CEREALS 19 



a large and relatively cheap supply of nitrogenous 

 fertilizer can be obtained from the atmosphere. Incident- 

 ally, I have to-day reminded you that scorching sunshine 

 producing the same effect may also increase the supply 

 of wheat. We have also seen how in large areas success- 

 ful wheat production is prevented by rust and other plant 

 diseases, and I have shown how the scientist appears to 

 be overcoming this serious hindrance to profitable wheat 

 production. Lack of moisture is another of these serious 

 hindrances; and I have indicated how the engineer with 

 his schemes of irrigation, and the agriculturist by con- 

 serving soil moisture, and the botanist by providing 

 varieties which will thrive on an exceedingly small rain- 

 fall, all have a hand in the work. In short, how, by 

 providing varieties, each one in the highest degree suitable 

 for a given environment, and by providing environments 

 each one optimum for given varieties, wheat growing 

 may be made more profitable in existing wheat fields, and 

 possible as a commercial proposition in enormous areas 

 yet untilled. If the world's yield per acre were large the 

 optimist had need be careful in his prophecies; but it is 

 small, so even the pessimist may prophesy " smooth 

 things " as to the future of wheat production when he 

 contemplates the work in progress. The problem is not 

 how to produce a quantity of wheat sufficient for the 

 world's requirements, but how to do it profitably at the 

 low prices which have been current for years. 



I cannot conceive reasons for anxiety in this matter. 

 An increase of 20 per cent., or even 40 per cent, in the 

 average yield per acre, may well be brought about by 

 methods I have indicated; it may become possible to grow 

 wheat profitably on large new areas at current prices; it 

 certainly can be done if those prices advance, so that as 

 regards the production of wheat in the world I am an 

 optimist, and I invite you all to be so, too, not only on 

 that point, but also as to the prospects of wheat pro- 

 duction in the tropics. 



