The first shipments of any great importance took place in the season of 1879-80. In the following season (1880-81), the export figures had already reached 1,250,000 barrels. At that time the shipments were made almost exclusively from New York, whereas since then other ports, and notably Boston, have acquired importance in connection with the export of apples.

The largest European markets for American apples are Glasgow, Liverpool, and London. Last year, Germany took only 22,861 barrels from the United States. It is probable, however, that the shipments to this Empire will increase this year to 100,000 barrels or

more.

GLAUCHAU, September 28, 1899.

GEO. SAWTER,

Consul.

SHEEP AND WOOL IN GERMANY.

Under date of September 6, 1899, Consul Pitcairn, of Hamburg, transmits the following statistics on wool imports into and sheep breeding in Germany for the last twenty-eight years:

The decrease of sheep breeding and the increase of the importation of wool have a mutual bearing, and naturally inflict serious damage upon the German product.

According to the report of the Prussian Landes-OeconomieCollegiums, the average loss to farmers in the last twelve years, caused by the falling off in sheep breeding, amounted annually to $8,568,000. The number of sheep has decreased 12,000,000 head, thereby causing a meat-value loss of $5,712,000. In 1894, Germany imported 3,399,000 cwts. (373,890,000 pounds) of wool, and produced 400,000 cwts. (44,000,000 pounds).

In the United States, the number of sheep raised has increased from 5,000,000 to 50,000,000 head, while in Germany the number has decreased from 40,000,000 to 10,000,000 head.

Through Hamburg, wool was imported by sea as follows:

Annual imports of wool at the port of Hamburg.

In 1898, the wool came principally from the following countries:

Does not this look like an opening for American wool?

THE GRAIN SITUATION IN FRANCE.

The French wheat crop may be described as very good. It is, in fact, reported by the Government to be somewhat larger than last year's abundant harvest. But for the fact that Marseilles and the surrounding district always require certain kinds of foreign grain, France would have enough wheat for domestic consumption. These special qualities are soft descriptions rich in gluten (which latter is almost entirely lacking in French-grown produce) and hard wheat destined for semolina manufacturing (which class is not produced here at all).

This year comparatively little American wheat has been imported to Marseilles, prices being held too high as compared with Russian figures. Only a stray lot now and then found occasional purchasers. If, however, the United States has-at reasonable prices-such qualities as are rare in Russia this year-that is, the glutinous varietiesa good trade could be done until next summer. Unfortunately, so the French houses state, American exporters expect people to buy everything on faith. A good many qualities grown in the United States are not known here and are not represented even by sample.

American corn sold pretty well up to six weeks ago, but now prices are reported to be entirely out of reach. If, however-and it is confidently expected to happen-the French chambers vote the "admission temporaire❞—i. e., allow corn to enter and go to the mills in bond, as does wheat-American white corn particularly will come into favor again, as it can be employed for sundry mixing purposes.

Heavy quantities of American oats were brought here two months ago, as the French crop was reported to be short and the Algerian crop very bad. But consumption, for unknown reasons, is very slow, so that a sharp decline has taken place in values. This is thought to be only temporary.

MARSEILLES, October 4, 1899.

ROBERT P. SKINNER,

Consul.

BELGIAN REGULATIONS FOR MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF CHEESE.

Consul Roosevelt transmits from Brussels, September 27, 1899, translation of a decree published in the official journal-Moniteur Belge-of September 21, 1899, relative to the manufacture and sale of cheese in Belgium, as follows:

The cheese trade is subjected to the following stipulations independent of those of articles 454 to 457-498, 500 to 503 and 561 and 3 of the penal code relative to foods mixed with matters of a nature seriously harmful to health, counterfeited or adulterated food, tainted or decomposed alimentary products; also of those royal decrees relative to utensils, vessels, etc., used in the manufacture and sale of alimentary products and coloring matter.

ARTICLE I. There shall be understood by cheese, for the application of the present regulation, products obtained from pure milk, skimmed milk, milk rendered sour by the aid of rennet or acidification, or any other product obtained by heating whey mixed or not with coloring matter, salt, and spices, having been subjected to pressure, fermentation, or boiling.

ART. 2. Cheese containing substances not mentioned in the above specification can not be sold or exposed for sale, kept, or transported for sale or delivery without being provided with a label, printed in plain characters, indicating the nature of the foreign substance added, as, for example, potato cheese, bread cheese, oleomargarine cheese. This stipulation is not applicable to Roquefort cheese, to which is added a small quantity of bread crumbs.

ART. 3. The following are declared injurious by the application of article 561 of the penal code, modified by article 5 of the law of August 4, 1890.

(1) Cheese made with milk, sale of which is prohibited by the regulation relative to this product.

(2) Cheese mixed with mineral matter other than salt.

(3) Cheese mixed with antiseptics.

It is forbidden to employ in the manufacture or preparation of cheese any of the above-mentioned substances or other matter prejudicial or injurious to health. ART. 4. Recipients or wrappers containing cheese kept for sale or delivery in wholesale or partly wholesale quantity must bear the name or firm name, as well as the address or mark of the maker or seller.

ART. 5. Infringements of the preceding stipulations will be punished by fines fixed by the law of August 4, 1890, without prejudice to the application of penalties established by the penal code.

APHTHOUS STOMATITIS IN BELGIUM.

On the 8th instant (September) the veterinary inspectors of the agricultural districts of Belgium met at the Department of Agriculture and Public Works, under the presidency of the minister of said department, to study measures necessary for checking the spread of aphthous stomatitis, as the manner of contagion of the disease is still very little understood.

It was unanimously admitted that the spreading of the disease

was generally attributable to the carelessness of the farmers, who are very negligent in making prompt declaration of sick animals. The neighboring farmers, instead of seeking to avoid the contagion, visit stables where the disease is raging, handle the sick animals, and in this manner communicate the disease to their own stables.

Communal administrations also fail to strictly observe the enforcing of the sanitary police regulations, permitting the circulation of sick cattle, for fear of offending owners. Consequently, it has been considered necessary to increase the rural police and allow more discretionary power than was formerly given to the mounted police.

The measures taken concerning the prohibition of fairs and markets were thoroughly discussed as to results. The majority of the veterinary inspectors present expressed an opinion in favor of continuing fairs and markets, as the animals exhibited for sale must be visited by the veterinary surgeons and, if necessary, immediately isolated. On the other hand, it is suggested that if these fairs and markets are prohibited, clandestine markets will be held, where animals will escape examination. A number of inspectors, however, advocate enforcing suppressions of fairs and markets.

Posting notices on stables making known the presence of sick animals was recommended. A lengthy discussion on the still very doubtful question of vaccinations occupied the attention of the meeting. GEO. W. Roosevelt,

BRUSSELS, September 12, 1899.

Consul.

PLAN TO SELL GOODS IN EUROPE.

I am very much interested in a plan for selling goods, outlined in a letter and circular which I received from an experienced commercial traveler in yesterday's mail.

The letter and circular were sent to me, as he desires to represent upon his next journey over Europe an American manufacturer in each of the following lines: (1) Bedsteads; (2) cycles and motor cars; (3) American hardware and tools; (4) grass mowers, reapers, and binders; (5) laundry and other machinery. On the circular there are printed many testimonials and extracts from letters, showing that he is a man with whom business houses at various times have had satisfactory connections. In his circular, the writer states that he has traveled over Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia for seventeen years in the interests of different engineering firms. Since the beginning of 1897, he travels each year all over Europe (except Greece) for a number of firms whose business does

not clash, and represents these firms on "part expenses and commission," his itinerary including Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, northern Russia, central Russia, southern Russia, the Caucasus, Roumania, Austria, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and France. He says:

I make a contract for a year, and I engage to travel at least eight months. Last journey took about ten months, instead of eight months. I write from all principal towns and send the orders and report fully.

In regard to payment of accounts, I am very careful to obtain information on the spot through bankers and forwarding agents; but it is as well to subscribe to such firms as Confidenza, Prudenza, Eckel of Lyons and Basel, etc., by which means an official report costs 41⁄2d. or 5d. (9 or 10 cents), instead of 2s. 6d. (61 cents) in England. My terms are £100 ($486.78) toward expenses of the whole journey and commission of 3 per cent on new accounts and 2 per cent on all old accounts from the ground I cover, but no commission wherever there are agents already. I collect accounts or do any business required. If my employers or their sons or friends choose to go on a journey with me, I undertake to teach them French, German, Italian, or Spanish in my spare time without extra charge, and to give them the full benefit of twenty years' commercial experience in continental countries. Highest references and guaranties.

I am not writing this to recommend the man, but the plan, though I have given him the names of the American manufacturers he desired.

MARSHAL HALSTEAD,

BIRMINGHAM, September 19, 1899.

Consul.

TRUSTS IN GERMANY.

Kuhlow's German Trade Review and Exporter, of Berlin, in its edition of September 20, 1899, contains the following editorial on trusts in Germany, which will be of interest to the American people as showing that the United States is not the only country where trusts are formed:

RINGS IN GERMANY.

For industries in Germany, the last few years have been an era of rings. In this matter Germany has not taken the lead, but she is following with increased eagerness the example given by more advanced countries. During recent years, a number of new industrial rings was founded or their organization was planned. Thus, in 1898, there were founded the unions of iron-wire manufacturers, of woolengoods manufacturers, of iron-goods dealers, of wall-paper manufacturers, of cast-iron manufacturers, of cloth dealers, of asphaltum manufacturers, of yarn consumers, of cotton-yarn consumers, of indigo exporters, etc.

Rings in the textile industries.—As to the effectiveness of the rings in the textile industry during the past year, the following is reported:

The union for promoting the German linen and hosiery industry has been able to develop a very satisfactory activity in the interest of its members in the political