a 
CHAPTER III.—PRESENT SOURCES OF SUPPLY. 
Surplus meat sufficient in amount to justify an export 
business has depended, in the past, upon large pastures of 
the ranch type, a condition only present in countries of large 
spaces and small populations. As such areas become closely 
settled and industrialised, lack of space, increasing costs of pro- 
duction and a rising domestic demand, relegate the export business 
to a secondary position compared with the internal trade and, 
indeed, as in the case of beef in the United States, combine 
ocradually to bring about the point in comparative costs at which 
imports become economically possible. Virgin areas which fulfil 
the export conditions are rare in the northern hemisphere—the 
hemisphere of population—but practically every important 
country in the southern hemisphere is suitable. Local condi- 
tions—drought, disease, lack of suitable grasses for building the 
meat demanded by modern taste—modify here and there this 
suitability, but these modifications, in view of the keen interest 
in agricultural problems, may, in time, be overcome. It follows, 
00, that the regions suitable for meat production are confined 
to the temperate zone, though there are certain subtropical 
areas, such, for example, as Brazil and parts of Queensland, 
where altitude ensures a temperate climate, that can be utilised 
for the purpose. The tropics are unsuitable for the raising of 
rattle, but present great possibilities for the raising of foodstuffs 
which would enable larger herds to be carried in the temperate 
regions than would be possible without additional supplies of 
feed. * 
In the following summary of the present sources of supply, 
attention is, therefore, devoted solely to the southern hemi- 
sphere, because it is from southern countries that Great Britain 
derives practically all its supplies of refrigerated beef, mutton 
and lamb. Canada, it is true, supplies small quantities of frozen 
and chilled beef and smaller quantities of chilled and frozen 
mutton and lamb, but is more important as a supplier of 
cattle on the hoof, so that it falls more naturally into the 
study of the live-meat trade; but its potential importance 
in the trade in refrigerated meat must be borne in mind. 
This applies, too, to Eastern Asia, notably to Siberia and 
Manchuria. From the former, dairy-produce is exported in 
large quantities and, with improved transport facilities, closer 
settlement, and additional capital, a meat export business is 
possible ; time is, of course, a necessary factor. From Manchuria. 
some mutton is already exported. to this country. 
Regarding South America, attention is chiefly devoted to 
he Argentine and to Uruguay, which, being similar in general 
conditions, have been described together. Other States, namely, 
Paraguay, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela and Columbia, are not, at 
oresent, important as suppliers of beef, though supplies of mutton 
See Dr. FW. Shanahan © ‘“ Animal Foodstiiffe *