WHEAT IN ASIA 289 



with a total of 1,120,000 square miles ; and the 

 Transcaucasus province lying between the Black 

 and Caspian seas. 



The Wheat Area in Siberia. - - Siberia is larger 

 than all Europe. In population, however, it 

 but slightly exceeds one person per square mile. 

 It extends across Asia in approximately the same 

 latitude as Canada. It is estimated that there 

 are about 500,000 square miles of fertile, black 

 soil which is well adapted to cereal production. 

 Two hundred twelve thousand square miles of 

 this soil lie in west Siberia, and about 288,000 

 square miles in east Siberia. Of the 103,283,000 

 bushels of wheat produced by Asiatic Russia in 

 1912, Siberia contributed much more than one 

 half. This is further localized in that at present 

 the principal grain-producing regions are those 

 in the western part of Siberia. 



The Climate and Soil. - - In all the producing 

 area the two chief factors to be considered are 

 latitude and altitude. Of course in each case this 

 is largely a temperature control. The high plains 

 to the southeast because of their altitude suffer 

 from early frosts so frequently that grains cannot 

 be depended upon to mature. Likewise in the 

 lowlands of western Siberia the climate is un- 

 favorable for successful cultivation north of 61 

 north latitude. The principal agricultural re- 

 gion thus lies between parallels 55 and 57. This 



