The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 4, 1905. A FORMIDABLE COMPETITOR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1371, 4 February 1905, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, FEBRUARY 4, 1905. A FORMIDABLE COMPETITOR.

I A reoent number of Dalgoty’s Bcview contains an iutorostiDg and instructive article on the Argentine Republic, “ tbe world’s market-food producing country.” That the Argentine is destinod to become a formidable competitor with Australia and New Zealand, in the markets of the world, may bo gathered from the fact that at the beginning of last year there were 237,000,000 nores of State lands for sale or lease. The following particulars will give some idea of how part of the land already occupied is boing put to use.—“ In October last thore were practically 25,000,000 acres under cultivation, representing 140,000 farms of 125 acres each. This total increased to its present proportions from 7,165,000 acres in 1802. That the area under cultivation is likely to inoroaso rapidly may bo gathered front the fact that within the past two years the importation ol agricultural implements has been enormous. In 1901 upwards of 34,468 ploughs wore imported ; in 1902, 45,289 ; and in the first quarter of 1903 as many as 27,420 ploughs were imported, which, if continued to the end of tho year in the same ratio, would make, say roughly, 80,000.” Argentine sdatists,in givmg these figures, say, “ But this novel fact, which of itself is amazing, has another feature of even greater revelation, and that is the class of plough. Those of former years were iu greater part the simple antique plough of one single Bhare ; of those of this year two thirds are mounted on wheels (sulky) with a co-effici-ent efficacy equal to four of the oldstyle ploughs. Of this class 18,000 have been imported in the first quarter of the year, against 9400 of the old style. In former years the two classes of ploughs wore lumped together, but the large number of the ordinary plough is shown by tho value, for whilst the whole of the ploughs imported in 1901 cost £130,000, and -those of 1902 £142,000, those bought during tho first quarter of 1904 amounted to a value of £120,000, which shows tho higher cost of each, and consequently its better class, seeing that the Customs valuation has not been altered. Wo find, therefore, that for ploughs alone the agricultural industry of Argentina will have paid away during 1903 some £400,000 sterling.” It soems that in 1902 tho wheat harvest yiolded 644,908 tons of wheat and 50,752 tons of flour fer export, and that the estimates for 1903 wero equal to 1,000,000 Gons of wheat and flour. In 1902 upwords of 350,000 tons of linsoed wero exported, with an estimated produotiou for 1903 of 600,000 tons. Of tho 720,000,000 acres which form tho Argentine Bepublic, 258,000,000 are said to bo arablo land, 247,000,000 suitable for cattle raising, and 224,150,000 are covered with woods, rivers, mountains, lakes, salt marshes* arid regions, towns, cities, and so forth. Wheat, maize, and linseed are extensively grown. Coming to the pastoral industry, it seems thut the Block returns in 1895 put down the number of cattle—purebred, crossbred and native animals—at 21,701,526 head. Since then no returns have been made, and although some estimates put the present number at 30 000,000 head, others think that the number is not so large. They would say as a conservative estimate that there are 22 000,000 cattle and about 120,000,000 sheep ' Although most of tho stock is native-grass fed, lucerne its now extensivelv cultivated for fodder purposes 1 895 there were 1,762 295 acres under lucerne, which increased in 1908 to nearly 5,000,000 acres. So suitable have the'lands of some districts been found for lucerne-growing with water very i-ear the surface, that colossal paddocks are put under the crop. One stock-breeder has 70 000 acres down With lucerne on Ins estate Three stations combined and sowed’4o,ooo acres in 1902, and odo large owner recently had 100,000 acres down in a vast region in the Pampa. These are astounding figures. The Argentine lucerne is said to be much superior to the foreign article; some lucerne plants have been exhibited 13ft in height, aud somo are said to have pierced a depth of 30ft in soft soil in search of water. At iho 1903 show of the Argentine Bural Society, which represents tbe pastoialists and agriculturalists, S- ur-fiftbs of the sires shown, in comps-i-itiou and for sale, wero Shorthorns, and th°v were a reflection of tbe status of the breSd throughout the country. Dairy cattle were considerably in evidence at the exhibition* and reflected tho strides that dairying is making m Argentina. Two hundred cattle stations fitted Gp ra kseparating plants during 1902, milking trials and butter fat tests were carried out, so the modern principles of the industry are being kept in view. Of the sheep in Argentina tbe bulk are coarse wools; fifteen years ago there was a boom in Dmcolns, and away down !o the extreme south they thrive amazingly also when crossed with the Romney Marsh. The Downs’ breeds are in favor, and those introduced nearly 80 years ago have tended to improve in the Argentina; the amount of yolk has increased in tbe fleece, and ro.duced therelativegharshness ol toe -wool. Tbe merinos are chiefly of the RambouiiJet

strain, and thoro arc soma magnificent flooks in tko oouutry. Thoro is Buch a groat variety ot olimato that tho various broods unci orossos aro only just settling I clown in thoir natuvul placos. A lcoon j interest is being manifested in Bhoop-broud ing, and llockruustors of British birth aro uottling in tho country and aiding in tho j dovolopuiont of tho industry. “ Forty years ago," saya an Argontino pupor, “ owos in tho province of Buenos Ayres wore usod for fuol in tho brick kilns, while tho wethora worn thrown skin and all into tho molting vote.” Tlmos have changed, and this vast region in South Amorica is able to put its shoop to rnoro profitable account. Its wool production is equal to one-quartor of tho world’s supply and noarly 31 millions of frozen wethers and over 207.000 carcases of frozen bullocks wore shipped in 1902.