The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-23

tistics show that there are 628 100000,
and the Argentine Republic has
about one-sixth Of the whole. The
only country that has more sheep is
Australia, which has eighty-three
millions to Argentine's seventy-five or
eighty millions. The United States
has fifty million sheep, Asiatic Rus
sia thirty-tWC millions and Great
Britain and ireland about twenty
seven millions. There are in all
South America only about one hum
dred and twelve millions, Of which
this country has perhaps IWo-thirds.
There are ten sheep TO every man,
woman and child in the republic, for
an average flock of fifty per family.
But the sheep of Argentina are not
divided up in that way. They are
| mostly in enormous holdings. I
know several men who each own
100, 900 sheep, and there is a Chilean
stock company at the Strait Of Ma
sellan which is said to own in the
neighborhood OF two millions. On
the Alvear estate there are one hun
dred thousand fine Lincolns. The
Casares family, which has q little
farm Of over one hundred and fifty
thousand acres within a days ride Of
Buenos Aires, has eighty-seven thou
sand Lincoln sheep, and the San Ju-
! liam Sheep Company OF Santa Cruz
has something like sixty-three thou
sand lambs born every year. That
| estate is in a province that formed
| part of Old Patagonia, and there are
sheep farms now in operation all the
way from the Strait Of Magellan to
| the borders Of Paraguay. There are
a million and a half sheep on that
part OF the Island of TERRA del Fuego
belonging to Argentina, and the f1ocks
| Of the south are steadily growing
Patagonia has become great sheep
farm although the land is so desert
| in places that it can carry but few
animals. The sheep eat the tough
scrub and bushes, and they are found
i'll large numbers along the slopes OF
the Andes and in those places where
the better kinds OF grass grow. Wells
are now being dug even in the driest
areas, and it is said that the semi
deserts OF Santa Cruz can support as
many as five million sheep. In Cha
but, farther north, there is a fine
grazing country at the base OF the
Andes, and that province supports two
million sheep. Here in Buenos Aires
some of the lands are so rich that they
. will feed two or three sheep to the
acre.
So far the sheep Of the south have
, been raised almost altogether for
their wool. They are now establish
: sonia, at the Strait Of Magellan, AND
, the result will be an increase in this
> exports Of frozen mutton and lamb
! There are certain breeds Of sheep tina
: make better mutton than others, an(
. new breeds will be in demand To
day there are million Rambouillet.
in Chabut. and there are other mil
= lions Of them scattered throughou
other parts OF Patagonia. The Tierrs
= del Fuego sheep are chiefly Romney
and Lincolns. and those Of the nort1
i are Lincolns. Kambouillets, Blacl
. . Faces and Southdowns
9 OF the 75.0o0.Ooo sheep noy
II II that there are about 10000.
: ooo made UP Of crossbreeds
= and about 10000 OOO Meri
- nos. There are 100000 Lincolns
- something like 100000 Rambouillet
- and several hundred thousand Blac
- Faces and Southdowns. The her
- book Of the Rural Society has a re
cora OF $4,000 pedigreed sheep. Tn
Hocks are increasing in value, an
3 they are now estimated to be wort
at upward of $40, 100000.
VI Here in Buenos Aires province I'll
IN sheep are kept in fenced inclosure
is In the south they are bearded by sheI
n nerds, and the size of the averae
10 flock is several thousand. They al
watched by shepherd on horsebacl
N and are allowed to Craze about {
- they please No artificial feeding
~ done. The sheep live out Of doo1
rom one years end to the othe
~ There are no sheds, barns or stacl
~ OF hay in that region. The shee
- wander off in the morning grazir
"a in the direction whence the wir
t. blows. and they return in the ever
ing to sleep about the huts OF Il
.. shepherds. 1t is only where the era
IL is plentiful that the fields are fenc,
', with wire. and the most Of the an
y, mails wander about the pamn
IL or plains. The close grazing he+te
~, fhe grasses, and farm is improv,
d ny the weeping Of sheep. The haro
t no receives about $40 a month, or
he may nerd on the shares Tor one-four
H or the pront. His life is drea ~
AZ AZ an extreme. His only home is a N,
-" nut away out on the prairie ana =