June 1895.] EXTRACTS FROM DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR 73 



REPORTS. 



thatching. The high price of maize caused wheat to be used 

 much more largely for feeding purposes than usual. 



Notwithstanding the low prices prevailing in the English 

 markets in 1894, there was, it is said, a net profit to growers in 

 the Argentine Republic varying, according to estimates, from 

 Is. to Ss. per quarter. 



The cost of producing wheat in Argentina varies much and 

 depends largely on whether the wheat grower employs his own 

 family or hires labourers ; also, on whether his land is near a 

 railway and port of shipment. Mr. Gastrell holds the view 

 that even if the profit should fall lower still, the colonists would 

 go on wheat growing as it is the thing they now understand 

 best, and by which they can, at any rate, live comfortably, 

 though not making fortunes as formerly. At present prices 

 wheat-growing pays the Argentine colonist well enough, and as 

 it is the only business for which he is equipped it is certain that 

 he will keep on at it for some years whatever the level of prices 

 may be. 



The quality of wheat in the last few years, owing to greater 

 care in selection and shipping, is said to have much improved, 

 and it is interesting to note that River Plate wheat was, during 

 1894, nearly equal in price to the United States red winter 

 wheat, in spite of the damage done by rain to the crop. 



[Foreign Office Report, Annual Series, No. 1495. Price 9ri.] 



The Agricultural Exhibition at Monte Video. 



The Board of Agriculture have received information from the 

 Foreign Office to the efi'ect that the Agricultural Exhibition at 

 Monte Video, to which the Board directed attention by notices 

 issued through the press in October and November 1894, was 

 formally inaugurated on the 12th of March last. In a memo- 

 randum on the subject, Mr. Alfred Grenfell, Her Majesty's 

 Consul at Monte Video, states as follows : — 



" The Exhibition in general is doubtless a very fair display 

 of the productive resources and capabilities of Uruguay. The 

 range of useful products is also as wide as could be shown, in 

 all probability, by most countries under similar conditions of 

 civilisation and practical experience in agriculture, and embraces 

 products of both semi-tropical and temperate climates. But the 

 industries for the conversion of these raw products to immediate 

 use are still very immature. 



" The pastoral industry, being by far the greatest in the 

 Republic, naturally monopolises the largest share of the 

 Exhibition. The show of Jive stock is below what might have 

 been expected, and by far the finest animals exhibited are 

 those that have been imported of late years for breeding pur- 



