are by no means uncommon, and it may l)e inferred from them 

 how bad the state of the Western district must be when the 

 pastoralists decide on encountering such risks. The sheep which 

 remain in the West in a bad season depend almost entirely on the 

 scrub, and in a prolonged drought large numbers of men have to 

 be employed for the purpose of cutting down the scrub or beating 

 down the leaves. It is difficult to imagine anything more dis- 

 heartening to a stockowner than the conditions involved in such 

 a state of affairs. Sheep are generally in poor condition when 

 scrub-cutting is resorted to, and it may be assumed that as a rule 

 they become weaker and less able to walk to and from water as it 

 continues. Statistics show that in 1877 the actual loss and de- 

 crease in the number of sheep amounted to about four millions, in 

 1884 about six millions, and in 1888 450,000. In addition to 



cases wliere there was 80 per cent, of lambs marked, not 9 per 

 cent, has been weaned, and there liave been cases in which not a 



In 1888 there were about nine millions of lambs, from twenty-two 

 millions of ewes, and this on a very moderate estimate meant a 

 loss of two millions ; that is, assuming that in an average season 

 the return of lambs would be 50 per cent. 



" In the country to which I have been referring, the change 

 rroni dearth to excess of vegetation is remarkably rapid. If a 

 good fall of rain occurs at the proper season the whole face of the 

 country changes within a week. Within a fortnight the grass 

 and herbage are edible, the bush revives, and the scrub shoots 

 afresh, and within a month the pasture is luxuriant. 



" It is at once evident that under such varied conditions a 

 steadiness or uniformity in a clip from year to year is impossible. 

 In one year the fleece is sound and clean, in another dirty and 

 tender. Prices must vary largely, and a brand of wool so varying 

 does not command the attention of buyers equally with a brand 

 tliat is not liable to these recurring fluctuations. From these 



amount to a very 



! assumed that on 



hole quantity the diminutii 



^ the nature of the s 

 ^ve find that the loss under this head alone wouldbe over £427,000 

 ^tf^rling. Some of the ways in which the wool is prejudicially 

 •effected in droughts have already been mentioned, l)ut another 

 furious cause of diminished value is the break in the wool which 

 IS caused by a sudden change in the character of the season. The 

 alteration in the quality of wool which takes place immediately 



