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



education, and the widespread diffusion of technical agricultural know- 

 ledge among the Gennan agrarian class. 



Man^carrying Power Compared. 



Before considering these developments, let us consider one final 

 proof of the efficiency of German agriculture. The ultimate criterion 

 ■of the efficiency of a nation's agriculture is the population it can sup- 

 port on a unit area. In 1888 the population of Germany was esti- 

 mated at 48,000,000. In 1913 the ,population had increased to 

 67,000,000. In spite of this enormous increase there was no falling 

 off in the percentage of foodstuffs raised within the Empire. 



From 1910 to 1913, 97 per cent of the oats, 100 per cent, of the 

 rye, 98.6 per cent, of the potatoes used in Germany were produced 



GRAPH SHOWING AVERAGE YIELD PER ACRE OF POTATOES IN GERMANY 

 IN QUINQUENNIAL PERIODS FOR PAST 35YEARS 



within the Empire. Only in wheat was her production short of home 

 requirements — 68 per cent, of the total required being produced at 

 home. 



