South Australia : its history, productions, and natural resources . a, the numbers amounting to several hundred thou-sand in one year. On stations within tolerably easy reach of Adelaide, andwhere the country and pasture are suitable for sheep of a heavierkind, long-wooled sorts, principally Lincolns and Leicesters, arebred. They thrive, and are quite a feature at the agricultural andpastoral exhibitions of the colony. Their wool of course is not sovaluable as that of the Merino, but then there is more of it, andthe carcass is twice the size. The lambs are a special source ofprofit, as they ar
South Australia : its history, productions, and natural resources . a, the numbers amounting to several hundred thou-sand in one year. On stations within tolerably easy reach of Adelaide, andwhere the country and pasture are suitable for sheep of a heavierkind, long-wooled sorts, principally Lincolns and Leicesters, arebred. They thrive, and are quite a feature at the agricultural andpastoral exhibitions of the colony. Their wool of course is not sovaluable as that of the Merino, but then there is more of it, andthe carcass is twice the size. The lambs are a special source ofprofit, as they are large enough for the butcher earlier than theMerinoes are. Cross-bred sheep are in favor with some graziers,and there are a few South Downs, and fewer Cotswolds. Australiansdo not prize themselves specially on any sheep but the Merino,which must remain most in favor as the best suited to the greaterpart of New Holland, and the most profitable. In 1838, the year in which the first live stock were broughtoverland, there were 28,000 sheep in the colony. The number. o =2 W ITS FLOCKS AND HERDS. 97 was nearly quadrupled next year, and in 1844 had increased to450,000. During the same six years horned cattle increased from2,500 to 30,000; horses from 480 to 2,150; goats and pigs from780 to 12,000. The market was, soon after the last-named year, soglutted with sheep that they were boiled down by thousands fortheir tallow. Muttoa was about l^d. per pound, but at the boiling-down establishment fine legs could be bought for 6d. each. Thefreezing process of preservation had not been introduced then, andsteamers did not trade between the old country and her distantdependencies in the South Seas. The discover}^ of the Victoriandiggings made a complete revolution in the squatting interest andthe meat trade. Mutton rose to three or four times its previousvalue, and the price of beef advanced in proportion. Squattersbecame suddenly wealthy in all the colonies; and some of thosewho soon after
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