THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3208, 17 January 1893, Page 3

THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.

' Tub growth of the Argentine Republic iiß a rival to Australasia in the production of wool, hides, meat, bones, &0., has been so slow, apparently, that few pastoraliats on this side of the world considered it worthy of more than a mere passing reflection, Recent market quotations, however, have aroused attention to the rivalry, and now the question, How comes it that Argentine produce, which used to bo sold at low rates, is now reaching the Australian level? is fre* quently asked. The reply to this is that during the last ten years or so the pastoraliats of the' Republic have been steadily improving their stock by using importations made from Britain. Sonic of England's best horses, cattle and sheep have been brought to the Estillchias, many of which are under the management of clever English agriculturists, This progressive movement some years ago was restricted to a few of the leading pastoralists, but so beneficial has been the effect that importations of good strains have become general. Each mail brings us accounts of stocks being shipped from English ports to the Argentine. The latest information of this kind is that in .August lapt 4-14 Lincoln sheep, the chief part of which was purcha e ed from the celebrated breeding establishment of the Messrs Kirkliam Bros, Biscathorpe, near Lincoln were shipped to Don Julio Currie, Estauchia Maipu, Buenos Ayres, one of the most j enterprising breeders of stock in the River Plate. These sheep were selected by Mr Thompson, the Manager of the Estp.ncIlia who personally visited the different breeding establishments in Eug'and and made the purchases himself. It has been proved that the Lincolns thrive at Maipn, where there are never less than 5000 acres of Alfalfa (lucerne) so that should a severe winter or a long dry time ensue, there iB always plenty of this magnificent herbage far all animals upon the estate, and Lincoln sheep do exceedingly well upon it in the winter time without ; anything else. There are not many pastoral estates iii Australia which have as good a standby as tliis Bueuos Ayres station. The cross between Lincoln and Merino, especially when the Lincoln is pure, leaves a good class of sheep for the frozen meat trade. Breeders in this colony are not sufficiently careful in selecting rams for a cross. We have been told that much harm has been done by using halt or three-quarter bred sheep. It is better to go at once to the pure fount for supplies. There need be at all times pure blood on the sire's side.