4 i6 THE WHEAT PLANT 



and European Russia, each with an annual harvest of over 600 millions of 

 bushels. Occupying the third and fourth places, with yields of over 300 

 millions, are France and India, followed by Canada with some 200 millions. 

 Other countries whose harvests yield from 150 to 180 millions of bushels 

 are Italy, Hungary, Germany, and Argentina. 



While all countries which grow wheat use it for bread-making, some 

 of them produce more than they need and export it to others whose crop 

 is insufficient for their requirements. 



From 500 to 600 millions of bushels are needed by the importing 

 countries, about four-fifths being supplied by the United States, Canada, 

 Russia, and Argentina. Of all countries the United Kingdom imports 

 by far the greatest amount, some 200 millions being required annually. 

 Holland and Belgium absorb about 60 millions each, while Italy takes 

 between 40 to 50 million bushels. 



While the total yield of grain which a country produces is of national 

 interest, the yield per acre is of primary importance to the farmer, and 

 all his efforts are directed towards improving it. 



In a class by themselves may be placed the countries in which the 

 average yield is over 30 bushels per acre, and with the exception of New 

 Zealand all are found in Western Europe. The conditions governing 

 these high yields are the rainfall during the growing period and the 

 climatic conditions which allow of the cultivation of winter wheats with a 

 long growing period, together with the intensive cultivation and manuring 

 of the soil which is practised in these countries. 



In contrast with these countries are the large numbers in which the 

 average yield is below 20 bushels per acre. On account of the severity 

 of the winters, the low rainfall, or the very brief growing season, only 

 spring wheats of short growing period can be grown, and the difficulties 

 connected with the cost of better cultivation and manuring of the land 

 militate against higher yields. 



The average yields of wheat in this country have risen gradually from 

 the earliest times down to the present day. Rogers states that 8 bushels or 

 less was the average yield during the first half of the fourteenth century, 

 and records of 3 to 6 bushels are not infrequent at that period, the amount 

 sown being about 2 bushels per acre. 



In the thirteenth century Walter of Henley gives 10 bushels per acre 

 as a fair return, and incidentally remarks that if the yield is only three 

 times the amount of the seed sown (i.e. 6 bushels per acre) a farmer will 

 gain nothing unless the price of grain is abnormally high. 



In the work on " Hosebonderie." written in the early part of the four- 

 teenth century, it is said that " wheat ought by right to yield to the fifth 

 grain," i.e. 10 bushels per acre. 



From this period up to the middle of the sixteenth century, yields of 



