and extend that devoted to grass or 

 pasture. 



THE DECLINE IX CULTIVATED MNDS. 



The enormous area dedicated to agriculture in this 

 Republic would require a very extensive reduction be- 

 fore any appreciation of its effects could be remarked, 

 the system of long rotation of grain with grass impedes 

 a just calculation and undoubtedly much cf the land 

 which has gone out of agriculture was never intended 

 or apt for cereals or maize, nor do statistics show anr 

 great diminution in cultivated lands, although the land 

 cultivated with grasses for grazing has extended con- 

 siderably . 



If the passing from pasturage to agriculture is 

 hailed as progress, then the contrary must be the ease 

 in the return of agricultural land to grassland. 



To cite the classical example of England; there the 

 laying down of grass meadows, even at considerable ex- 

 pense (treble what it costs to place a camp under al- 

 falfa here), has been synonymous with a general retro- 

 gression rurally, and the extension of the cattle raising 

 industry has been associated with a marked decay of 



