No. 144.] 



285 



The sheep are usually washed in large water holes, remaining 

 in the bed of rivers, but when they can get running water it is 

 considered a great advantage. All the wool is sent, washed, in 

 bales to market. 



In regard to cattle, there is a remarkable peculiarity. On the 

 " sheep runs" cattle do not like to graze, and sheep depreciate if 

 put on cattle runs. As cattle in the northern districts are only 

 valuable for feeding the household, their hides and tallow, they 

 are taken to the " boiling down establishments," near some port, 

 during the winter season, where they are reduced to tallow and 

 exported. 



The system of branding cattle among those who devoted them- 

 selves entirely to the fattening runs, I consider, on a much better 

 system than that I saw in Mexico, South America, and California, 

 instead of lassoing and throwing the creature down previous to 

 applying the branding iron, in the following simple manner : — 

 Two " stock yards" are erected of strong post and rails, the cat- 

 tle are run from A to D (as in the following diagram), being de- 

 tained in their passage by the entrance of D being closed, until 

 the avenue B is filled with cattle. Men are stationed within the 

 enclosure C, with branding irons, and the necessary apparatus for 

 heating them; and while the cattle are so enclosed the brand is 

 applied. It is to be observed this avenue must be very narrow 

 to prevent the animal, when once in, from turning or using his 

 horns. A whole herd may be thus branded in the course of a 

 forenoon. 



Agriculture in New South Wales is very backward. The Aus- 

 tralian Agricultural Committee, until they rented their mineral 

 land, could not sell their shares but at a discount. On the valley 



