EXPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN OCTOBER 1900

Otago Witness, Issue 2436, 21 November 1900, Page 7

EXPORTS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN OCTOBER 1900

THe following figures, showing the qnantity and value of certain expoits frcm New Zealand passed through tfce Customs duriDg the month Of October, are publuhed by the Department of Agriculture for general information :—: —

trade of Great Britain, 4 per cent, to the trade of the United States, and 43 per" cent of the combined trades of Trance, Germany, and Belgium. Most of the wool of Argentina is sold direct upon the Buenos Ayres markets to ibuyers who represent the continental manufacturers, Seventy-five per cent, of the total clip is shipped to-day straight from the River Plate mart to the European industrial centres. Intermediary markets, such as Antwerp, now receive a greatly diminished parcel. In 1886 about 55 per cent, of the Argentina wool crop was shipped to Antwerp, and in 1896 the export to that centre did not quite reach 25 per cent., while last year is suffered again a further serious fall. Fifty years ago, when sheep in that country -were neglected by the majority of the stockmen, and little care was taken to improve their quality and free the pastures from burrtearing weeds, the English manufacturer rejected Argentine wools as xinsuitable for his trade. That period of neglect has long since faded into the shades of history, but it would appear to live as green in the memory of the British manufacturer to-day as it did then. The parcel of wool which finds its way from Argentina to the English textile industry is nearly as insignificant as that ■exported froai the same source to the United States. Foi a number of years the Argentine Republic as been the largest buyer of fine and pedigree sheep in the world. During the past five years she has taken 80 per cent, of the value of the total sheep exported by Great Britain. Out of 42,909 sheep valued ,at £468,813, which was the British export from 1894 to 1898, Argentina alone absorbed 26,640, valued at £372,805. For the past quarter of a century the Argentine "breeder has been the best-known and most frequent buyer of merinos from Germany and France. The United States of America have contributed "Vermont merinos to the Argen- ] tine flocks, and New Zealand has supplied liineolns from its best studs to the same market. It would be strange if Argentine "breeders, situated in some of the best sheep country of the world, had nothing to show in exchange for so much enterprise and outlay. The present high standard which Argentine flocks have attained- is little known except by those who have visited the River Plate within recent years — possibly it is least known in the United States, who are the sole buyers of the hairy wool grown by that remnant of the old creole breed of sheep in the xipper provinces, where it is fast disappearing before the advance of intelligent husbandry. Manufacturers there may have perhaps judged Argentina's wool parcel by this little consignment of creole wool, but they "will find no more than the sample they already take. The English representative breeders who -visited the International Stock show held in Buenos Ayres laat year expressed amazement at the magnificent collection of locally "bred sheep presented foi their inspection. The English Board of Agriculture, in its report for 1898, alludes to the marked improvement of sheep sent from that source. In the ■earliest days of the industry it was remarked that the offspring ' born in the country of merinos imported from Germany to Argentina ■ were superior in type arid fleece to the progenitors. Argentina's climate and soil are particularly •favourable for sheep-breeding, and the wool acquires a softness and lustre not excelled in Europe. To these natural conditions has now been added a competent knowledge and care on the part of the breeder, and the extension of the railway system has been followed by the formation of agricultural societies, shows, and fairs in every district, "bringing with them the familiarity of the points of each typical breed to the eye of the flockniaster, and providing him with the market at his door in which he can buy the sires he needs to improve and renew the blood of his flocks. Argentina now offers to the world's manufacturers her store of -wools, merinos, and medium crosses 2nd long lustres, all healthily and carefully grown, of fair uniformity of quality, and 3 claiming as Jiigh a standard as those from any other quarter of the globe. She will be the most ready to respond to the cry for more merino. During the past autumn the large sale of merino types in all the fairs was remarkable. In July a selection of merino sheep from Gerimany fetched an average price of £100 in Buenos Ayres. These are signs that the Argentine breeder has noted the supposed scarcity of merino wool, and is going to meet it, though we think he will still adhere largely to the breeding pf crossbreds, peeing that the boom in merinos is now altogether ."off." CROSSBREDS COMING TO THE FRONT. The improvement in tone to which we alluded last'week is maintained in this market. The finest classes of wool are no better, however, and the more cheerful feeling is entirely due to the greater activity in certain descriptions of crossbred wools, but especially to the heavier turnover in English. Of late business in lustre sorts of home-grown wool has steadily increased, although staplers have had to accept prices substantially below "feoss prevailing in tlie country. Nqw, b.ow-

i ever, higher rates are insisted on, and the position to-day is against the purchaser. The medium classes of crossbreds also are mov- ! ing fairly freely, and values are steadily maintained. far as Botany i& concerned, nothing of a more encouraging character can be recorded. Both top-makers and consumers are discussing the next London sales, and there is a genera] disposition to await the course of events. English wethers do not improve, but more business has taken place in mohair, with tho result that higher prices are being demanded.i More inquiries have been made in the yarn department, but the offers put forward by export merchants are ,stiil for the most I part too low for serious contemplation by producers. Ihose engaged on English dc- , scriptions are pretty well employed, and they have advanced tlieir quotations for new busi- | ness. There is no improvement in Botany j yarn. Mohairs are steady, the^ tendency in lower descriptions being to harden. Piece manufacturers have nothing better to report.

Port. Butter. Cheese. Beef, rozen. Mutt. in, Pro. zen. Lamb, Frozi :D. Carcases. Legs and Piered Tares se-^. Auckland ,7, 7,1 •.. .7. Gisborne ... ... „, „, Napier ... ... ... New Plymouth Waitaia .. ' ... Patea Wauganui ... Wellington Blenheim and Pic! on ... ... Ncl on : ... Christchurch ... ... „. Timaru „ ... Oamaru ... - .;. Dunedin and Port Chalmers ■..; InvercargilL... ■<.„ ... .*■ r>l #•• ... i Cwt 1,500 23 £ 6,174 bO Cwt. 21 £ 70 Cwt. - * No. I ~ Cwt. | - * Cwt I £ I - I No. | [ (Jwc ] - I £ - ~ 1 _ - ~ " — - ~ i 3,579! LSi 114 1,155 5 fO 152 16,086 3:6 68G _ - - - - - .- - 2,990 4,185 - _ - - - I I - _ Bfi 43 5,057 £9 80 669 11 _ - — - 1 I " - _ J i ' ~~ - i I 51S 906 3,058 " ~ 902 213 _ ! — 773 - - _ I _ I E3 _ I 74] 15,103 10,998 7,805 5,849 8,01 C 5,45$ , j 250 4,5-21 703 57 79 5,64: 113 I 2,301 141 32 - - 35 9 l.eftf 67 179 50 _ | ■ £7( - 266 11,08' 30.194 2:4 780' 2,1! 6 15,810 113,205 2, n se - 243 -Totals ; Totals for October, 1 809 6,848 8,824 '30 044 36,039 739 3,122 1,77 2,60 4,225 *,127 5,58 i 16,?S 15,629 117,30 773 2,368 9021 2.557: _.-. 5,5".: 1,96( 1 I J,9Sfij (SO 1 [ I" 2,787 ' 8 2 April „, „, May June July ... ... August ... September ... October ..,' 1900. • •J •! 9.3GS 5,649 4,144 4.581 2.48=. 2,852 6,848 5 40,437 ) 24,431 I 18,3£7 L 15,14£ i 10.C9S > 12.452 i| h0,044 r !ir>4,s-« " 13,724 L 11 017 7 j 0,574 5 3,153 5 I.RPB I 936 t 7.SP J .41/41 29,525 23,001 2%862 n,Q2S 27,/77 7,416 SO.S4C 4,245 35 423 2 457 19.59H 1,772 4,f25 ra,l. c 3161,5P3 I rs 448 167,409 3 12,75 167,891 'I 31,93! 212.47 c ) 37.73S £25,5f8 ! «,0 4 108 714 i £2,?27 103,21. ■ 5,584 30.184 !192Cf3 1,01.5, i's3 167,409 167,891 212.47f £25,5f8 108,714 103,21 - 30.184 59.&77 8H.917 111,421 118,270 55.C03 53.: 09 15,811l! 0 2JO ]93,65 15,434 124,193 62,173 57,550 J5,«i.!) f,ssfi 1,210 11,037 9 35" 5,805 4,126 773 10,1-77 J,£27i J2,'il7| ] 0,226 6,- 0i 4?12 90 ?15,Sfi-2 243,978 24 ,594 121.5' 0 25 9f6 16,502 5 531 7 ! ,C6? 101,079 82,46; 116,403 84,368 117 414 41,14? 55.190 B,fi£2 13,486 5,654 8,!95 1.98." a,787 Totals ... 35,627 31,107 5t8,f54l 42,1(61 15, --6 875.993J 1295.3051 295.305' 417.551 Potals correspondipg monthp, 1899 35,161 144,172 >| 36,555 74,831 104,959 116,87/ ,313,010 i 163,48.- 1 ) ,90,057 £8,0£5 2P.337 759.450 2-3,6-5 377,736 Fear ending 31st March „ f1835 ... 6%283j263,244 79,610 1(50 353 25.05« 33 534 1,705,9.^9! | 3SOK ... 60,066'24r,152 71,474 3^o'}9 £6,2:0 29,071 1,(9--,980'i J18Q7... 75," 87 i 97,013 71,663135 7 1 22,8^2 24,1 9 1,438,43'! : C 'M-'B)R... L06,54U!429,407 78^05 i? 4.1 4 (9.4 1 74 «:0 ,7: . 546: j]SS9 .. 12.'79.iW,<>8l 50,49 0,9 2 '), .9,0,52 , j8 T2' vliOO ... ] 61,7 -2|1>93 7</l 98,001 ioe,-sSj23b,^ - .69,^5^2,0 >• ,' 05 \ 9»4 624 991,165 "^ ( 558,825 151,C82l 2-9 S'6 1870,308 913,032 I ?S SF I 730,034 <:38,3i7l 33 >.4f>u 749.75' 772.558 )- g.g <?^ •< 781 5")9 ::69 724 U52,655 '.'57,3 2 1 i!"-?g 1.2,'S, 1 P8 J15.953 5*8,<!37 843,867; ■ 5. V. 3. U3,.>40 157,171 50),8'(i 10 Bjs s 'i,l''3(Sl 5.J204 / £6,!)f2 i,272,34« JiJo,:>37 61'3,72;j