COMPE TI TJON. 79 



kets of Great Britain in steamers with vast refrigerators 

 in which these meats are safely carried. One establish- 

 ment on the Plata River is equipped with the necessary- 

 facilities for preparing and shipping five hundred car- 

 cases yearly. 



Australia takes the lead in exports of mutton, and is 

 likely still to do so, because of its great natural advan- 

 tages and its shipping facilities. 



The fiscal policy of the United States has made it 

 easy for such European countries as France and Ger- 

 many to find plausible excuse for shutting out American 

 food products. The pork industries, in an especial 

 manner, have suffered from this retaliation. 



Even for the products of the dairy, England is not 

 by any means dependent upon the farmers of America. 

 Danish and Irish butter are now preferred in that 

 country. 



In fact, England is not so absolutely dependent upon 

 outside countries as many suppose. She has large areas 

 uncultivated, which, were they cultivated, would increase 

 her food supply very much. 



It is possible that with her lands all carefully culti- 

 vated, the present yield might be doubled, an amount 

 which would more than feed the people. In 1880, 

 according to Sir James Caird, a most reliable authority, 

 her consumption of corn and vegetable products was 

 of the value of £,^^6, 6 11,^00, of which her own soil 

 contributed ;^26o,737,5oo. 



These economic facts, apparent to the observing 

 citizen, are of great practical importance to the food 

 exporter. They evidently point to the conclusion that 

 competition is likely to be even more severe in the 

 future than in the past, and should be met by the 



