Nothing can be more eloquent than the figures shown in this diagram. This remarkable progress, almost steady in its upward march, is not in one direction only. Argentina is an ideal country for agriculturists, and in every branch of that industry progress has been made. Greater care is being taken to-day in working up the by-products of the cattle business. More varied crops are being grown, and vegetable by-products are being economically looked after. The forests of Argentina are also being worked for the benefit of mankind. The Quebracho Colorado tree forms a very important item of export. It is sent out of the country either in the form of logs, of which no less than 254,571 tons were exported in 1908, or in the form of an extract for tanning purposes; 48,162 tons of this extract were made and exported in 1908, and a small quantity of the wood was exported in the shape of sawdust. The total value of Quebracho Colorado exported in various forms in that year was, as already stated, £1,200,000. This means that the Quebracho forests are being depleted at the rate of half a million tons per annum for export purposes alone, in addition to the enormous quantities used for sleepers, etc., in the country. The area in acres under cultivation for the year 1908 was 46,174,250, an increase of 265 per cent, on the land under cultivation in the year 1895. The diagram facing this page shows the area in hectares cultivated from 1897 to 1908:-- WHEAT--The area under cultivation for wheat shows an increase of 89 per cent, in ten years from-- 8,000,000 acres in cultivation in 1898, to 15,157,750 " " " " 1908 LINSEED--shows an increase of 361 per cent, from-- 831,972 acres in cultivation in 1898, to 3,835,750 " " " " 1908 MAIZE--increased by 250 per cent., and other crops, including Oats, 300 per cent. in the same period. The United Kingdom purchased from Argentina and retained for its own use (in round figures) during the year 1908-- WHEAT to the value of £13,000,000 MAIZE " " 5,600,000 FROZEN MEAT " " 9,300,000 ----------- Making a total of £27,900,000 ----------- Indeed, we buy from Argentina nearly 25 per cent. of our total food purchased abroad, and she supplies nearly 29 per cent. of our corn and grain requirements. These figures again clearly demonstrate that we have a vital interest in the well-being of our friends across the sea.