Animal Products. 65 



PASTORAL RESOURCES. 



The area of the colony of Victoria is about fifty-five millions 

 of acres. Of this only two millions and a half have been 

 alienated to purchasers, thus leaving above fifty millions still in 

 the hands of the Crown. 



The country, from causes which will be hereafter referred to, 

 is yet comparatively in a state of nature ; and scarcely an 

 effort has been made to increase its grazing capacity. Large 

 tracts of country have to be vacated in summer, from the ab- 

 sence of surface water. Again, in wet seasons, a great extent 

 of level land is inundated in water, and thus becomes for the 

 time unavailable. 



Cattle. — These are of no very distinctly-defined breed, and 

 until late years have been generally of inferior description. 

 Latterly, however, a very marked and steady improvement has 

 been effected by the importation from England of high-class 

 animals, principally of the Durham breed. Herefords, Devon, 

 and some other breeds, have also been introduced. Experience 

 has proved that all of these speedily adapt themselves to the 

 climate ; and it is not uncommon now to see, in the Melbourne 

 yards, cattle from the best grazing districts equal to the stall- 

 fed animals of Smithfield. 



Morses. — In this description of stock great improvement has 

 also been effected by the importation of thoroughbred stallions 

 from the best studs in England, and of Clydesdale and other 

 breeds for draught purposes. The climate appears to be pecu- 

 liarly adapted to the development and improvement of this 

 description of stock. Considerable numbers have been lately 

 exported to India, where their character for endurance and 

 strength has been well established. 



Sheep. — Though the produce from these is one of the greatest 

 resources, and one of the chief elements of wealth of the 

 colony, no kind of stock has made so little progress towards 

 improvement. Cattle and horses form part of the economy of 

 a farm, and their improvement has to a certain extent been 

 fostered and encouraged by the owners of land. Sheep, on the 

 other hand, are almost exclusively owned by the occupants of 

 Crown or public lands. The uncertain tenure upon which they 

 hold these lands has not only checked improvement in the breed, 

 but has also prevented those improvements being effected that 

 would have added to and extended the grazing capability of 

 the counti-y. The breeds of sheep, though very mixed, have 

 more of the merino type than any other. The flocks of the 



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