158 SHEEP OF THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH AMERICA, 



taining 5,760 acres English ; the face of the country almost 

 a dead level, no timber, but a luxuriant coat of grass. 



" A cottage is erected in the centre of the farm for the 

 shepherd, and an ample yard enclosed by driving the trunks 

 of the common peach into the earth, and wattling the inter- 

 stices with the branches. An ' estancia' will support 3,000 

 sheep, which is about the size of their flocks. The only 

 care they require is to guard them at night and during a 

 storm. They will seldom wander beyond the landmarks 

 during the day ; at the approach of a storm they turn their 

 heads to leeward, and feed on until turned by their keeper 

 towards their place of security. An instance has been 

 known where 900 of a fine stock, and the best sheep in it, 

 were destroyed by being in a storm, pressed by the rear 

 ranks into a run of w^ater, until the chasm was filled with 

 dead bodies, and the remainder of the flock passed over. 

 The shepherd does not remain with the flock, but at the 

 cottage, having a horse already saddled and bridled (ready 

 for a sudden call) always at the door in the daytime. 



" Thus far very little attention has been paid to cleaning 

 the wool for market. It is generally sold in the dirt." 



12* 



