Similarities between the farming routine of Uruguay and of Argentina--The Banda Oriental a pastoral rather than an agricultural land--Viticulture an asset in Estancia affairs--Wheat, maize, and linseed--Scarcity of alfalfa--Excellence of the natural pastures--The possibilities of private agricultural colonisation-- Favourable outlook for grazing countries in general-- Lemco estancias--The estancia San Juan--A comprehensive enterprise--Cattle, cereals, and viticulture--Stone quarries--A Campo stretch--The cutting out of a bullock--A Gaucho meal. CHAPTER XXII URUGUAY AS A PASTORAL COUNTRY 254 Origin of the live stock of the country--Influence of the climate and pastures upon the first animals introduced--Live stock census of 1909--Importance of the breeding industry--Various ramifications-- Principal items of home consumption--Articles of export--Quality of the first herds introduced--Type of original sheep and horses--Goats and pigs--The introduction of a superior class of animals--The _criollos_ and the _mestizos_--Breeds imported--Durham, Hereford, Polled Angus, and Devon cattle--Dutch, Norman, Flemish, and Swiss cattle--Growth of the dairy industry--Popular breeds of sheep and horses and pigs--Principal countries from which the animals are derived--Growing value of the local-bred live stock--The manipulation of an _estancia_--Well-found estates--Uruguayan agricultural societies--Work effected by these--Government support--The Rural Association of Uruguay--Financial results of agricultural shows--Side products--Tallow--Hams-- Tanning--"La Carolina"--A great dairy farm--The factory of Breuss and Frey--The _saladeros_, or meat-curing establishments--Number of animals slaughtered--Method by which the meat is cured-- _Tasajo_--Countries to which it is exported--The frozen-meat trade--"La Frigorifica Uruguaya"-- Important growth of the new industry--Shipments of frozen meat. CHAPTER XXIII DEPARTMENTS, CLIMATE, AND NATURAL HISTORY 265 The nineteen divisions of Uruguay--Their populations, areas, towns, and industries--Canelones--Florida--San José--Durazno--Flores--Colonia--Soriano--Rio Negro-- Paysandú--Salto--Artigas--Tacuarembó--Rivera--Cerro Largo--Treinta y Tres--Rocha--Maldonado--Montevideo-- Climate--Favourable conditions throughout the Republic--The Atlantic coast line--The summer season-- Pleasantly tempered heat--A land of cool breezes--Its attractions as a pleasure resort--Climates of the interior and of the north--Drought--Locusts--Comparative immunity of a pastoral country--Uruguayan fauna--Some common creatures of the Campo--Bird life--The ostrich--Its value as a commercial asset--The trade in ostrich feathers--Measures for the protection of the birds. CHAPTER XXIV INDUSTRIES AND NATURAL WEALTH 276