WHEAT IN EUROPE 307 



per acre. Nevertheless on account of the large 

 acreage the total production is high. In 1912 it 

 amounted to about 624,000,000 bushels. Among 

 the countries of the world Russia ranks second 

 only to the United States. With the opening of 

 wheat territory which now lies unused and the 

 introduction of modern farming methods, Russia 

 is in position to make a strong bid for the first 

 place in wheat production. 



The Marketing of Wheat in This Region. - - Al- 

 though many elevators have been built during 

 recent years to facilitate the handling of grain, 

 the greater part of the wheat is still marketed in 

 sacks. Canals and railways furnish fairly good 

 market facilities. Nearly one half of the freight 

 tonnage carried by the railroads consists of wheat 

 or wheat products, and even then over 20 per cent 

 of the grain is carried on waterways. This empha- 

 sizes the fact that wheat is Russia's greatest com- 

 mercial asset. 



In exports Russia takes high rank. In 1911 

 more than 150,000,000 bushels of wheat were sent 

 to other countries. This is nearly twice as much 

 as was exported by the United States in the same 

 year. The yield varies so much with different 

 years that comparisons are difficult, but Russia 

 is always one of the world's greatest exporters. 

 The chief export centers are Riga and Odessa. 

 The latter is now said to be the greatest wheat- 



