ARGENTINA 



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the country, as owing to their early maturity they give the 

 best results on the high-priced land, and they are very nice 

 cattle indeed. The first impression one receives after being 

 struck by the quality of the cattle is the number run on the 

 area and the quiet nature of the stock. 



Pasture. — The indigenous grasses of the Pampa region known 

 as coarse grass have gradually been replaced in a radius of 

 about 150 miles round Buenos Aires by the so-called soft 

 grass, the seed of which was brought over by the Spanish in- 



Grocp of Breeding Mares at "El Socorro," Province of Buenos Aires 



vaders amongst the forage for their horses. This grass, 

 although actually of little agricultural value, was nevertheless 

 superior to the Pampean grasses. Before the spread of alfalfa 

 (the " Queen of the Pampa "), land was classified as of coarse 

 grass and soft grass. 



Estancias. — The year 1878 marked the beginning of a new 

 era of extraordinary development in the Argentine estancias. 

 In that year the Indians were finally subdued, and the settle- 

 ment of an enormous tract of fertile territory became possible. 

 High rents and heavy taxation induced many breeders to 

 migrate from the inside camps to the cheaper and less crowded 



