DISTRESSED ARCENTINA.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 257, 23 July 1908, Page 3

DISTRESSED ARCENTINA.

THE 'DARKER SIDE., : The "Feilding Star ", quotes from a letter received - from-, an Argentine farmer, who writes: —" Wo had absolutely no rain iu February, March i and up to data (April 23), and the ' locusts-; have eaten every .. bit of grass. Camps are in consequence perfectly bare. As far as calculations can reach, I calculate the. loss' .of cattle. on -both my. places' in the Republic at 70 to 80 per cent. Although the sheep are very .thin, 'we hope to pull through with'a loss of not more.than 20. per cent.; Since I can remember;we have, not had such a bad season : with < locusts, grasshoppers! plague, and,drought, besides a big fall in. all'products -and meat..; Consequently, there is absolutely'no business doing at present, although some departments have suffered. less. ; There is only, sufficient • grass to just pull-through the-.winter. In tho Argentine tho drought has oxtended. over a good part of the country. :/ The, south - and west-of the province of Buenos Ayres havo suffered -badly. - ./■ ./ . ' ".The only camps that .are doing well are what, we call. situated in alfalfa, region.' Water being -very near tho surface—; about two yards in. somo, parts—the root of, lucerne goes down! to it in.tho .first year, and, of course, ,will grow well/even in the lowest droughtg/' It is a marvellous part ,of .America, and worth, while seeing:/ , :■ .//.

/ " Tho. counter position to tlio bad situation of. cattle, and. sheep/breeders this year . has been an, extra , good one for agriculturists, which, will, for the, present, counter-balaiico. to, a certain, extent;the loss experienced- by, stock-breeders and the fall in valua of ,pro-, ,ducts. •'•' ■',-/. ;;. .■, '-,/■.., . /" At"present. : .there is. nothing to bo- dono in/sheep;business. Everybody has got his head down aud trying to muddle through the best he can. There; is hardly any stock imported from; abroad, and. at the; few sales of. bulls imported ..from-.-England,,,, ,v.ou,.- could, easily tell that there had, Jb'eqii" a great change , lately,, '.nobody "showing' aiiy"interc.Sii,'-,to buy. Consequently, there has been an enormous fall in prices-and'withdrawals, arrivals being offered privately. The. same, thing .happened , with the, ram sales — not.a single buyer anywhere.'- .1 saw. somo Lincoln rams sold at. about -tho cost of freight and- expenses,-; the importer,.being;jolly -glad. to. get, rid of themand save further losses through feeding, etc. '"There are about 50 per cent, of the station-holders .on both, sides who havo not been able- to sell- their .wool:/ The slump in crossbreds'has. had a depressing offect upon all wool .business. Lam afraid that ;times, of fancy.prices for wool, as well as for imported stock, are over now,' and they are not' likely to be'seen back again for-some time to como." '.' : -