UNITED STATES' WHEAT-GROWING CAPACITY. 149 



years ending 1878, and at the present time is 4.5 bushels. . . . 

 Should all the wheat-growing countries add to their area to the 

 utmost capacity, on the most careful calculation the yield would give 

 us only an addition of some 100,000,000 acres, supplying at the aver- 

 age world yield of 12.7 bushels to the acre, 1,270,000,000 bushels, 

 just enough to supply the increase of population among bread-eaters 

 till the year 1931. At the present time there exists a deficit in the 

 wheat area of thirty-one thousand square miles. . . . When pro- 

 vision shall have been made if possible to feed 230,000,000 units 

 likely to be added to the bread-eating populations by 1931, by the 

 complete occupancy of the arable areas of the temperate zone now 

 partially occupied, where can be grown the additional 330,000,000 

 bushels of wheat required ten years later by a hungry world? If 

 bread fails — not only us, but all the bread-eaters of the world — what 

 are we to do? We are born wheat-eaters. Other races, vastly 

 superior to us in numbers, but differing widely in material and intel- 

 lectual progress, are eaters of Indian corn, rice, millet, and other 

 grains; but none of these grains have the food value, the concen- 

 trated health-sustaining power of wheat, and it is on this account 

 that the accumulated experience of civilized mankind has set wheat 

 apart as the fit and proper food for the development of muscle and 

 brains." 



Sir William then proceeds to deal with the salvation by chem- 

 istry. But before taking notes from that part of his address, is it not 

 singular to remark this tendency of the scientist as well as of the 

 English farmer to think only in terms of wheat, wholly ignoring 

 other grains? It may be interesting to point out the exact difference 

 in the nutrients. 



Wheat flour is analyzed in the following statement: 



Water 11.6 



Protein 11.1 



Fats 1.1 



Carbohydrates 75 . 6 



Mineral matters 0.6 



Total nutrients 88.4 



Potential energy in one pound 1,660 calories. 



Corn or maize meal differs only as follows: 



Water 14.5 



Protein 9.1 



Fats 3.8 



Carbohydrates VI .0 



Mineral matters 1.6 



Total nutrients 85.5 



Potential energy in one pound 1,650 calories. 



