3 i4 THE WHEAT INDUSTRY 



100,000,000 bushels of wheat every year. Since 

 she sends out nearly three fourths of the wheat she 

 produces, her exports are important. In "1911 

 they were nearly as large as those of Australia. 

 Because of its macaroni qualities, much of the 

 wheat is sold in Italy. The data given illustrate 

 the importance of this small Balkan country in 

 producing the world's bread supply. 



The Bulgarian Wheat Fields. - - Bulgaria lies in 

 about the same latitude as New York. Its wheat- 

 producing area covers about 4300 square miles 

 and the northern part of the country produces 

 the greater part of the crop. This area consists 

 chiefly of the plains which lie between the Balkan 

 Mountains and the Danube River. The climate is 

 similar to that of Roumania, except for a some- 

 what heavier rainfall, which comes largely during 

 the spring and winter months. 



The cultural methods, though still crude in many 

 places, are rapidly becoming modernized. The 

 average size of fields is about eighteen acres. 

 When the country was under the direct control 

 of Turkey, the people were kept ignorant and 

 superstitious, and, consequently, they would not 

 use machinery. Since the country has become 

 independent of Turkey, the native rulers have 

 worked hard to introduce modern methods in 

 farming operations. 



Winter wheats are the principal varieties and 



