42 Argentina's Agricultural Progress. 



without an occupation. Such being the case, Argentina could 

 not be regarded as a permanent exporter of cereals. Nothing 

 of the sort is likely to occur, and the following are, briefly, 

 the salient reasons. 



Though alfalfa is entitled to be called a permanent plant, 

 experience has already proved that the estancierds work is not 

 finished when his alfalfa paddocks are made, and that nothing 

 remains but to graze his beeves thereon for ever. After a series 

 of years the plant grows thin in the upper lands, or knolls — if 

 such a term may be applied to the undulating irregularities of 

 the pampa — and either from a period of drought or from injudi- 

 cious stocking, the alfalfa becomes patchy. The estanciero 

 finds it necessary to re-sow his land, treating it in sections as 

 occasion requires, and the increased rent he can obtain from the 

 agriculturist for land which has already been tilled and subse- 

 quently grazed encourages him to do so. There are few alfalfa 

 estancias where agriculture on a small or large scale is not a 

 permanent feature. 



There are numerous colonies where the land, divided into 

 small farm lots, is owned by the agriculturist. There would be 

 more if the Italian ploughman, to which nationality the bulk 

 of the agricultural community belong, showed more ambition 

 to settle down and farm his own land. 



In some provinces, such as that of Entre Rios, agriculture is 

 not an intermediate stage between indigenous grass lands and 

 alfalfa paddocks. It is practised there for its own merits as the 

 best revenue producer for the landowner. In a great part of 

 the southern zone of the province of Buenos Aires agriculture 

 is also a permanent industry. 



The need of " clean land " for weaners, the growth of the 

 dairy trade, the increased value of land and the necessity to get 

 more out of it, are all making for the introduction of mixed 

 farming in the rich lands surrounding the city of Buenos Aires. 



It may, therefore, be stated broadly that agriculture is not 

 likely to lose foothold in any of the ground it has gained, and 

 as it continues to push west, north, and south, its available area 

 will continue to increase. 



There were some twelve million acres in wheat and linseed 

 last year in the whole Republic, and a large new area of land 



