most suitable breeds for crossing and developing the 
native type. Such a stock farm should be under the 
charge of an experienced stock breeder, who should also 
be a qualified veterinary surgeon, capable of dealing with 
outbreaks of disease and the ailments of cattle. It 
should be one of the principal objects of the stock farm 
to eventually furnish to farmers suitable stock animals 
for breeding purposes at nominal charges. 
I have been frequently asked what are the best breeds 
to introduce for the purpose of crossing with the native 
stock. This is a question that can only be definitely 
determined by experiment carried out in defined regions, 
and this proof should be afforded by a stock-farm. In 
this connection, I would limit myself to the recommenda- 
tion of breeds which should prove suitable under careful 
management and good conditions. Results vary in many 
cases according to the strain of breed imported, which 
often varies considerably ; therefore much depends on tliat 
point. The introduction of European breeds must be 
attended with great care, and protection afforded against 
ticks and biting flies, to avoid the contraction of diseases. 
The acclimatization of European breeds is always attended 
with great risk, and breeding stock imported should 
always have all the care and attention possible bestowed 
upon them until they become thoroughly acclimatized. 
For the production of beef, the Hereford breed should 
prove satisfactory, also the Shorthorn ; though the former 
will thrive in poorer pasture than the latter and is more 
hardy. The Shorthorn, if of good strain, is excellent for 
beef and milk; the Hereford is very popular in the United 
States and in the Argentine and other parts of the world, 
in fact is of proved merit for regions similar to that of 
the Cauca valley. 
For dairy purposes, crossing with the Holstein or 
Ayrshire breeds should have good results ; the Holstein is 
a large and profitable breed producing good milkers, which 
are appreciated in many parts of the world. The Ayrshire 
is the famous milking breed of Scotland, where its produce 
is chiefly used in the manufacture of cheese ; it is one of 
the best known breeds for the production of milk. 
The Indian Zebu cattle should, in my opinion, be more 
appreciated in this country than they are. They have the 
advantage that they are hardier than the European breeds, 
thrive in poor pastures and mature early. It is true that 
they are wilder in nature and for this reason less easy to 
manage, but their hardiness and other qualities should 
recommend them, especially to those who cannot give the 
necessary attention and care that the acclimazation of 
European breeds demand. This is further an excellent 
race for draft animals, strong and hardy. 
Pastures. Natural and Imported. 
Another vexed question is that of the most suitable 
pasture for cattle. I have been repeatedly asked what is the 
best pasture or grass to grow. This is a question that 
cannot be answered in a general way ; the hacienda, its 
soil and climate, must be taken into consideration, before 
a reply of any value can be given. The most suitable 
pasture is that which thrives most successfully on the land, 
given that it possesses satisfactory feeding value. Now', 
the different grasses which have been imported from 
foreign countries from time to time have their distinctive 
climates and soil conditions. A grass w-hich may thrive 
in one locality and prove an excellent pasture, may be a 
failure in another. One learns, to a great extent from 
experience, which is the best pasture to grow in a certain 
district from the manner in which it thrives. The 
relative feeding value of different grasses can only be 
satisfactorily determined by definite experiment ; by 
feeding animals of a similar age and condition with a 
given quantity of cut grass daily, weighing them periodi- 
cally to note the relative development of the animals fed 
on the respective grasses. This is difficult to accomplish 
in this country in the absence of suitable weighing 
machines, consequently one has to rely mainly on personal 
judgment, whicli is of variable quality. 
Paslo coiinhi, the native or natui'al grass, is composed of 
tliree or four species, and differs in its composition 
according to the relative proportion of the species, or the 
predominance of one ; it is in high repute for its feeding 
value in El Valle. It is stated that it will stock more 
cattle than para. Judging from the condition of cattle 
I have seen in this pasture, I should say that it is a very 
suitable pasture for lands in the valley which are not 
subject to inundation, but whicli on the other hand are 
not excessively dry. In Caklas paslo coiiifiii is considered 
inferior to iiiicdy, but this is again a question of climate, 
since micdy W'ould be unlikely to do well in the low-lying 
region of the valley, being a grass more adapted to a 
temperate climate. 
For moist land, and lands subject to periodic inunda- 
tions, such as large areas are on the banks of the river 
Cauca and its tributaries, tliere is probably not a better 
pasture than para, though it is not so suitable for horses 
as for cattle. 
The grass known as Janeiro, w'hich is comparatively 
new' to this region, is one that grow's vigorously in El 
Valle, and should prove a suitable pasture. It is of 
spreading habit and rapidly covers the ground, a feature 
wliich should necessitate less cleaning. 
The guinea grass is suitable rather for more friable 
lands and lands of granitic origin. It is an excellent 
pasture for the fattening of cattle, as has been abundantly 
proved in different parts of Colombia. 
Yaragnd is a grass which is repugnant to ticks, and 
it is said also to be repugnant to warble larvae {nnclie) 
and so keeps the cattle free from that pest. The grass 
contains an oil, to which is due its disagreeable odour, no 
doubt unpleasant to in.sects such as ticks and nnchc 
larva?. This grass might be more extensively grown in 
districts w'here these pests are abundant. 
Use of Lime. 
I noted that no attention is given to the use of lime for 
agricultural purposes. Application of lime to soils which 
are deficient in that substance would prove of great 
ad\antage ; especially is this so in regard to the high 
lands of Caklas. Lime is not a fertiliser in the ordinary 
sense, it is a corrective, and its great value for agricultural 
purposes should be better appreciated. The high cost of 
lime, however, in these Departments prohibits its use 
for agricultural purposes. If private enterprise cannot 
produce lime at a reasonable rate, the Government might 
consider the advisability of running lime kilns at different 
centres and of selling the lime to farmers at cost price. 
Secciones Agricolas. 
I have given a good deal of tliought and careful study 
to the question of the best means to adopt to encourage the 
development of agriculture in the different Departments 
of the Republic, and I have come to the conclusion that 
the best way to attain this end is by the establishment 
and organization of an efficiently-equipped Secc/(5« dg'rfco/a 
under the Administration of each Department. 
Such a Seccion. or Department of Agriculture, should 
be manned by a competent Agrdnonio and an Assistant 
Agrdnonio. with the necessary clerical assistance. The 
Seccion should have an office at the capital of the Depart- 
ment, where the chief of the Seccion should reside and 
attend to the routine w'ork of such an office. Part of his 
duties should be that of the collection of agricultural 
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