THE WORLD'S MEAT TRADE 85 



easily heads the list, not only lor numbers, but 

 also for the perfection to which sheep management 

 and wool production have attained. In Europe, 

 during the last thirty years, there has been a very 

 marked diminution ; Germany from 19 million 

 in 1883 to 7I million in 1907 ; France from 

 22 million in 1885 to 16 million in 1911. The 

 same tendency is seen in Denmark and Belgium, 

 France has supplemented her supplies by imports 

 on the hoof from Algeria varying from 1 to i-| 

 million sheep per annum. 



Reverting to the Southern Hemisphere, New 

 Zealand breeders have succeeded in producing a 

 dual purpose type, resulting in a good fleece, and 

 a good carcase. Her exports amount to no less 

 than 25 per cent, of her total stock, some 6,000,000 

 carcases a year, of which two-thirds are lamb. 

 Though we may look for a continuance of exports 

 on the same scale, recent advices from the Com- 

 monwealth seem to point to an extension of the 

 dairying industry, rather than sheep farming. 

 Australia's exports only amount to about 4 per 

 cent, of her sheep stock ; the high values ruling 

 for merino wool at the present time encouraging 

 the treatment of the meat industry as a bye- 

 product of wool-growing. Argentina's chief stock 

 has been developed on the same lines as that of 

 New Zealand — the dual purpose sheep. Though 

 possessed of many advantages over her principal 



