AN ARGENTINE VISITOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1335, 12 January 1912, Page 8

AN ARGENTINE VISITOR.

A .RIVAL PRODUCER DISCUSSED. SIX BAD SEASONS. ''I (Miik we have a pull over New Zealand in every way except in the matter of climate. We are closer to the English market, which is a great consideration, and if, we only hod a climate like you havein New Zealand you would not" be within JO league* of us." Such was the opinion expressed by Mr. George Keene, an Argentine estaueiero, who is at present in New Zealand on his way hack to ,thc Argentine after a tour of the world. Mr. Keeue has hoen particularly struck with the >'ow Zealand climate during his stay here, the luxuriant growth of grasses appealing to him directly. In the Argentine, ho says, they have a severe winter and' then get a spring from September to -November, after which the dry weather sets in, and sometimes does not finish until March. The months of December, January, and February are invariably ilry, and the grasses scorch up very (Illicitly. There was no question that New Zealand grass lands had every advantage over those of the Argentine. The climate of your country is something to dream about, said Mr. Keene, who added that he had never seen grass lands looking better than those ho saw in and around Opotiki. deferring to the price of land, the visitor remarked that land in I he Argentine was much cheaper than in New Zealand, and really good labour was also much cheaper, which advantages gave the Argentine a decided pull over New Zealand.

Lack of Roads and Railways, Another thing that had struck him during his stay in the North Island was flic drawback.-farmers suffered through the hick of roads and railways. In this connection the Argentine was much better off than New Zealand, tf this country was to be developed to the utmost, those roads mid railways must come. He had not scon enough of the country to hazard an opinion as to what the position would bo if New Zealand had lo face a series of bad seasons, but everyone he had spoken to regarding this matter had been very optimistic. In the Argentine they had had six bad years one after 'the other, and the effect of this was being felt at the present time.

Production of Butter. One result of the bad seasons had been that the butter output had come down to about half the usual make. For instance, one factory which had formerly been turning out six tons per day was now simply supplying the Buenos Ayres marker, and other factories' were in a similar position. In a couple of years, however, tho Argentine would make itself felt in the butter market again. The butter from that quarter was well accepted in London.

Meat-Chilling System. A feature of Ibe meat, trade in the Argentine, saiil Air. Kcene, was the development of the process of chilling meat, which process had been found to be superior to freezing. Eventually, he thought, all their meat would be chilled. The Americans had entered the freezing business, and had started two freezing concerns—ill fact, they had tried to get tho business into their oivn hands, but this could not bo arranged as some people would, not come in. The whole of tho companies wero doing very veil, and the freezing grounds were increasing in area, all tho new land going down in alfalfa, or what is termed lucerne in New Zealand. ' About New Zealand Stud Stock. - Everyone, said Mr. Keene, spoke well of the New Zealand stud sheep which had been imported in fairly large numbers, and the stock sent over to the recent show by Mr. E. Short, of Feildinj, had won praise on nil sides. Your improved Lincoln, said Mr. Keeno, is a very line sheep, and embraces both wool and meat. This, ho added, is just what wo want in the Argentine. The recent bad seasons had reduced tho number of sheep in the Argentine, but this was only temporary. As to cattle, Jlr. Kcene said ho did not think any cattle there are in New Zealand are good enough to send to the Argentine, both the cattle and horses of the Argentine being of tho highest possible strains. The favoured dairy ..breed was the Durham, and for beef tho -Shorthorn, Polled Angus, and Hereford were the most popular. The Hereford, however, was slower in developing than the other breeds mentioned.

The Value of Lucerne. . The favourite sheep cross in the Argentine,. according to Air. Keene, is a fine cross Lincoln with a little Merino iu it. The black-faced sheep, he added, were out of it with Argentine farmers. They had tried the Shropshire, but this breed was quite out of it. A favourite cross for mutton purposes was that of .Hampshire Downs and Lincohis. li.i'.rring to the great value of lucerne, or, as they called it, alfalfa, for feeding purposes, Mr. Keene said there are millions of acres of lucerno planted in the Argentina now. Huge tracts of sandy lands which were waste at ono time were now carrying beautiful crops of lucerne, and most of this land was running cattle. A bullock born on alfalfa, he said, would come out six months ahead of a beast pastured on the other grasses, and the same applied tn'wethers brought up entirely on alfalfa. H was a truly wonderful plant, mid lu> was sure that if it was planted on the sandy Hals in New Zealand it would give better results than the present grasses. At the present time in the Argentine they were planting meadow fescue with the* alfalfa, and the results were most successful. Stock Diseases and Pests. We arc "blessed" with all the stock diseases and pests that you have here, and wo add a few more to our list, remarked Mr. Keene in answer to a qucrv. Scab and lameness in sheep were, he said, very prevalent. They had laws to cover all of the diseases, and with the exception of the scab law they were all well carried out. It was the general practice to dip sheep three times a year at least, but a large number of owners dipped four times a year. One of the worst pests which had to bo fought was the locust, which swarms over the maize and linseed crops and completely spoiled them. Soii:<> times the whole of the maize crops are ■lost through this pest. Still, continued Mr. Keenecbesrfully, if wo had a climate like yours we could stand any pest on earth. Handling Meat in London. Commenting on what he had seen of the handling of the. Argentine and New Zealand meat during his recent stay in England the visitor said he thought there had been an immense improvement in this connection since he was in London before, some seven years ago. There was no doubt that there was room for further improvement, and this would, he thought, undoubtedly come. Mr. Keene is leaving Zealand today by the Tfunliine.