with the many complaints of lack of supplies, especially in the southern region, tend to 

 confirm the claim that the crop of 1915 was a very poor one and much below the official 

 estimate." The acreage in wheat varied as follows for the years 1913, 1914 and 1915 

 respectively, 16,170,000 acres, 15,155,000 and 14,065,000 acres, the latter for 1915 

 being 2,105,000 acres under the acreage for 1913. The official report of winter wheat 

 seeded up to January 1, 1916, gave an acreage of 12,500,000. It is hoped, however, that 

 this may eventually be substantially increased. 



On August 31st last Mr. Broomhall quoted the "Times," in which it was stated 

 among other items of news concerning the French wheat crop that the "total French 

 requirements of wheat have been officially ascertained at 43,000,000 quarters" 

 (344,000,000 bushels). If we are to accept Mr. Broomhall's more recent statement that 

 the French crop has been "a very poor one and much below the official estimate" 

 (237,009,000 bushels), the French requirements would appear to be larger than the 

 Broomhall estimate which we have used, viz. 72,000,000 bushels. Reducing the 

 official estimate by only 13,000,000 bushels to 224,000,000, 120,000,000 bushels would 

 be needed to replenish the supplies. However, a great saving in wheat will doubtless 

 result from the French decree directing that the people should use a loaf in which enters 

 only 75% of wheaten flour. The decree defines what may be used in the other 25%; 

 certain unusual but valuable foods of the sago, tapioca, and arrowroot types are 

 suggested as ingredients, and such a loaf would be 5% cheaper than the whole wheaten 

 loaf. But even 20,000,000 bushels would be a large saving under such an arrangement, 

 and 100,000,000 bushels would apparently have to be imported to make up the deficiency. 



Unfortunately, the out-turn of the other crops in 1915 was such that it is difficult 

 to conceive how they can serve as substitutes for wheat. The following is the showing 

 for the past three years: — 



1915 1914 1913 



Bushels. Bushels. Bushels. 



Rye 39,086,000 44,814,000 50,056,000 



Oats 242,912,000 299,610,000 336,049,000 



Barley 36,113,000 46,136,000 47,939,000 



Potatoes 332,791,000 440,657,000 477,115,000 



Short tons. Short tons. Short tons. 



Sugar Beets 1,662,500 4,134,880 6,647,000 



It may here be mentioned incidentally that the number of cattle in France were 

 reported on July 1, 1915, as 12,286,849 head compared with 13,120,649 on December 

 31, 1914, a decrease of 833,800 head in six months. 



The situation, in so far as our gallant and loyal ally is concerned, may enable the 

 reader to form some conception of the terrible havoc that war is playing with agriculture 

 in practically all the belligerent countries and of the unlimited demand on the abundant 

 stores of the exporting countries which is likely to persist. 



Broomhall, February 22nd, gives French imports for five months August 1st — 

 December 3Jst as 40 million bushels. Imports at the same rate for the remaining seven 

 months would reach a total of 96 millions. 



It is now necessary to- examine the sources of supply that are called upon to furnish 

 the 600 odd million bushels of wheat that the importing world will require, and also to 

 replenish the reserves of the exporting countries in such manner that they will not be 

 unduly depleted, as they were on August 1st of last year. 



The chief exporting countries with their actual exports of wheat and wheat flour 

 converted into wheat during the grain years 1913-14 and 1914-15, together with their 

 estimated exports during 1915-16 are given as follows: — 



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