To demonstrate the extraordinary development of the stock breeding industry, it is only necessary to state that according to the last Agricultural and Livestock Census taken in 1908, the Republic was shown to possess 29,116,625 head of cattle, 67,211,754 sheep, 3,945,036 goats, and 7,531,376 horses, being an increase over the census of 1895 of approximately 30 per cent in the number of head of cattle and of nearly 50 per cent in the number of horses. This numerical increase, however, does not fully express the high degree of development reached in this national industry and particularly in regard to cattle and horses. In the years intervening between those two censuses, hundreds of millions of dollars were expended on the purchase and importation of pedigree stock, which have placed Argentine bred animals on a standard of equality with many of those raised in the old countries. This may be seen by the values stated in the respective years named. In 1895 the stock of cattle was valued at $221,000,000 and in 1908 at $410,000,000, whilst the horses were valued in the first census at $26,000,000, the value given in 1908 was over $90,000,000. [Illustration: COLON THEATRE (TEATRO COLON), BUENOS AIRES, ONE OF THE FINEST OPERA HOUSES IN THE WORLD] [Illustration: PLAZA HOTEL, BUENOS AIRES] The founding in 1858 of the Argentine Rural Society by a group of social spirited breeders and land owners, was the starting point of the expansion of this industry and owing to the ideas and methods introduced by that Association, it was found necessary in more recent years to create the Ministry of Agriculture, which includes within its sphere of operations not only the governmental control of the agricultural and pastoral industries, but also the entire range of the Republic's foreign commerce. The annual shows of the Rural Society in Buenos Aires attract visitors from all parts of Europe and it has been conceded that for the variety and all-round quality of the animals exhibited, they excel the regularly established shows of Europe. At the 1913 exhibition of the Argentine Rural Society, the locally-bred champion Short-horn Bull, "Americus," created a world's record by realizing the unprecedented price of about $35,000 ($80,000 currency), whilst even larger sums have been obtained for yearlings produced in the country. Nor is this surprising when it is stated that Argentine breeders have paid the highest known prices for pure pedigree stock, in which general statement may be included the payment of more than $150,000 each for three famous Derby winners. The breeds of cattle most encouraged in Argentina are Shorthorns and Herefords, Lincolns predominating in Sheep and Clydesdales and Percherons in Horses. Still, there are hundreds of millions of acres of rich pasture lands not yet stocked, so that when the time comes to place these vast areas under cultivation, the number of animals that could be maintained is almost illimitable. It should be