=Paraguay= has a large forest area, but for want of means of transportation it is without value. Even the railway companies find it cheaper to buy their ties in the United States and Australia, rather than to procure them in Paraguay. In spite of the extent of good land, the wheat and much of the bread-stuffs are purchased from Argentina. Tobacco and mate are the only export crops, and they have but little value. The Parana and Paraguay Rivers are the only commercial outlet of the state. =Uruguay.=--Owing to its foreign population Uruguay is becoming a rich country. The native cattle have been improved by cross-breeding with European stock, and the state has become one of the foremost cattle and sheep ranges of the world. The value of animal products is not far from forty million dollars yearly. These go mainly to Europe, and so also does the wheat-crop. France and Argentina purchase most of the exports and Great Britain supplies most of the textiles and machinery imported. The trade of the United States is about one-fourth that of Great Britain. _Montevideo_ is the chief market and port. At _Fray Bentos_ is one of the largest plants in the world for the manufacture of cattle products. QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION What kind of commerce has led to the establishment of the various ports along the Spanish Main? What advantages has the American fruit-shipper, trading at South American ports, over his European competitor? What is meant by "horse latitudes," and what was the origin of the name? In what way may the opening of an interoceanic canal affect the coffee-trade of Brazil?--the nitrate trade of Chile? FOR COLLATERAL READING AND REFERENCE From the Abstract of Statistics find the exports of the United States to each of these countries. From the Statesman's Year-Book compare the trade of the United States in each of these countries with that of Great Britain, France, Germany, and Italy. If possible, obtain specimens of the following: Crude rubber, pampas grass, Brazil nuts (in pod), and raw coffee of several grades for comparison with Java and Mocha coffees. CHAPTER XXV EUROPE--GREAT BRITAIN AND GERMANY Almost all the commercial activity of Europe is south of the parallel and west of the meridian of St. Petersburg. Most of the great industries are controlled by Germanic and Latin peoples, and among these Great Britain and Germany stand first. =Great Britain and Ireland.=--The United Kingdom, or Great Britain and Ireland, are commonly known as the British Isles. The British Empire consists of the United Kingdom and its colonial possessions; it includes also a large number of islands occupied as coaling stations and for strategic purposes. All told, the empire embraces about one-seventh of the land area of the world and about one-fourth its population.