GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 55 



6,500,000 acres. Since then it has averaged about 6,352,000 CHAP, 

 acres per annum, with very little variation above or below, 

 from year to year, indicating that it has probably reached 

 its limit of geographical and economic distribution. Maize 

 has now become a staple article of food in India, especially 

 among the hill peoples. The average yield per acre ranges 

 from 714 lbs. to 1,841 lbs. (i.e. from less than 4 muids to over 9 

 muids, the latter yield being obtained only under irrigation) ; 

 the average production for all the States and Provinces is 

 slightly over 5 muids per acre. Maize is grown more exten- 

 sively in the hill country than on the plains, where it is 

 largely replaced by rice ; in the Panjab it is grown at about 

 7,000 feet altitude. In Baluchistan a dwarf breed is grown 

 successfully at between 5,000 and 9,000 feet altitude, where it 

 forms a staple food of the people {Mueller, 1). 



It seems hardly probable that India, with its dense popu- 

 lation and increasingly intensive agriculture, will become a 

 maize-exporting country ; it is more likely that she will be an 

 importer, in exchange for some of the more costly articles of 

 commerce which she produces in abundance. 



50. Australasia. — The total Australian maize area is only 

 about 385,000 acres, and the crop about 3,000,000 muids, of 

 which New South Wales contributes roughly one-half and 

 Queensland over one-third. The coastal belt appears to be 

 best suited to maize cultivation ; two crops may be grown 

 each year on the low coast lands of South Queensland. The 

 climatic conditions of the interior of the continent appear to 

 be generally too dry for maize-growing on a large scale, and 

 the irrigated lands are too valuable for lucerne and dairying, 

 to be devoted to maize-grain growing. Only a small quantity 

 is produced in New Zealand. In New Caledonia maize is the 

 principal cereal grown ; it is used for feeding horses (replacing 

 barley and oats), work-oxen, pigs, and poultry, but not for 

 human food {Jeanney, 1). 



From the point of view of competition in the European 

 trade, Australasia is not likely to be a serious competitor 

 with South Africa, owing to the much greater distance from 

 market, and the limited area available for maize production. 

 Development of the Australian meat trade may lead to a 

 larger consumption of maize, and to a steady import, in 



