Page:The Diothas, or, A far look ahead (IA diothasorfarlook01macn).pdf/95

 These sheep were kept in immense flocks, the manner of herding them presenting an interesting example of that reversion to primitive customs which I had so frequently to remark. At intervals of a few years, it had been found advantageous to allow the land to rest from constant cropping. By general agreement, a whole region—the northern part of the Atlantic slope, for exanple—would have its entire area of arable land put under grass for a year. To the enormous grazing-ground thus provided would be driven the millions of sheep pastured the preceding year on the contiguous region. Beginning at one extremity of the region, the countless flocks would gradually pass on, feeding their way, toward the next region. In this way the grazing-area would gradually shift from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast, and thence return by another course. The soil, rested and enriched, is ploughed over immediately after the passage of the last flock.

"Our system of cultivation is peculiar," said my host, as we seated ourselves in the shade of a linden, to watch. the fowl pick up the food that had just been scattered. before them. The amount of land held by each family is small,—about ten acres, perhaps. By the labors of ages, the soil has been enriched and thoroughly pulverized, besides being completely underlaid with pipes for drainage and for irrigation.

"The total absence of fences makes it possible, however, to perform all the operations of agriculture on a grand scale. It is usual for some one that makes farming his special business, and possesses the necessary plant for, say, a thousand acres, to take for a year the