258 



WOOL GUAZIXG — CORN. 



received. The grass is there as short and as sweet as horses 

 could desire ; and does not this show, that by folding, on a 

 large scale, any extent of pasture land might, by degrees, be 

 brought to a similar condition? Why sheep have not been 

 carried there in greater numbers I am not aware, but judging 

 from the climate, and the fur of the foxes, I should suppose 

 that the long-wooUed sheep would do well, and perhaps improve 

 the staple of its wool, as the merino sheep has done in an oppo- 

 site manner — by transportation to Australia. Pigs have in- 

 creased in great numbers on the small islands, where their 

 young are safer from the foxes, and where there is abundance of 

 the sedgy grass called tussac, the roots and stalks of which 

 are much liked by them. 



The size and fatness of the wild cattle is a clear proof that 

 the country is adapted for grazing. Of twenty wild bulls 

 which were killed during one excursion of the settlers, shortly 

 before the Beagle's arrival, the average weight of each hide was 

 above seventy, and a few weighed eighty pounds. Some of 

 these animals are so fat and heavy, that the gauchos say they 

 cannot drive them across the marshy grounds which are passed 

 by the other cattle, as well as by men on horseback. It has 

 been also ascertained that meat takes salt remarkably well in 

 that climate; and as salt of excellent quality, as well as salt- 

 petre, abounds on the coast of Patagonia, there is no reason 

 why large quantities of salt meat and salt fish should not be 

 prepared there, and exported to the Brazils, to the East, to 

 Chile, and Peru, besides supplying a number of the ships which 

 would touch there. 



But there are alleged disadvantages to contend against, 

 which must not be overlooked for a moment. It is very 

 doubtful whether corn will ripen. Fruit, which requires much 

 sun, certainly will not, and culinary vegetables have been 

 said to run to stalk and become watery. Nevertheless, Mr. 

 Brisbane assured me that wheat had been tried in Vernet's 

 garden, and that there it grew well, producing a full ear and 

 large grain. The garden was small, slightly manured, and 

 defended from wind by high turf fences. Potatoes, he said, 



