Demand For American Wheat

Tbe reason why so large a quantity of Americau wheat was imported into Australia last year is explatned by Daniel V. Maratta, United States eonsul-general at Melbourne, says the New York Times. It appears that woolgrowing is regarded by Australlans as much the most important industry, ' and in pursuing that the Australian farmer is often led to neglect the cultiration of whMt. As a rule, the larger "squatters," or ranchmen, do not care to devote their time to farming, pref iring to give all of their attention to sheep raising. "The consumption of wheat in thig colony," writes Consul Maratta, "i3 at the rate of six bushela to the acre, and as the erop of last year only yielded four and two-tenths bushels to the acre, it will readily be seen that the coionists were short of their requirements nearly two bushels to the acre. To meet thie defleiency, the first for a great many years, large importa were made from the United States. These shipments were made from San Francisco, with the exception of one or two vessels from New York." It is becoming a common custom 1 among Australian ranchmen to rent tlieir land for wheat-growing on shares, the ranchmen furnishing the land and i the seed and some neighboring farmer doing all the work. As the wool-growing imlustry, however. is constantly tending to crowd out the wheat cultiation, there is a prospect that ini creased demands upon America for ! wheat supplies ill be made in the future. Mr. Maraíta says: "It has been wondered how it is that Australia can produce wool, and, for that matter, sheep, so much more cheaply than America, and the answer, too, is very simple. First, the advantage lies In the climate. Here you have a climate where the sheep can and do safely spend every night during the year in the open air and without covering. Then the pasturaga is unlimited and virtually free. The cost of labor Is eheaper than with us, and station livirg ia eheaper, and all these thinga combine to cheapen the animal. You can purchase at a rctail butcher's hera j in Melbourne prime lamb and muttoo at from 5 to 6 cents per pound.' The merit of Hood's Saraaparilla Es üterally written in blood. It is Iraced in vital Huid Of millions of the human race, lts' positivo medicinal merit And curative power is written Upon the hearte; and graven upon The rainds of thousands Of people whom it has cured And given güod health When thereseemed nothing before Them but darkness and üespair. It cures aU diseases arising Fi-om or promoted by imp'jre Blood by its intrinsic merit a The One Truc Blood Puriila