The Washington herald., 1922-08-03
AUSTRALIAN DERIDES WOOL.
GROWING METHODS IN u. S.
Agricultural Society Official Declares "You
Will Have to Import Our Fleece"

The cost of living in Australia
Is approximately one-third less
than in the United States. Food
Is Is per cent lower and rents are
from 20 to so per cent less than in
this country. according to H. NJ.
somer. secretary of the Royal Agri-
cultural Society of New South
Wales. who is a visitor in the Ma
tional Capital.
The Royal Agricultural Society Is
said 70 be the largest organization
OF its kind in the world Organ
lied by wool growers and agri-
cultural interests in Australia, its
annual fairs are said to afford the
most comprehensive eXhibi, of agri-
cultural produce and machinery IN
Australia.
Mr.. Somer is visiting the research
divisions of the United States De-
partment of Agriculture to learn
the scope of its work and its or
ganization. He was greatly i'm
pressed with this work, he said
last night. Information gathered
by him will be laid before his or
ganization and studied with a view
to proposing similar work Ia Aus
tralia.
To Call on Secretary wallace.
He will call on Secretary Wallace
at the Department of Agriculture
this morning.
The Royal Agricultural Society
la Australia resembles the larger
organization OF State fairs in Amer
lea. However. in Australia, Mr.
Somers explained. 1t has a more
| permanent status. Tile Royal So
| city, he said. holds title. through
an act of Parliament. to approx
mateiy seventy acres of land in
| sydney.
Besides the tremendous agricul-
tural exhibits. which often attract
over a million visitors. part of the
tract owned by the society is used
for football and other athletic
| events, Contrasted with American
fair grounds" il has paved streets.
concrete walks and permanent ex-
cally designed.
No Shareholders in Society.
There are no shareholders in the
| society, all profits going for i'm
| provements to its holdings and for
salaries to permanent officers. The
| organization is maintained solely
| to promote the agricultural well
| fare of the country. Mr.. Somer de-
clared that IL is largely through
the exchange of information by
sheep growers and agriculturists
at the annual exhibits that such
remarkable Improvement in stock
and farming methods has been pos
sible.
AS an instance of the assistance
rendered agriculturists and sheer
growers, Mr.. Somer said that the
annual show of the Royal Society
which lasts ten days, has approxi-
mately twenty-five acres of modern
farm machinery on exhibit.
! I'VE have to use the most mod
ern machinery" he said. TO lower
costs. Otherwise we could not af-
ford to ship our produce 10000
miles to compete in the markets OF
the world"
Much Of the machinery used in
Australia is imported from the
United States. However. Mr.. Somer
said home manufacturers protect
ed by a tariff are beginning to sup
ply part of the demand.
Derides U. 8. Wool Growers.
The United States does not know
how to grow WOOL Mr.. Somer de-
clared. commenting upon what he
termed ''ridiculously Inefficient
methods" employed in this country.
Even with a protective tariff he
predicted, you will have to i'm
port our wool"
In addition to a generally poor
stock of wool-producing sheep. the
growers in the United States are
Handicapped. Mr.. Somer said, by
| the contract method Of sale. and by
not being compelled to have their
wool graded. In Australia, he
pointed out, WOO; growing Is the
leading industry. when the wool
is sheared, he related, II Is graded
by professional graders and baled
| according. to quality. 1t Is mar
keted through brokers who are re-
stricted by law to a nominal COM
mission. Practically all of the wool
produced in Australia. Mr.. Somer
declared, is sold In the wool ex-
| change, where II IL auctioned to
bidders representing firms in every
country.
Ninety million is the sheep popu-
lation Of Australia, Mr.. Somer said.
OF this number approximately rs
per cent are of the celebrated Me-
rino breed when first brought to
Australia. Mr.. Somer declared. the
best Merino sheared only four
pounds Of wool. He then Produced
picture of q ram which averages
thirty-hve pounds. "Selective
breeding, he explained.