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March 12 1804 Wisbeach [Wisbech]
My Dear Sir
I have been for some time constantly moving about which will I hope account to you for my not having earlier answerd yours of the 4th & is my only reason. The few memorandums I made whilst in New South Wales are at the Hermitage, therefore cannot answer so fully as I could wish.
You observe "It has been [urged?] that the natural Pasturage of New South Wales is so Rank & Course that Sheep cannot eat it; & that unless Land be cleard for that purpose & artificial Grasses be raisd for the support of sheep, they cannot be bred in that Country to any very considerable extent."
In my opinion whoever has advancd that observation, has done so without well weighing it. The universal mode of feeding sheep in that Colony has been by driving them into the Woods on the Natural Pasturage, & I think I can affirm it has very fully answerd the purpose even on limited feeding; as you know my dear Sir that persons having Stock in that Colony were fearful of letting the Keepers drive them off their own premises as many accidents might follow by straying, negligence &c this of course much limitted their feeding which I never recollect having heard complaind of as not fully sufficient in this limited way. It is not in my recollection having heard any person while there advance that artificial Grass was necessary for feeding Sheep. Some, (I believe yourself) did introduce in small spots, Clover or other artificial Grasses, that it might be in the Country, but I did not understand it was from any necessity for it, or that it was apprehended there would be a necessity for it for feeding Stock; had that