The sun., 1919-04-07
ARGENTINA SEEKS
LINSEED MARKETS
Crop Less Than Estimates, but
Affords Big Surplus for
= Export Trade.
CHANGES IN CONDITIONS
Domestic Utilization Of Straw
or Flax Fibre in Making
Bags Is Agitated.

According TO latest REPORTS from Ar
gentina the urge Of war conditions re-
suited in the addition Of 900 acres
in 1918 TO the area sown to fax In the
preceding year. This was made neces-
sary because of the tremendous demand
for Hnseed oil. The favorable condition
Of the crop in October, 1918. led the
Argentine Agricultural Department to
place its estimate of the linseed produc-
tion for the season at 100000 metric
tons, figure not equalled since the
1914-1915 harvest.
The threshing now In progress. how
ever, proves that the October figure was
too high, according 70 q report of the
Latin American division OF the Bureau
OF Foreign and Domestic Commerce OF
tho Department Of Commerce, and tho
Government official estimate of the 1919
linseed crop was quoted by the American
commercial attache in Buenos Ayres In
n cablegram as 705.0 900 metric tons, the
exportab BILE surplus of linseed being esti-
mated at $4,000 tons.
whether or not this surplus will find
| n good MARKET" says the report, Sin view
of the coming OF peace. and the conse-
Quent release of seed from other sources,
together with a reduction OF Government
demands In OIL is a matter Of great mo-
ment to Argentine producers. The sit
uation Is also of keen interest to Amer
lean buyers. oil crushers and paint man.
ufacturers, who are facing radical
changes in the demand for iinseed oil
1.-THE imports for the first Eve months
Of the fiscal year were subject to the
restrictions Issued by the War Trade
I'd Ink m no tf,on rfaf iay,
Of linseed. From that date until Deem
Der 5 licenses were issued only for the
importation of linseed cargoes loading
or In transit at the date OF the July
| ruling, and for limited quantities shipped
| in sailing vessels.
License Ruling Is Modified.
"On December S the War Trade Board
| issued a ruling modifying the July re-
| strictions, to permit the licensing of i'm
ports OF linseed from the River Plate
districts (Argentina and Uruguay in a
| total amount of not to exceed 10000
| tons prior to january 1, 1919. and 49,
900 tons each for January. February.
March and April. ALLEGATION to be made
| by the War Trade Board. This indi-
Gates an average importation of ap-
proximately Gas, 900 bushels a month or
about $4,000 bushels a month more than
In the first five months of the fiscal
year.
THE quantities OF linseed received
| from Argentina this season have been
about sufficient to supply the curren.
| needs of the oil crushing mills In the
| Eastern States. while the seed from
Canada and the Northwest has taken
care of the immediate demands of the
Western crushers. The receipt of lin
| seed from the North Dakota fields has
been delayed by the early SHOWS. which
| buried the fax. In some sections the
snow may prevent the thresl!ng Of the
| linseed until spring.
I'm view Of the estimated export sur
plus OF 100000 tons or $4,000. 900 bushels
or linseed from the 1888 crop Argeu-
| tina faced declining market with the
signing of the arnistico. This had been
preceded by wild fluctuations in October.
due to rumors OF coming peace and as
surances OF bumper crop There are
now five crushing plants producing lin
seed oil In Buenos Ayres, and IL all the
mills operated steadily they would have
an annual output OF about 8 900 metric
tons, but this amount has never been
reached.
Brasil Is Best Customer.