THE PRODUCTION OF WHEAT 



21 



actual area possible for grain is taken as 80 per cent, of 

 column (1), because about one-fifth, of the total crop 

 each year is devoted to the production of hay and chaff. 

 Column (5) is the product of columns (3) and (4). 



The actual wheat production for Australia is given 

 in the following table: 



TABLE VI. 



WHEAT PRODUCTION IN AUSTRALIA, 1916-17. 



(&) European Area. This area, extending over the 

 whole of Western and Central Europe, comprises almost 

 all the importing countries, while Roumania is the only 

 exporting country of any importance. The whole of 

 the area has been cultivated for the production of 

 wheat for several centuries, and consequently cultivation 

 assumes the mark of intensity in opposition to the 

 extensive methods prevalent in the other countries which 

 we have been considering. The law of diminishing 

 returns has for some time been in operation, but owing 

 to the greatly increased demand which has pressed down 

 the margin, wheat growing is still a highly remunerative 

 pursuit, and the area produces more than half the 

 world's supply. 



The conditions under which the cereal is produced are 

 much the same over the whole area. A favourable rain- 

 fall in the growing season with a hot sun in the ripening 

 period goes far to counterbalance any disadvantages 

 which are experienced on account of soil exhaustion. 

 Moreover, this latter difficulty is overcome to a con- 

 siderable extent by artificial manuring, a skilful rotation 



