The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, April, 22, 1909. A COMPETING WOOL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 22 April 1909, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday, April, 22, 1909. A COMPETING WOOL.

Commenting upon the Argentine stock returns, a correspondent of the Loudon Economist says that it has been known for years that cattle were taking the place of sheep on some of the big runs, the only extension noticeable being in Patagonia, where sheep are fast increasing. “ No doubt,” he writes, “ the weight of wool which the River Plate is turning out does not show much falling off to what it did a few years back. Like Australian pastoralists, Argentine estaucia holders have gone in lately for keeping a bigger sheep, and if New Zealand pastoralists could see the splendid character of the crossbred wool now being turned out from Argentine, they would be surprised, for the best stud sheep that money can buy are being still imported into both countries. So far as sheepbreed- ( ing and wool - growing is concerned, there is no indication of 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 wool is a topic of unlading interest to members of the trade, thanks en-

tirely to its improving characteristics. Bradford buyers look upon the wool product of the whole of South America with considerably more favour than was the case even five years ago, and as time goes on this feeling will grow. Patagonian wools are increasing by leaps and bounds. A competent authority stated not many months ago that that part of South America could easily depasture 30 millions of sheep. Not long ago three Bradford woolsorters lauded at Putua-Arenas to class the present clip on three big stations. But it is the product really of the River Plate which absorbs, for the time being, attention.