Fergus County argus., 1890-12-04

this country in the production OF WOO
in Australasia increa ses as the yearly
importations increase, and our manu-
facturers become more and more de
pendent upon the supply from there.
The condition OF the markets in sgd
ney and Melbourne has "a noticeable
effect upon the American market, fire.
quently causing either n Strengthening
or weakening in prices. The dlspo-
sition OF growers to dispose OF their
products at local sales is becoming
more and more general, thus increas-
ing the Importance OF these sales and
enabling American dealers to buy di-
rect, rather than as formerly through
London correspondents.
The woods required for the American
market are long and tine, and are the
most costly OF any produced IN the
seven provinces. Most OF these woods
are grown in Victoria and New lea
land and the Riverina district. The
woods raised in New South Wales and
Sorth Australia are OF poorer quality,
and, while small quantities have been
bought for the American market, they
are now prohibited by the new tariff.
The condition OF the market in Mel
bourne is not what it ought to be, con
sidering the worlds supply, which is
very light. The Australasian clip is
the largest ever produced, but the
major part OF it Is arriving in IA bad
condition, being both bury and ten
der. The medium and lower grades
are selling at figures considerably be-
low those OF last year. The finer
grades are about on par with the
quotations OF 1889, merinos being OIL
from to 10 per cent. The average
decline is about &c on the secured
pound.
The increase in this years clip and
that of 1889 has been due mainly to
the abundance OF rains, while the
drouth OF 1883 caused "a noticeable
decrease in the weight OF the fleece.
The product of 1889 exceeded that of
1883 by 6,O71 ,4s7 pounds. The aver
age weight of the fleece in 1889 un-
washed was ) pounds l3l, ounces;
when secured the average was = pounds
IA ounces.
OF the l ,3i1 bales sent to America
in 1889 but l,32O were shipped direct,
while Z 1,O2l came by way Of London.
American dealers are buying more
generally in Melbourne than ever be-
fore. as they desire to save what dii-
ference in the value OF the wool may
exist as between the Australian and
London markets. The cost of freight
from Australia to New York is about
equal to that from Australia to Lon
don.
1t is to the interest OF Australian
wOOlgrOwers that they maint ain the
competition between the English and
American dealers for their wool.
Hence, rat her than lose the American
trade, they have of late changed their
methods to n material extent by
marketing their woods in the unwashed
state, thus enabling the American
dealer to import it under n lower rate
of duty. As these woods are OF light
shrinkage the loss to the wool grower
is very small compared with the gain
he derives from the competition oil his
products. Ii is estimated that the
woolgr oweIs saves over &c. per pound
by selling his wool in the local markets.
The woolgrowels of Victoria have be-
come alive to the value OF the Amerl
can demand and have offered their
woods in the grease, whereas formerly
they were accustomed to wash them,
rendering them suitable Tor the Lon
don and Ant werp markets only. There
is no reason now why our dealers can
not compete on equal terms with the
dealers OF England or Holland for
such woods as under the tariff they
are able to import at all. The stocks
OF Australian wool in this country at
present are light, and in strong hands.
On the wool which was shipped to
London last year the loss was very
great, and averaged about SD per
bale. But there is not the stock of
wool on the market that there was
last year. and the prospects are that
better returns will be realized
There has been steady demand for
Australian woods this fall, and the
sales will compare favorably with
those OF a year ago. Prices have been
well maintained, and there is not
class OF woods in the maket which will
feel strengthening demand sooner,
or hold an advance longer, than the
cross-bred woods OF Victoria. The
number OF sheep in Australasia last
March was los, ,OOO,OOO, an increase
OF less than 8 per cent. over 1889.
The large importa,ions OF choice
merino sheep yearly from America,
while it will not tend to improve the
quality OF the wool, will encourage the
growers to produce only the choicer
grades, which are well adapted to meet
tine wants OF the American mantiiac-
turer.