when farmers farm as they should, the larger and better ones will find a place.

A few of the manufacturers of the United States have sent representatives, and the bulk of the implements have been sold from catalogue. Samples are worth more than catalogues. Many United States implements should be used here, and would be more efficient and better adapted for the work than those now employed.

Agricultural implements of all kinds are admitted free of duty. In the line of implements, as in all others, the market should be studied with the fact in mind that both England and Germany are good imitators, and that America must do all she can to keep this trade. Durable goods should be made, and, although they may not be expensive and such as are used at home, in time the best will be wanted.

It would pay manufacturers to exhibit at the fairs held here during the months of February, March, and April.

Imports for 1897 fell off $148,366.08 as compared with those of 1896, due to losses through the rinderpest, fly, and drought.

HARNESS.

The imports of harness into South Africa in 1897, with the exception of Natal and Lourenço Marquez, were:

For Natal, the total value was £57,906 ($281,789), the countries of origin not being given; but it is estimated that about the same proportion came from the United States as given above.

The United States should do a better business in this line. Samples of harness sent to the United States could be duplicated and again sent here, at a less price than now charged, with a good margin of profit. Pack saddles for mules, head collars with ring, Boer saddles, team harness; barouche, cab, and other harness, if made to meet the demand, would find a market; as well as all kinds of girths, etc.

The harness used here is usually of "russet" color. An ordinary single harness sells at $55 to $75; double harness, $125 to $250; and cart harness is offered as low as $25.

The duty on harness is £9 on every £100 value.

On May 5, Mr. Stowe writes:

LUMBER.

I have the honor to submit, per request, the imports of lumber

The total was £822,624 ($4,003, 299). The United States furnished:

Timber is a scarce article in this country, and must be imported. Not only boards, sticks, planks, sashes, doors, frames, and moldings, but woodwork partly manufactured, shaped, bent, but not finished, is in demand.

COAL.

Imports of coal into South Africa for 1897 were:

The coal from the United Kingdom was largely from Cardiff, Wales.

There is plenty of coal in Africa, but thus far it has been mined. only on the surface. At deeper levels the quality must improve, but at present the Natal coal has steaming qualities only 20 per cent less than that from Wales. American bituminous coal has no better steaming qualities than the African coal, although, as above stated, only surface coal has thus far been mined.

African coal is to-day worth at the mines $4.25 per ton. There is much difficulty in obtaining experienced labor, and but a small quantity is mined in consequence. Mine owners would be glad to

pay from $2.50 to $3 per day for good workmen, and steady employment would be furnished.

The duty on coal is 50 cents per ton, less a rebate of 5 per cent ad valorem.

Cardiff coal is worth here to-day $20 per ton, owing to the strike in Wales. This figure is only temporary, but coal never can be sold at a price that would be considered reasonable, owing to the long transportation. American soft coal would bring in this market today about $8 per ton, but I am not prepared to say at what price it could be laid down here. At all events, American miners would find employment.

GROCERIES AND PROVISIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

The following reports have been received from Consul-General Stowe, of Cape Town:

Under date of May 13, 1898, he sends the following list of retail prices in Cape Colony on May 1 for groceries and provisions produced in the United States:

FLOUR AND CEREALS.

On May 2, Mr. Stowe says:

Imports of flour, wheat, and corn for the year 1897 into all ports of South Africa, with the exception of Lourenço Marquez, were as follows:

The United States has, as can be seen, the great bulk of the trade. Flour is received in bags weighing 200 pounds, or in barrels weighing 196 pounds-the former preferred. The quantity of flour consumed by the white population is the same per capita as in any ordinary community in America. The natives consume but little flour, corn being their principal food of cereal nature.

Most of the flour is made from wheat imported from the United States. There are about fifty mills in South Africa, with an average capacity of fifty barrels per day when in operation. The shipments. from the United States have chiefly been via New York and San Francisco. Wheat from Australia would have been largely imported in 1897, if the crops had not failed. South America, only fifteen to sixteen days' voyage, has also sent wheat. Wheat and corn can be grown as well in Africa as elsewhere, if the farmers knew how to farm (see report on agricultural implements*), but it will be many years before this country produces enough for home consumption; hence the supply must be foreign. Flour is worth to-day to the consumer 5 cents per pound; corn meal, 3 cents per pound; bread, per loaf of 4 pounds, 24 cents. With wheat at a lower price, the demand would be larger and imports greater.

I

Preference is given by the millers to numbers 1 and 2 hard wheat. They do not mix wheat as do our millers in America; this they have yet to learn.

The great bulk of the wheat, flour, and corn imported has been sold through the export commission houses of the United States. At this writing, 2,000 bags of flour have been shipped into the interior, and over 4,000 bags of corn are to be sent to the Transvaal;

* Ante, P. 97.

three ships loaded with flour and wheat are now due at Delagoa Bay, and one vessel with 2,500 tons of wheat is now unloading at this port-all from Portland, Oreg., and San Francisco, a voyage of eighty days.

England buys our wheat and converts it into flour for this market. Why should we not send this flour direct? Flour with glucose (flourine) will not sell.

There is no stock of wheat in the open market, all going to the mills, and the supplies of American wheat to arrive are at a very high price. Quotations for California wheat in quantity are $7 per sack of 200 pounds. African corn is beginning to come in, and is selling at $2.62 per 100 pounds.

The duty on wheat and corn is 24 cents per 100 pounds, and on flour, $1.25 per 100 pounds. Imports of wheat and corn into South Africa decreased in 1897; flour increased $283,459.50.

The Australian crop this year is reported as being enough for the local demand, with only a small surplus for exportation.

Prices of wheat, flour, and corn are advancing rapidly, owing to the war and the fear that shipments from the United States will be delayed. Wheat has advanced 14 cents per bushel.

EGGS AND BUTTER.

Mr. Stowe adds, on May 2:

The imports of eggs for 1897 through all the ports of South Africa, with the exception of Lourenço Marquez, amounted to 2,650, 273, of which the United States furnished 252,468. The United States should have had a larger share. Eggs are selling to-day in Cape Town at 84 cents per dozen, and at higher rates in other parts of South Africa.

The rinderpest, so fatal to the cattle of this country, was supplemented during the past year by diseases among domestic fowls; hence, the scarcity and high price of eggs. The fast mail steamers from England bring eggs from Maderia on each trip south. Packed in baskets filled with salt, they arrive here fresh, although on the steamers they occupy the upper deck and are protected from the sun's rays only by tarpaulins.

Australia is sending a few in the refrigerator steamers that ply between Australian ports and England.

I can not too strongly urge producers of the United States to give attention to this line. It must be understood that not until steamers with cooling chambers are employed can this trade be captured. If Australia can send eggs here, a voyage of thirty-one