The Sheep-Breeding Industry of Argentina. 
163 
mutton, from what I believe I may fairly call an unexpected quarter. 
In his introduction the author states that the work is written for 
the prospective colonist and for the prospective sheep-farmer ; that 
the outlook for the latter is especially good in a land said to carry 
a sheep and upwards to the acre ; where the rainfall varies from 
26 inches to 32 inches, and is well distributed throughout the 
year, and the temperature does not fall below 20° Fahr., nor rise 
above 96° in the shade ; where there are no snowstorms or hurri- 
canes, no diseases of an epidemic character, neither rabbits nor 
any other destructive animals ; where the supply of wool and 
mutton is rapidly increasing, and where railroads have been 
made from east to west and from north to south ; but where, un- 
fortunately, a period of inflation, fostered by enormous sums of 
money lent by England for the promotion of the wildest schemes, 
has been followed by a period of depression ; where all Argentine 
securities are equally distrusted, and where it is probable that the 
most primitive and important industries of Argentina — agriculture 
and stock-raising — will redeem the prosperity of the country. 
The industries of South America were discouraged by the short- 
sighted home administration. The inhabitants were even prohibited 
from intercourse with those of another province. Commerce was 
exclusively carried on with Spain, whose yoke was finally thrown 
off in 1810. Sheep were introduced from Peru in 1539, and 4,000 
Spanish sheep were brought in from that country in 1587. These 
were the origin of the indigenous flocks. The wool was long, weak, 
and coarse, and the sheep yielded about 1^ lb. annually. Wool was 
first exported in 1660, but until the close of the eighteenth century 
there is little to record. Mutton was not eaten, and sheep were 
neglected and despised. Ten Merino rams and 20 ewes were imported 
from Spain in 1794, at the same time that Merinos were first im- 
ported into New South Wales. A hundred ewes were imported in 
1813 by Mr. Halsay, and were dispersed in 1828 ; they were the origin 
of several famous studs. In 1825, 30 Southdown sheep were im- 
ported from the celebrated Babraham flock, and were the progenitors 
of the Southdown stock of Don Leonardo Pereyra, who, to the 
present day, is an extensive breeder of that class of sheep. 
In those days wild dogs were most dangerous to the flocks, and 
prairie dogs undermined the grass. The wool was greatly deterio- 
rated by a large burr, and the flocks were in danger from lawless 
marauders. Between 1836 and 1838 4,200 Merinos were said to 
have been imported, and in 1838 the first lot of German Negretti 
Merinos were introduced. The native Merinos at that time produced 
sheep giving 6 to 7 lb., and rams giving 10 to 12 lb. of washed 
wool. Scab is said to have been introduced with the German 
Merinos ill 1838, but as it was known to the Indians it was probably 
indigenous. 
It was not until 1860 that shearing became an annual and 
general operation. In 1843 a boiling-down factory was established 
by Messrs. Gibson. In 1858 the protective tariff of the United States 
caused a heavy fall in wool and in stock, but increased the boiling- 
h 2 
