Il6 CHILE - MISCELLANEOUS 



1. Cereals — The chief crop, as shown by the preceding table is that of 

 cereals, especially of wheat, grown upon 38% of the cultivated area ; it 

 yields on an average from 10 to 11 quintals per hectare. On irrigated land, 

 where wheat alternates with leguminous plants and maize, the yield is 15 

 quintals per hectare : on other farms, that is on the greater part of the 

 wheat growing area, the land lies fallow for a year after the Vvheat crop 

 and here naturally the yield is less, not more than 6 or 7 quintals per hec- 

 tare. 



The current prices on the local market during the first months of 191 3 

 were, for every 73.60 kilograms, 16 pesos in February, 20 pesos in April, 

 18 pesos in May. The average price of wheat in 1909 was 14 pesos. The great- 

 er part of the produce is consumed in the country ; ir 1900 it was even necess- 

 ary to import. But of late wheat has been more extensively cultivated, 

 so that in 1911 it was possible to export 13,841 tons, chiefly to Great 

 Britain (5,300 tons) and to Germany (3,400 tons). 



On the London market Chilian wheat {Standard Chilian White Wheat) 

 is sold at 37 shillings for 500 lbs. On June 13th., 1913, the price was 

 £ 1.17s. 3d. This price is for wheat on quay and includes freight and in- 

 surance. 



Wheat farms tend to occupy the arid rather than the irrigated 

 land, which is used, more for intensive cultivation or the production 

 of cattle or the raising of dairy cows and cattle for fattening, because the 

 profits are thus found to be much greater. 



Second in importance comes the cultivation of barley, of which about 

 800,000 quintals are produced (i); about 15 or 16 quintals per hectare. About 

 half is consumed in the country for making beer or as cattle food; a part 

 is reserved for seed and the rest is exported. Great Britain purchases 

 nearly ^/m. On the lyondon market, Chilian barley is highly prized, and 

 the finer qualities are used for making the best beer. A quarter of 448 lbs. 

 was sold (June, 1913) for £ 1.12s. 6d., freight and insurance included. On 

 the local market the price at the same date was 13 14 pesos for 71 kilograms. 



Of oats about 400,000 quintals are produced, at the rate of about 12 

 quintals per hectare ; this is nearly all exported. 



2. Cattle Foods. — As regards extent of area cultivated, cattle foods, 

 grown on about 500,000 hectares, come next after the cereals. The 

 greater part of this area is covered with artificial grass utilized as pasture 

 for cattle. Only 40,000 hectares are utilised for the production of ensilage 

 and for seed. 



In the provinces lying to the north and centre of the middle zone 

 lucern predominates, and clover in that to the south. The amount of en- 

 silage produced is calculated at 2,000,000 quintals and is exclusively ob- 

 tained from lucern; the amount of seed, chiefly of clover, is about 25,000 

 quintals. 



(i) The private authorities above mentioned state that the production of barley is about 

 1,500,000 quintals annually. 



