300 THE WHEAT INDUSTRY 



export centers and is there loaded into the ocean- 

 going vessels. 



The Exportation of Wheat. - - Since the people 

 of India live largely on other grains, especially 

 rice, millet, and corn, a large percentage of the 

 wheat produced is exported. Much hand labor 

 is employed in loading the vessels, for native 

 workers are plentiful and wages are low. Indian 

 wheat is dirty and badly graded, in marked con- 

 trast to the clean and well-graded wheat from 

 Canada. The inferior market condition of the 

 Indian product is due to the circumstances under 

 which it is raised. Most of it is grown on small 

 peasants' holdings, is threshed by flail or is trodden 

 out by bullocks on a dirt floor, and is winnowed by 

 the wind. This growing of small patches in many 

 districts causes a mixingof the varieties, and the poor 

 threshing leaves it badly mixed with chaff and dirt. 

 For these reasons in English markets the Indian 

 wheat brings a lower price than that from Canada. 



Although India has several good harbors, be- 

 cause of insufficient protection they nearly all 

 suffer from the winds and storms of the monsoon 

 season. The most important export centers are 

 Karachi, Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. In 

 spite of the fact that its harbor is never safe for 

 large steamers during monsoon storms, Karachi is 

 India's greatest wheat-exporting center. 



The harbors of India are not equipped with 



