406 
On the Use of Bone Manure 
numerous. But this, owing to different causes, they too 
f enerally are, and a decided check in condition is the result. 
n autumn again, a second spring takes place, and the sheep 
consequently recover condition to a degree which is fortunate, 
inasmuch as it enables them to survive the starvation of winter. 
That all these checks and alternations from plenty to scarcity, 
from dry food to succulent, and vice versd, are not attended 
with frightful losses and mortality, argues much for the climate 
and soil which a merciful Providence has vouchsafed us. But 
that we may not presume too much on our natural advantages, 
and may use some industry, serious injuries will arise in spite 
of these, if we do not take proper precautions. We know that 
the changes in condition materially injure the pile and staple of 
the wool, especially the most valuable species, that fit for 
combing purposes. This sort requires considerable strength to 
enable it to resist rather rough processes, and still retain the 
filaments unbroken. But when a natural or rather unnatural 
break exists in the fibre (and we have counted three such in one), 
the power to do so is much weakened. Another evil is that we 
let in the foreigner, and thus prevent the relief of our own 
pastures at a remunerating price. 
To find a remedy for these evils, or rather for the cause of 
these evils, is not at present very easy, but to do so we may 
perhaps act best by recurring to the first cause. This we think 
we may date principally from the sheep mania at the time of 
our colonizing Port Phillip, when a mad and ruinous advance 
in the price of sheep took place. Wool about the same time 
was at a high price, and from these causes conjoined, every 
thing that had wool on its back became valuable. Old ewes 
were kept far beyond the time necessary or profitable at former 
prices, and thus an immense stock was raised, which, however, 
for a short time received an outlet by the speculations to Port 
Phillip. For a while this opened an immense source of profit 
to the sheep farmers; and others, without sufficient means, were 
induced to embark in the same speculation, on the strength of 
capital Taken from other sources of trade, or borrowed at a 
ruinous rate of interest. 
Ail must recollect the subsequent reaction, the ruin of many, 
when simultaneously the price of wool fell in the home market, 
and the demand for sheep to Port Phillip ceased. The outlet 
for the sheep, increased even at that time beyond the capabilities 
of our pasture, was destroyed, and from the want of condition 
the markets in the towns would not take them off*, while fat 
beef could be procured from Twofold Bay, a source of supply 
opened by the enterprise of the Messrs. I inlay. Besides, the 
fall in price would not permit those who had purchased high, 
with money borrowed higher, to part with their stock while the 
smallest hope of an advance in price was feasible, and thus we 
