196 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [25 April, 1917. 



In the recent Rumanian campaign, millions of bushels of wheat, oats, 

 barley, and other foodstufFs, representing the 1916 crop, and the surplus 

 of the two previous crops, were destroyed to prevent the food falling 

 into German hands. 



At sea hundreds of thousands of tons of shipping have been sent to 

 the bottom every month. A large portion of the tonnage represented 

 foodstuffs destined for European nations. 



The falling off in production has been due to two things : — 

 (a) A diminished acreage in Allied and neutral nations. 

 (6) A bad season for the Northern Hemisphere. 



When we turn to the other great staple food — meat, which includes 

 fats — the position is no better. The Central Empires have been com- 

 pelled, in order to preserve their grain for human food, to slaughter 

 enormous numbers of cattle, sheep, and pigs, and that applies to a lesser 

 extent, perhaps, to the Allied coimtries. 



Not only during the continuance of the war, but in all probability 

 for several years after hostilities have ceased, the flocks and herds 

 cannot be materially increased, and it will take some time for agri- 

 cultural activities to be restored to normal conditions. 



Another important factor that is likely to reduce the world's supply 

 of food is the insufficient supply of artificial manures, which are abso- 

 lutely essential to heavy crop production. This is particularly true of 

 nitrates for CJermany and her Allies, and potash for Allied and neutral 

 countries. 



Australia has been able to help in sending her troops to fight shoulder 

 to shoulder with the troops of Britain. "We have taken our share of 

 I'le financial responsibilities of the Empire, and now the call comes for 

 those of us who remain behind in security to do all we can to provide 

 the most abundant supply of foodstuffs. 



The position in which the Empire and her Allies are placed must 

 give us in Australia very grave concern, and must compel us to ask our- 

 selves the question : How far can we help to supply the Empire's 

 needs ? 



The help we have given the Empire in providing men has been 

 appreciated by the Mother Country as of the utmost importance, but 

 in all probability the growing of foodstuffs during the time referred to 

 will be of even greater importance than the supplying of troops. The 

 Empire's requirements in this regard gives Australian producers a great 

 opjjortunity for highly profitable agricultural expansion. 



In regard to wheat, this season and its predecessor, have seen Aus- 

 tralia secure two record crops, despite the considerable difficulties with 

 which the Australian farmers have had to contend. 



When we consider the question of live stock, the position is much less 

 satisfactory. While Germany, the Argentine, and many other countries 

 have enormously increased the number of their live stock during the 

 last twenty years, that of Australia has not only not increased, but 

 to-day the number is considerably less than twenty years ago. We find 

 that in 1894 we had twelve and a quarter million cattle, and one hundred 

 and six and a quarter million of sheep, while just prior to the last 

 drought we had 11,000,000 cattle and 82,000,000 sheep, and the number 

 to-day, both of cattle and sheep, is much less than in 1914. 



