56 PRODUCTION 



more intensive methods. Owing to the abundant supplies of maize 

 and other feed materials, pigs will continue to furnish large supplies 

 of produce, especially lard and fat bacon, probably in excess of 

 local requirements. 



Extensive developments in several directions are likely in the 

 future : first, the further progress of dairying everywhere (except 

 in the arid regions) and especially perhaps in the Western Prairie 

 region and the Southern States ; second, an increase in mutton- 

 sheep raising in the eastern half of the United States, and perhaps 

 also in Canada ; third, an increase in the production of beef cattle 

 in the Southern United States and in British Columbia ; fourth, 

 further utilisation as feed and fattening materials for North 

 American animals of animal feedstuffs, of which there is now a 

 surplus for export. 



As affecting the exportable surplus of finished animal food 

 products, the most weighty factor is the growing population and 

 wealth of the United States, and it is doubtful whether increases 

 in production will be more than sufficient during the next two 

 decades to meet the increased demands of the Continent. The 

 United States already draws cattle from Northern Mexico and 

 from Canada, to say nothing of the imports of meat that have 

 been derived from Argentina and Australia. It is probable that 

 North America will continue to furnish for some time to come, 

 supplies of certain specialities such as pig-meat, lard and other 

 animal fats, cheese, and oilcakes and other concentrated feedstuffs, 

 for export to Europe. The experience of the years 1900-14 points 

 to the conclusion that the net surplus of animal foodstuffs from 

 North America may be a declining one in the future, unless 

 European consumers can afford to pay such prices as will make 

 more intensive farming generally possible under North American 

 conditions. In these circumstances, however, the production of 

 all foodstuffs will be stimulated not only in Europe itself, but in 

 the new countries of temperate climate outside North America ; 

 for this continent now lacks both the cheap labour of Europe and 

 the extensive per capita land resources of other new regions. 



SURPLUS-PRODUCING REGIONS. 

 (c) ARGENTINA. 



Argentina, more than any other country producing surplus 

 animal foodstuffs, lives by export and import trade. Coal, iron 

 and manufacturing industries are all markedly absent. Even 

 Australia and New Zealand, which have the highest per capita 

 foreign trade of all countries, are less dependent upon external 

 sources for supplies of iron and manufactures than is Argentina, 

 and between them they produce coal in excess of their own require- 

 ments. Argentina is the extreme type of a specialised pastoral 

 and agricultural country, just as Great Britain is the extreme 





