OUR.YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 473, 3 April 1909, Page 15

OUR.YORKSHIRE LETTER.

■ SOUTH,.-AMERICAN WOOLS-GREAT DECREASE IN ARGENTINE FLOCKS. (FROM OCR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Bradford, February 19, 190!). In South American wools the entire trado has an unfailing supply of vory useful raw material, and tho question of sheep stocks in that part of tho world is of direct moment to other postoralists, both in Australasia o-r.u South Africa. Durina the last dozen years, the Argentine Republic has coiuo to tuo front in a most significant way, and astimo passes the position they have gained will not be relinquished. "At the same time Australasian w;ool and mutton still'toniains a'trifle better though South American estancia holders have this last, few years improved tho quality of both their wool and mutton exports. The progressive policy of tho estancia holders of the River-Plate and-Patagonia is well known f and by tho last mail from Buenos Ayres particulars came to hand showing tho imported pedigree stock to Argentina for the .first eleven months i of 1908, and. we givo-comparisons with previous years :— ' SHEEP" BIPORTATIONS." . .1 ' 1908. 1907. 190 G. 1905. Lincolns ... 1710 3203,4340 2993 Rainbouillet . ... 14 . !)S , 39 19 Shropshire ... ... .31 • 193 .: 224 193 Hampshire .... . ,60, 112 ' 388 198 •Various ' ... ... 350 ' 294 319 409 '2165 3960 5311 3812 For years back experts have, disagreed as ,to tho number of sheep depastured in tho River, Plate, and year tho Agricultural Depart-' ment in Bluenos'Ayres "deoided to take a count. A recent nVail from South 'America brings full detailed particulars of the final returns of the agrioultural.ahd pastoral census. .They, reveal three rather unexpected results—viz.,', first, a great increase of cattle; .second, sonicthing.yery near to duplication in tad number of horses; and third, a confirmation of tho suspected doorcase in sheep. It is-only'about twelve months since the Argentine: Consuls' abroad wore officially supplied with .statistics giving the number of tho sheep in the Ropublic at approximately 100 millions, while; several large, financial' and banking institutions in Buenos Ayres have persistently, stated that 120 million sheep were being depastured. From private sources I havo always understood;that7o'millions'Were nearer, the'; mark, and-.it now. proves that, even this was too. hifjh. The actual/figures of the live stock are given, a?" follow - ,i..... I-, -. j: Number. ' :• Sheep ..•.*<67,211,751, . Cattfo • ... ..v 29,11f1.625 : Horses ' ..V 7,531,376 Goats ... ■ ... .... '3,245,086. ,', Pigs ... ... ... 1,403,591 v f Mules -465.037 ' • Donkeys ... ; ... 285,088 \ The estimated value'of tho above slock is returned at ,£129,370,000. I The •. totals . compare with the two previous. census Ireturris : ns. follow:— ' ■ . \■ ; Year. . Sheep.>.-0 Cattle. '"..IlorsOs. 18aS 66,701,097 ■ "<21,963,930 4'y262,917 1595 74,379,562 ;21,791,52G 4,4te;859 1?08 ... ... 67,211,754 £9,116,625 7,531,376 ' ; It has been - known for years that big! valuable sheepruns were being largely replaced with cattle, the only extension noticeable being in Patagonia; where sheep-aro fast increasing. No doubt the weight of wool which the River ?lafce is turning out does not show much falling .off .t.o what, it did a few. years back. Like Australian pastoralists, Argentine estancia holders have gene in lately for keeping bigger sheep, and if New Zealand pastoralists could see tho splendid oharacter of the crossbred wool now being turned out from the Argentine they would be surprised, for the best stud sheep that money can buy are being still imported into both countries. So far as sheep-breediii" iud wool-growing is concerned, there is no indication ot pastoralists in South America standing still, and when they have learned to prepare their clip for/market, as Australian squatters do, their wools will rank still higher on the markets of the world. River Plate wools, as T have already said, is a topio of unfailing interest to members of the trade, thanks to its improving characteristics; ; Bradford buyers look upon the. wool produce of tho whole of South Aiuerioa r iwith' considerably more favour thaii,vwas'itliS.'caft even hve years .ago, and as tyno, gjies.i.on this-icrel-jing will grow. Patagonian wools are increasing by leaps nnd bounds. A competent authority stated not many months ago that part of houth America could oasilv deoasturo 30 millions of sheep. As already seen,'-the sheep stocks of the Argentine are less than wero generally wnected. Tho following figures re. latei oxprtssly' to the total imports of River Plate wool 'into' Europe and North America, and considerably light : is thrown upon the quantity being produced in the Argentine:— ' XSSF " ' "Bales. Year. Bales.' • Jo™ ' "• •i 81 * 000 1839 '••• 840,000 — ol '- Cfio 1900 ... 468,000 ' 1901"".:; • 832,0001892 ..., 415,000 1902 '... 512,000 1893 ... 414,000 1903,.;. 558,000 .1894 ... 443,000 1904 ... 476,0001595 .... 513,000 ISOS ... 488,000 1896 ... . Wa.OOO 1906 ... 487,000 H97 .., 550,000 1907 ... 478,000 1893 ... 555,000. 1908 ... 484,000 The above does not adequately represent tho whole of the wool product of South America the. shipments from Uruguay being very important indeed. The following have been the exports of. wool from Monte Video during the 'ast few years:— Year, ' . Bales. 1900-1 ' ... ... 8-1,553 1901-2 ,„ ... 63,559 1902-3 79,56-4/ . 1903-4 .... ... 67,818 1904-5 ... 6-1,159 1905-6. 75,792 , 1906-7 .... ... 82,405 1907-8 ... ... 95,401 'At-some future time we may look snecially at tho wools bein" produced in Patagonia, for these are not only increasing fast, but have lately grown much more popular, both with Home nnd Continental buyers. For hosiery purposes they are serving an excellent purpose. UPWARD TENDENCY IN PRICES. . Tho-past week has been a good average one so far as relates to tho wool business of the West Riding,' most interest undoubtedly centring around...merinos. If. crossbreds only shaped like; merinos there woiil<l.'be soon seen a brisk stato-of .affairs, but the Bradford market is to a large extent one-sided, and interest mostly centres around fine wools. This is. evidenced in values being up Id. per lb., and super OO's tops cannot be called less than 23Jd„ Gi s 2-l}d., and 70's 25} d. As a matter of fact a vory good business has been done in supers at a farthing less, and 64's as well. There is a growing conviction that fine wool is right, and has led to some good-transactions both in wool and tops. The business has been (lone in a somewhat quiet way, but several big-top-makers reported good sales; in fact, some do not want to sell uiore until they seenro further adequate- supplies. - Importers never bon°ht more freely in the colonics, nnd there is not that reserve seen that there was. At tho same time, one cannot help but think that a good deal ot the business recently done is more or less speculative, for tho simple fact that delivery in many cases is not to take place till some months hence. Another very satisfactory feature' is that commission woo'lcombers are sending out fine tops as fast as over they are combed, and plenty cannot keep up to 'their contracts. This means that consumption is large and very satisfactory. Fine yarn spinners are undoubtedly much busier than crossbred spinners, the lnttcr being rather quiet. \ bi» effort is being made to keep machinery goin"" but it is doubtful if spinning to stock is not ill many cases taking place. Some report an addition of particulars, but they are hardlv of that important, character whjc'h they migh't be. Continental export yarn houses still com plain 'bitterly of the, absence of business al though plenty of trade could be doim 'if' a trifle less could be taken by spinners. Lately a good many second-hand yarns have change!! hands, this not being conducive to tho interests of spinners. Some good weights of crossbred wool hiivo been sold since the close of the last London- sales for export to America, and sonic good parcels have also gone to the Continent Thercis about, the market a good undertone and this should help trade considerably. M O l hair is very slack, nnd if anything prices tend downwards.. There is very-little doing in any quality,' and several mohair spinners are running short time. r