18 WHEAT PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND 
is admirably suitable for the growth of wheat owing to 
the fact that abundant rains are common in spring and 
early summer, while a dry autumn renders harvest 
operations free of risk. 
The method of cultivation has been extensive, and 
owing to diminishing returns the margin of production 
has gradually moved from East to West. But more 
intensive cultivation is being taken up owing to the 
economic pressure of an increasing population, and the 
evolutionary law of increasing returns is being illus- 
trated, resulting in the centre of production gradually 
coming back from West to East. Moreover, on account 
of the increase of population combined with the increase 
in consumption both absolutely and relatively, larger 
supplies are being required annually, and consequently 
the United States of America is already a declining 
factor in the world’s wheat market. 
In the wheat producing areas of Russia natural 
conditions are not less favourable to production than 
in the United States of America. Immense undeveloped 
tracts of land similar to those in the wheat belt of the 
United States of America constitute an ideal field for 
wheat production, while climatic conditions are equally 
advantageous. But this similarity to the United States 
of America in natural resources is counterbalanced by 
dissimilarity in political practice, social theory, and 
economic conditions. The general ignorance of the 
people, poverty combined with absolute indifference to 
improvements in cultivation and production, the depen- 
dence of the Russian proletariat, and the oppression of 
the wealthy, all engender inefficiency, and retard the 
rate of progress.* 
Canadian land and climate are so favourably situated 
for the efficient production of wheat, that very high 
qualities are produced. Copious rainfall in the growing 
season followed by a dry autumn, are the chief features 
of the climate, while the soil is of the heavy black type. 
so favourable to the growth of wheat. In India and 
*Written before the events of 1917. 
