518 



Milling in Argentina. 



of Bellune, has a membership of 1,300 farmers, distributed 

 throughout fourteen communes. In addition to these 

 co-operative societies, there are numerous large dairy farms 

 owned by private individuals. On these farms, which 

 manipulate from 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of milk per day, butter 

 for export is the chief production. : 



Milling IN Argentina. 



According to a report by M. C. Wiener, who was 

 commissioned by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

 to study the resources and commerce of the Argentine 

 Republic, Buenos Ayres first exported wheat-flour in 1597. 

 This consignment went to Brazil, and the trade appears to 

 have continued during the next two centuries,' until the 

 declaration of independence in Argentina ; after which event 

 population increased more rapidly than production, and the 

 country was obliged to import flour. . , 



At the end of the eighteenth century nine flour rniUs are 

 known to have been in existence in the country, and there- 

 after each succeeding- decide witnessed a constantly increas- 

 ing addition to, the number. Sixty- three were constructed in 

 1861-70; 108 in 1871-80; 173 in 1881-90; while in the 

 following five years a further no were built. The total in 

 operation in 1895, including those of which the date of 

 construction is unknown, amounted to 659. 



Rather less than half of these (315) are in the hands of 

 foreigners, principally Italians, who are supposed to own 126 

 of the total. , The foreign owners are chiefly to be found in 

 the coast provinces, and are there four times as numerous 

 as, the Argentine proprietors; in the interior the national, 

 element predominates. There were 234 steam millSj 17 steam, 

 and water mills, 303 water mills, and 105 horse mills. Until 

 1880 mill stones only were used, but cylinders are now , to be 

 found in nearly 3^00. , , , 



It is calculated that the millingv industry could deal with 

 nearly two million tons of wheat in the course of the year. 

 The quantity actually dealt with in 1894 was roughly estimated 



