164 Publications of Interest to Agriculturists. 
down business, and induced owners to cull and improve their flocks, 
so that in 1866 the Argentine wools had so much improved as to be 
in demand on the European markets. The wet seasons of 1842, 1843, 
and 1845 had developed foot-rot in the Merinos, and the fluke and lung- 
worm made serious ravages amongst them, and induced the English 
breeders to introduce long-wool sheep. After a few years’ experience 
most of the stock owners decided in favour of Lincoln sheep : they 
throve well and gave great increase in the yield of wool, which sold 
readily, the Merino cross wools fetching a high price ; but it was no*-- 
until 1882 that the Lincoln became a generally popular breed, and 
to-day it disputes the land with the Merino. This appears to be due 
to a succession of wet seasons, from 1877 to 1884, which occasioned 
heavy losses amongst the Merino stock in the lands by the sea- 
board, while the long- wools throve apace. The frozen meat trade 
also afforded a market for the more valuable carcass of the Lincoln, 
and the fall in Merino wool in 1 884 further depreciated that breed 
of sheep. From 1856 to 1886 the stock of sheep increased from 
sixty millions to over ninety millions, surpassing Australia with 
her eighty-four millions ; but while the latter averaged 5 lb. per 
fleece, the Argentine only reached 31b. The returns for 1891 give 41b. 
per fleece for seventy -eight millions of sheep, which number might be 
doubled in twenty-five years without overstocking the country. A 
certain number of Merino flocks are still kept pure, but about half 
the total number of sheep own to a cross of Lincoln or Leicester. 
The wool of the first and second cross is healthy and fine, but as the 
crossing goes on the wool gains in length and loses in fineness. 
The carcass is also of medium size and of fine flavour, but with too 
pronounced a Lincoln type the mutton loses in quality, though it 
gains considerably in weight. The cross-bred sheep fatten much 
more quickly than the pure breeds. The Southdown and Oxford 
Down have not been so successful for crossing as the long-wools, 
as the wool is not of great weight or value, and the produce suffers 
more from foot-rot. 
The province of Buenos Aires, which is of nearly the same area 
as the United Kingdom, maintains stock at the rate of 186 per 100 
acres per annum. The climate is humid, the rainfall averaging 
30 inches. Being close to the meat markets it is there where most 
of the long-wools and their crosses flourish. The Merinos hold their 
ground on the drier lands more distant from the markets. The 
Pampas formation is undulating, with water in the hollows, and 
close to the surface it is covered with nutritious grasses, but is with- 
out trees ; it grows a species cf trefoil, the seed of which forms a burr, 
which is injurious to the fleeces. Saline efflorescence and salt beds 
are common in the west and south, and are much liked by the 
stock. A shepherd will look after 1,200 to 2,u00 sheep, and is some- 
times paid one-fourth of the profits of the flock, or has a aionthly 
wage of 21. 10s. to 4 1. with allowances. He rides, but seldom keeps 
a dog. When the sheep graze the open country they generally lie 
by the shepherd’s house at night. Paddocks have lately been intro- 
duced, and lessen working expenses, as one man can then look after 
