39S 



GENERAL AGRICULTURAL NOTES. [March 1897. 



Cultivation of Cereals in Uruguay. 



The Annwario estadistico of Uruguay contains some 

 information relating to the progress of cereal cultivation in 

 that country, from which it appears that wheat and maize are 

 the only important crops. In 1894 the area under the former 

 cereal amounted to 504,000 acres, as compared with 511,000 

 acres and 393,000 acres respectively in the two preceding years, 

 and the production was estimated at 8,640,500 bushels against 

 5,527,500 bushels in 1893 and 3,192,750 bushels in 1892. These 

 estimates represent a yield per acre of 17, 10*8, and 8"1 bushels 

 respectively. The extent of the land under maize is considerably 

 below the wheat acreage ; in 1894 it was 311,000 acres, and the 

 production was calculated to have amounted to 5,093,000 

 bushels. 



Oats, barley, and beans are grown, but they occupy a small 

 and diminishing area, and the surface devoted to potatoes and 

 linseed is likewise a decreasing quantity. 



On the whole, agriculture has made far less progress in 

 Uruguay than in the neighbouring republic of Argentina, and 

 this is to be largely accounted for by the natural characteristics 

 of the former country being less favourable to farming pursuits. 

 In contrast with the level plains and gentle undulations in the 

 wheat-growing provinces west of the La Plata, the land in 

 Uruguay may be almost described as hilly. Only in the valleys 

 and along the course of the rivers is the soil of a suitable depth 

 for arable farming. On the hills, and even on the slopes of slight 

 elevations, rocks are found close to the surface rendering 

 cultivation impracticable in many localities, and soil is seldom 

 met with in the Republic of sufficient depth for the profitable 

 growth of lucerne. 



The exports of wheat from Uruguay are of small dimensions, 

 the largest quantity exported in a single year having been 

 4,068,327 bushels in 1894 ; prior to that year the exports had 

 never exceeded 670,493 bushels; in 1895 they amounted to 

 1,761,290 bushels. There is a small exportation of wheat flour. 



The chief wheat-growing provinces are the districts of 

 Canelones, Colonia, and San Jose*, bordering on the La Plata, 

 and the more northerly provinces of Soriano, Paysandu, and 

 Florida. 



Evidence of the comparatively stationary condition of agri- 

 culture is to be found in the estimate of the number of farmers, 

 labourers, ploughs, and draught oxen in the country in each of 

 the three years 1892-94. These are shown as follows: — 





1892. 



1893. 



1894. 



Farmers - 

 Labourers - 

 Ploughs - 

 Draught oxen - 



No. 

 21,324 

 37,762 

 35,801 

 105,495 



No. 

 22,238 

 44,964 

 40,412 

 117,619 



No. 

 21,045 

 40,751 

 36,497 

 113,160 



