YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1868, 30 September 1913, Page 3

YORKSHIRE LETTER.

RIVER PLATE WOOLS. (From Our Own Correspondent.! Bradford, August 22. Wo have always regretted that more authentic particulars relating to the Argentine clip were not availablo similar to those furnished with reference to the movement of that of Australia. Until a good year or two ago tha trado had.to bo content with tho barest statements, these often proving anything but accurate. Wo havo heard more than one important firm say that tho particulars relating to tho Argentine and Uruguayan clips wero largely sent out by interested parties, whoso chief concern Was to mako things fit their own purpose, but without endorsing that view, it must bo admitted that for tho aforesaid reason the knowledge of the ayerage wool-man hus beon very limited concerning tho clips in question. The publication'of • news regarding tho forthcoming clips of tho River Plate and Uruguay directs attention to this important subject, for it is ono which directly alfects not only tho user in tho West Riding and tho Continent, but dlso the colonial grower, and particularly New Zealand squatters. Tho latest roturns show the number of sheep in the Argentine' to bo about 80 million, the fleeces of which enter directly into competition with the 24 million sheep which are being depastured in Now Zealand, and the 28 million sheep depastured in Great Britain. Practically speaking, these three countries supply the crossbred wool of tho world, and it is significant that this class of material, owing to- tlie great growth of the frozen mean. industry, continues to expand, and hui decline. It. is a remarkable fact, ttiiib during the past year more attention than ever has been paid to this important branch of the trade, and owing to the cutting-up of so many large stations in Australia, < farmers there are going in more than-ever for tho rearing of crossbred sheep for the export trade. THE SHORTAGE IN THE ARGENTINE CLIP. It will be remembered that early in the season oue loading lluenos Ayrcs wool-house furnished the trado with an estimate of the current Argentine clip for the year, which will finish next September 30. Thcv estimated that' thero would bo a decreaso of.Bo,ooo^to 90,000 bales, but that estimate lii\s been since modified, and we believe that the decrease is now expected to be 60,000 bales. Even this shortage is an important one, and can in no sense bo ignored. As circumstances havo transpired, the consumers of the West Riding and the Continent are not going to feel this deficiency, for it is a wellknown fact that owing to the decrease in the-consumption both in Bradford and the Continent, stocks on hand and prospective stocks will be quite sufficient to meet all the wants of the trade till the next South American and New Zeajand clips aro available. The" latost figures showing the Argentino wool shipments from October 1 to July 31, 1913, are as follow:—Total to date, 303,561 bales; total to date, 1911-12, 3-11,990 bales; total to date, 191041, 373,489. bales; total 1911-12 (October 1. 1911, to September 30, 1912), 355.438 bales; total 1910-11 (October 1, 1910, to September 30, 1911), 383,003 bales.

■URUGUAYAN WOOL SHIPMENTS. Total to date, 121,943 bales; total to date, 1911-12, 126,285 bales. Tho. above shows a deficiency in the exports -from the Argentine of 39,-126 bales, and 4920 bales from Uruguay. , It is.hardly likely that during.tho remaining two months of the statistical year thc'falling-off in tho shipments from the River. Plato will bo more than 50,000 bales, if so much, but even that total will be a serious deficiency, seeing that a South American bale weighs nearly three times as hiucb as a colonial bale.

HEAVY MORTALITY IN URUGUAY. ; Messrs. Staudc and Co., a leading Buenos Airc3 wool house, report on tho prospect of tho new clip as follows: — " iiueuos Aires southern wools will only be fairily satisfactory. Most of tho . River l'late provinces that suffered so badly by draught in previous years have had a superabundance of rain this year. Consequently the grass is very luxurious and long, and tor that very reason, though excellent for fattening bullocks, it, is quite unsuitable for sheep, which cannot feed on this high, hard pasture, and are weak and lean for want of short grass. Tho large Lincoln and Lincoln cross sheep of Buenos Aires have stood this condition of things best, but in Monte Video, Corrientes, and Entre llios is seen tho anomaly < f large .numbers of sheep starving to death in the midst of plenty because these smaller merino sheep cannot do with high, hard grass. We must, therefore, expect a considerable decrease in tho number of sheep in these districts. A largo part of the lambs havo perished, and the second lambing this month will not give a good yield, because rams havo been kept out of the flocks largely in view of the weak condition of tho ewes; and whero the rams havo entered tho flocks tho ewes will not have sufficient milk, or later tho lambs will perish for want of short grass. Unfortunately tho mortality ,in Uruguay is therefore very large, ranging from moderate figures to as high as 50 per cent, on poorly managed stations. "Bahia Blanca and Chubut, on tho other hand, havo had too much dry weather, which has been detrimental to the growth of the wool. It is rather early to form a definite opinion on the character of next season's wool, but as far as fine wools are concerned, it will be as well not to have too high expectations, as so far they seem, to be short and tender. . Cross'oreds will be better, although they, too,'will not bo as sound as last season's. Burrs seem to be fewer than last year. " We estimate tho quantity of wool for the season 1913-14 as follows:— Buenos Aires southern wools, rhcut tho same as 1912-13; Monte Video, about 25 per cent. Jess; Corrientes and Entre Rios about 15 nor cent, less; and Bahia Blanca and Uhubut, about o to 10 per cent, less."

CHARACTER OF RIVER PLATE WOOLS. One cannot look at this subject without tjenling w jth t| lc c l larao t; r 0 f tho River Plate wools. It is a well-known fact that during the past ten 3'ears considerable improvement has 'been mado in tho class of staple produced, duo largely to the spread of kiiow'iedgo regarding tho requirements of European manufacturers, coupled with tho largo importations of English pedigree sheep, mostly of the Lincoln typo, liiv«r Plato pastoralnts have shown more preference for this breed of sheep than any other English mutton sire, and we do not know that much fault, can bo found with their choice. Tho Lincoln is a large, upstanding sheep, possessing an excellent carcase, and when mated vith the morino it piurljcos a freezer which will take a good dial of beating. In addition, the fleece from this cross is distinctly heavier than that from any other English mutton sire, and this is an important consideration with all pastoralists. It is a remarkable fact that during recent years Bradford topmakers and spinners havo taken more South American crossbreds than in any previous year in tho history of tho West Riding trade. For many years strong prejudice was felt against what is known in the trade as "B.A. Wool," owing to tho harder feel and tho somewhat lower spinning capacity of the wool. These deficiencies have to a largo oxtcnt been nullified by the more careful attention which has been given to breeding, and it is a most favourable

| commentary on the impro.vod spinning capacity of Argentine wool- that in the coarser qualities moro is being used than ever. Wo see no reason why this should not continue, though it is a notorious fact thnt tho methods of preparation for market are still a very long way behind those adopted in Australia and New Zealand. Tho custom largely prevails of selling the entire clip just as tho flceco comes f,rom tho sheep's back, a custom that should not obtain in these enlightened days. Wo are strong believers in tho skirting of fleeces, and preparing them for market in a business-liko way, and there is room for great development on this head on the estancias of tho Argentine.

IMPROVEMENT MAINTAINED; Tlicro is certainly less doing this week,_ but. the improved tone is still in evidence. Tho bulk of the mills ill Bradford nro standing, which accounts for tho somewhat thin attendance on 'Change, but all tho samo there is as much interest manifest in tho present and future courso of values as over, and tho market is steady with values fairly firm. Tlicro are stiil transactions being put through on tho same basis as last week's prices, and although topmakers manifest a firmer attitude, and are refusing the extremely low prices which havo been taken for merino and crossbred tops, still it is difficult to make more than 2s. for an average 64's, and Id. less for super 60's. Topmakers generally are quoting Jd. moro, and some who have been free sellers are now 'standing out, believing that tho future will reward their present efforts to obtain more money. There is to-day a rather noteworthy inquiry on Continental account both for tops and yarns', chiefly in, crossbred qualities. Many offers are about, but tho bids are too low for acceptance. Still, tho movo is in the right direction, and everything points to there being moro doing in tho near future on German account. Some spinners are disposed to buy for delivery later in the year, but topmakers are by no means keen to sell,- preferring delivery in September and October. There is a better feeling in the Homo trade, and the recent business done is chiefly ill coating yarns for homo consumption'. There is also more inquiry for English descriptions, and fleeco wools could bo sold in fairly big quantities if holders would accept what users are prepared to pay. Many offers aro being made to country dealers, but the majority aro refused, because, if taken,_ a direct loss would result. The sale in Leith on Wednesday was anything but satisfactory, the all-round decline clearly indicating the present standing of Home-grown fleece wools.