FROM URUGUAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1383, 8 March 1912, Page 2

FROM URUGUAY.

AGRICULTURAL COMMISSION. IMPRESSION'S OF NEW ZEALAND. The members of the Agricultural Commission from Uruguay arrived back from their tour of the Wellington and Tnrantiki. provinces last evening. The amount of country covered in the limited time at the disposal of the visitors necessitated their being on the move continuously, but they have seen as much of the north as was possible in three days, and express themselves as being delighted with the trip. Asked last evening'what had impressed him most during the stay in New Zealand, Senor Juan A. Alvarez said he had .been particularly struck with the development of the country and its general progress. This opinion was not based only on the farms and industries they had seen, but on the position of the Government as regards the encouragement of matters pertaining to agriculture. The commission had been impressed by the State farms and the experiment farms generally, as well as by the enthusiasm of the New Zealand farmers. They have been on a world's tour, and had seen the results of the development of centuries in European countries, but the development of New Zealand in 00 or 70 years was marvellous. Replying to a query as to whether Uruguay was likely to open up an avenue for New Zealand stud stock, Senor Alvarez remarked that the conditions in New Zealand were such that our stock should do well in Uruguay. The climate and soil of the two countries w;ns very similar. Again, the pastures of the two places-were more alike than in any other country they had visited, so that, taking it all round, there should be no difficulty in acclimatising New Zealand stock. If farmers in Uruguay imported New Zealand stock, they; woidd not be faced with difficulties that they had to encounter with stock from other places. The Clydesdale horse and the Romuey Marsh sheep, he thought, should meet with a good demand in Uruguay. The New Zealand Romney.s and the Clydesdales had impressed the commission very much, and they would, on their return, counsel their Government to purchase types of Ronmey and Clydesdales for its experiment farms. The Romneys seen on Mr. Short's farm at FeildingVcrc excellent animals, and they had already had some experience of New Zealand Romneys. The types of Clydesdalo seen in England and New Zealand were both very fine, but the New Zealand-bred horse was better adapted to Uruguay than tho English animal, because of the difference in the system of breeding. The New Zealand animal was bred in the open pasture, under tho same conditions as prevailed lin Uruguay, whilst the English animal was bred under a more artificial system, and fed in the stable. For, this reason ho thought it possible that the New Zealand Clydesdale would be given preference in Uruguay. It would possibly also Ire to the interests of the Uruguny fanners to introduce the New Zealand Hereford of the Silamp they had seen on Sir. Short's farm. The Hereford* of Uruguay were well developed, but in the past they had imported from England, and I heir cattle were of the exact English type, with the same defect in the rump. The Ilerefords they had seen on Mr. Short's farm were perfect specimens, and for tho improvement of the breed in Uruguay it would be well, he thought, to import strains of such stock as they had seen in this country on Mr. Short's farm. President of the Commission Speaks. The president of tho commission, Senor Carlos Fradei-i, remarked that tho dairy industry was only in its infancy iii Uruguay, attention having been given to beef cattle particularly in tho past. They recognised, however, that they must import dairy stock, and if New Zealand had the desired type of stock it was possible that trade would be done in this direction in tho future, owing to the ease with whicli Now Zealand cattle could be acclimatised in Uruguay. It appeared to-day, however, that.New Zealand had no one -/ell-defined type of milking cow. The stock all appeared,to be mixed and crossed. It seemed evident New Zealand was ..still .in the experimental stage'in this respect.- He had boen struck, in ' the matter of agriculture, With tho development made in New Zealand along the liuq of fodder production. This undoubtedly helped to improve the stock, and it was a • problem they must face in Uruguay. Tho excellence of the inland', roads, the' comfort of the farming homes and the general improvement of the farming areas had also impressed them. In the matter Of freezing Works, New Zealand was also in the van of progress, and the butter and cheese factories had impressed the commission very much. The Kaupokonui factory was ono of the most perfect concerns of tho kind they had seen in any part of the world. One mutter in which New Zealand might learn something from Uruguay, said the president in reply* to a question, was perhaps in regard to the schools of agriculture. There might possibly bo other directions 'in which New Zealand might lertrn from them, as they had some very original systems, but the commission had not had time to fully appreciate the necessities of New Zealand. They had travelled the .world, and in each country they visited they had picked up a fewgood ideas for application in their own country. These ideas would all bo set out in duo course, and put before the Government of Uruguay. If New Zca-Inudei-s were to go nut with the same idea as tho commission hnd set out with they might possibly find, even'in Uruguay, some systems in operation which were worthy of adoption. . In New Zealand and Australia the commission had seen the application of modern systems with less hands, less capjtal, and larger holdings than was the case in older countries where there were many men, much capital, and more intensive farming. The. former conditions were the conditions of Uruguny. In conclusion, the president, Senor Cesar Minfero Bustainnnte, and the local consul for Uruguay (Mr. W. I'rouse) ex-pre.-sed their thanks for the kindness and attention the commission had received at tho hands of the Government, the officers of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Elliott, and the many farmers they had met. These kindnesses would remain permanently in their minds. The commissioners leave for San Francisco to-day by the Tahiti, and will return' home after visiting Canada and the United States.