A PERUVIAN AGRICULTURIST.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2419, 6 February 1909, Page 5

A PERUVIAN AGRICULTURIST.

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW

[Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Feb. 5. Senor Gearardo .Kiinge, of the Department of Development. Lima, Peru, South America, arrived in New Zealand by the Mokoia to-dav to study the agricultura'l, pastoral;" and dairy conditions of New Zealand on ■behalf of the Peruvian Government. It is Senor Klinge’s intention to visit the Australian States on a similar mission later on. In an interview with a “Post” reporter to-day, Senor Kiinge stated that lie had -already visited Canada, the United States of America, and the various South American Republics »in search of knowledge. In its one million square miles of territory, lie said, Peru embraced practically all climatic conditions, and could raise almost every class of product, tropical products in the east, towards tlie Amazon, while the colder clmatos o"f the mountains and the semi-tropical near tlie coast produced sugar, cotton, and rubber. Stock-raising up to the present lias not been, well developed owing to lack of markets, but it was expected that when the Panama canal was opened and the European markets were brought nearer, the development of trade would receive more attention. The principal dairying country was situated on the highlands of tlie Andes, while, sheep-rearing and woolproducing are also largely carried on in the same territory. At present tlie only -breed of sheep cir’tivated is the old Spanish Merino, but the people engaged in that branch of industrial pursuit are now importing stud sheep'from Patagonia, which sheep, lie mentioned, originally came from Australia. Senor Kiinge expects to remain in New Zealand about two months, or longer if neccsssary. The Sonor’s exploration in the Argentine greatly impressed him, particularly the possibilities of the country and the wonderful strides that had been made in the development of tlie stockraising industry. Dairying was comparatively speaking almost in its infancy, but it was rapidly advancing, and promised' well tor the future, it is Senor Klinge’s intention to make a thorough investigation of farming methods as they are carrried on m this country, both prvately anil by the State. *He intends visiting the various State farms carried on bv the Government, and will also make it his business to inspect some of the leading if arms in the 'Dominion.