Sept. 1896.] 



FOREIGN OFFICE REPORTS. 



189 



1895 are said to have been built by private capital, while only 

 one has been established on the co-operative system. From this 

 it would appear that the co-operative system, at any rate, for 

 the moment, is not progressing. 



The inland consumption of margarine amounted to 

 19,597,079 lbs. in 1895, against 20,940,674 lbs. 1894, or a 

 decrease of 1,343,595 lbs. This is said to be due principally to 

 low prices in all articles of a fatty nature. The total imports 

 amounted to 2,544,640 lbs., and the exports to 10,455 lbs. The 

 Government has brought in a Bill for the renewal of the 

 Margarine Law, which expired in March 1896. 



The breeding of horses is reported to have been satisfactory. 

 About 12,000 horses of all ages were exported. Some high-priced 

 entire horses, bred in Jutland, were exported to Germany and 

 Russia. 



[Foreign Office Report, Annual Series, No. 1755. Price 3d.] 



Spanish Customs Surtaxes on Foreign Wheat, &c. 



. The Beard have received, through the Foreign Office, a copy 

 of a despatch from Sir H. Drummond Wolff, Her Majesty's 

 Ambassador at Madrid, containing the following translation of 

 a decree which appeared in the Madrid Gazette of the 2nd 

 July last, with reference to the Customs surtaxes on imports of 

 foreign wheat, wheaten flour, and bran : — 



Art. 1. The Customs surtaxes established by the law of 

 February 9th, 1895, on foreign wheat, wheaten flour, and bran 

 imported shall remain in force until June 30th, 1897. 



Art. 2. The Government will, as soon as possible, lay a bill 

 before the Cortes, fixing the Customs duty to be levied from 

 that date on the aforesaid products. 



Art. 3. Should the Cortes not have noted, or His Majesty 

 sanctioned, the law referred to in the preceding article on the 

 30th of June 1897, the above-mentioned surtax shall continue 

 to be levied until the promulgation of said law. 



Cattle Raising in Venezuela. 



In the annual report for 1895 on the trade of the Caracas 

 Consular District, Mr. W. A. Andral observes that Venezuela'; 

 having immense plains adapted for cattle-raising, ought to be J 

 able to make this a source of public wealth, as has been the case 

 in the Argentine Republic, but the stock raised is of inf ei ior kind, 

 and very little in excess of the demand for home consumption. 



