The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-06-22

r URUGUAY is small and wealthy
and If the word intensive
may be applied to its pastoral
- activity as it is in some of the /
worlds thickly settled agricultural ,
countries like Japan or Denmark, the I
Uruguayan republic Is not disappoipt- ,
ing. Indeed as the stranger travels
over the undulating plains the sight OF
such vast numbers of live stock in
every direction Is really astonishing
writes William A. Reid in the Bulletin
of the Pan-American Union. Within
! the bounds of the country, an area
| slightly larger than the five New Eng
land states of North America, the peo-
pie have raised and gathered some
thing like 35,o0O000 domestic animals.
The products derived from this vast
herd, together with the growing agri-
cultural development enabled the coun-
try to send to other lands last year
more than S76000,0oO worth of food
and clothing materials.
The per capita distribution of money
in Uruguay is given at about $25, or
twice that of Roumania, twice that of
Greece, more than three times that of
Russia, five times that of Japan, or
about the same as that of Belgium be
fore the present troubles.
Uruguay being essentially a land of
stock raising, has allowed agricultural
possibilities to suffer until within re-
cent years, and probably no factor in
the latter's development is accomplish
Ing better results for the country than
the governments agricultural farm, Ia
. Estanzuela, located lao miles north
west Of Montevideo in the Department
! of Colonia. This farm contains over l.
900 acres and the experiments con-
Quoted there include trials of all crops
that seem suited to the soil and climate
of Uruguay.
The agricultural influence and train
ing of Uruguay's young men are OF
course more particularly noted when
one visits the rural districts. One di-
/ vision of the agricultural farm con-
: ducts experiments in agronomlc
science; and the growing of seeds for
sale or otherwise is gradually placing
new varieties at the service of the
S farmer. For instance the distribution
of 40 600 bushels Of seed wheat in 1915
to 1900 planters on easy credit terms
is showing pleasing returns in agrlcul-
= tural production. The wheat dis
d trlbuted was OF improved varieties and
II was thoroughly cleaned by machinery
t. before being placed in the hands Of the
n farmers In addition TO seed wheat the
| ~ lv 4 lQ(
e bushels of other selected seeds.
k Fruits and Sheep.
r In northwestern Uruguay, in the
II provinces of Paysandu, Salto, Artigas
Il etc, I was surprised to see vast areas
h covered with growing fruits. Moro
h than 1000 acres, ! was Informed are
e under viticulture. In a single yeal
there were gathered 25,000 tons o.
b grapes. Orange groves also cover thou
a sands of acres and the product is rap
n idly growing in favor throughout thu
e country.
,r The sheep that one meets in travel
ing across Uruguay are amazing II
number. Often the hills within radius
! of miles are covered with grazing
herds-they seem to fill every hill ant
valley. In fact the sheep statistic
~ show that there are 27,00o,o)O within
the bounds of the country, or nearly 2
sheep and lambs for every inhabitan'
In 1915 the value of wool from thi
u vast flock brought 500 100000, thereh,
u returning approximately $40 for eacl
% person in the republic.
II In rural Uruguay the crossroad
u store possesses a pleasing interest TO
q the foreign traveller. The usual build
III Ing is modified type of the wall an
ne patio structure, the whole of cours
II covering much more ground than tn
Tx average city house. A central openin
ne is large enough to admit horses an
y. wagon and the vehicle can easily b
Is turned around in the patios OF some
IN these rural stores; the materials c
at which the buildings are constructe
are often stone and stucco, and tn
smooth outside is coated with a chea
N bright-colored blue or other paint {
pronounced color A few trees, hitcl
i. ing posts, a score of cowboys, horse
and tented wagon or two are usual
in evidence. To give animation to tn
scene there are numerous gauchos, {
" cowboys, sitting in groups or waikin
he about the little settlement. These splel
d did horsemen of the plains whe
In mounted are usually on a gallop an
III they cover miles without apparent
80 exhausting their steeds.
The dress of the Uruguayan cowbo