1909.] The Agricultural Resources of Argentina. 711 



quired for the cultivation of the enormous area under crops 

 and for the harvesting of the produce are almost entirety 

 imported from foreign countries. In addition to this the 

 pastoral industry of the Republic creates a constantly in- 

 creasing demand for fencing wire, windmills, pumps, and 

 other pastoral equipments. An examination of the sources 

 of supply of various requisites brings into evidence the small 

 participation of British industry in the import trade to 

 Argentina of agricultural machinery and appliances. The 

 bulk of the reapers and binders, drills, hay-baling presses, 

 ploughs, binding twine, windmills, and pumps is imported 

 from the United States of America, while harrows and iron and 

 steel wire chiefly come from the United States and Germany. 

 The United Kingdom, however, supplies most threshing 

 machines, bags and sacking, and a good deal of iron and 

 steel wire. British-made goods are popular, and the 

 labourer shows a preference for them when he gets them, 

 but their trade is apparently not very actively pushed. 



Education. — The progress attained by Argentina in the 

 development of pastoral and agricultural industries has 

 awakened a corresponding attention to agricultural education 

 and to scientific research work. It is recognised that there 

 is no subject of greater immediate importance than that of 

 securing for the rural population the means for acquiring a 

 reasoned knowledge of the sciences relating to the pursuits in 

 which they are engaged. Agricultural colleges and experi- 

 mental stations have already been established in various parts 

 of the country and considerable sums of money have been 

 voted by Congress to endow them. 



Working in a new field, and without many texts in the 

 Spanish language to assist them, the Argentines have turned 

 to more experienced countries to investigate the educational 

 systems most suitable to their own requirements. In this 

 respect the United States have exhibited a foresight that 

 might with advantage be followed by other countries inter- 

 ested in the promotion of their commercial relations with 

 Argentina. Facilities have been afforded by the United 

 States for Argentine students to enter their agricultural 

 colleges and pursue their studies there. This friendly and 

 wise provision will have a sure recompense. Argentine 



