The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-06

The New Tariff to BE Great Thing
FOR south Africa.
British Trade Journal
The alteration In the tariff OF the Uni
ted States. which has placed wool on the
list Of free entry, viii no doubt have q
very important bearing on sheep farm
ing and the growth of wool In all PARTS
OF the world. Tho Australian colonies
win be the largest gamers. and viii
probably before very long export con-
siderable quantities OF wool to the
United States. and there does not appear
to be any reason why many Of the Brit
ish colonies should not share in the in
creased demand, because the range OF
wool employed In the United States is
very wide. and win probably be wider
now that the duty on wool Is reSoved.
Some OF the colonies appear TO be going
backward instead OF forward. and al
though sheep farming II ose OF the most
important industries the production of
wool has decreased within the last few
years. instead OF increased. The low
price of wool in the English and Cont
mental markets may have something TO
do with this, because In those colonies
where internal communications are not
so good az in some others, they are neces-
sarily placed at a disadvantage in the
competition for trade. as the profit of the
farmer Is the net result which he has In
hand after paying all expenses. includ-
ing carriage. and. although the farmer
might sell on the spot. yet the buyer
takes into consideration the carriage
which has to be paid to the point where
Il is to be used Among the colonies
whose growth OF wool has decreased.
Natal stands conspicuous. as the weight
OF wool which was exported In 1890 and
1881 was q. S7 100 pounds, whereas. In the
next year. II had fallen to e2,sss. $50
pounds. and last year. although there
was slight increase. viz, 24o67, o1s
pounds. stai this Is not as 1t should be.
as many other colonies have during the
same time largely increased their ex-
ports. Natal. like all other OF the South
African colonies. has agriculture as IT'S
staple industry. and II will be q very
long time before either mining or manu-
featuring can occupy . very important
place.
The colony itself is very well fitted,
poth by geographical position and nat
ural advantages. to become one of the
largest wooi-growing countries In the
world Along the coast, for about twen-
ty-nve to thirty miles inland. the land
Is suitable for the cultivation OF tropical
and semi-tropical produce. such as tea,
sugar and fruit, and Is for the most part
wen watered and wooded. The land here.
also. from the nature of the soil, is well
calculated for the growth OF all kinds
OF ordinary farm and garden produce ex-
cept cereals. Behind these coast lands,
gradually rising upwards from the sea,
there Is wide stretch OF country termed
the midland districts where rich.
loamy and clay soils enable all kinds of
cereals and root crops to be grown. and
this district also presents splendid graz
Ing ground for stock. Behind this, still
advancing Inland, we come to a more
billy and mountainous district, which
forms by far the largest portion of the
colony. The country here is for the most
part bare OF trees, but Ii is fairly well
watered, and In spring covered with thick.
green pasture. No doubt In the course
OF years. extensive plantations of trees,
the commencement OF which has already
taken place. will give q greater diversity
10 the landscape and give more shaded
pasturage. The whole OF this district.
however. il admirably adapted for sheen
farming. and there is no reason why Ma
tai should not In the future take a very
important position among the wool-grow-
Ing countries Of the world; and, indeed.
the samples OF wool grown in this coun-
try which were exhibited in the Indian
and Colonial exhibition In 1856 and
which were for the most part pure or
part bred merinos. were excellent sam
pies OF this class Of wool and bear a very
favorable comparison with any of the
WOODS which were exhibited from South
Africa.