1904.] Wheat Growing in Argentina. 345 



producing the crop on 3,678 acres in 1902-3. In the first of 

 these estimates the work is, presumably, chiefly or entirely per- 

 formed by the farmer and his family, whilst in the other two 

 labour is allowed for. 



Cost of Producing One Acre of Wheat. 





A 



H 





Quantity produced, in bushels 



18 



22 



16 



Ploughing, harrowing, rolling, and sowing 

 Seed ... ... 



Harvesting and stacking 

 Thrashing 



Bags 



Hauling to railway station ... 



s. d. 



3 *i 



3 3 

 3 4* 

 7 3* 

 2 6 

 0 11 



S. d. 



4 n 



3 2j 



5 11 

 10 5 



2 ioi 



3 9} 



s. d. 



} * 6 



8 10 

 } 9 4 



O 72 



20 6| 



30 10 





The above figures are exclusive in each case of rent or interest 

 on value of land. Rent in Buenos Ayres is said to range from 

 is. 8d. to 1 6s. per acre, but Mr. Bicknell states that, from his 

 own observation, the best wheat land is let at from 2s. 1 id. to 

 8s. 4d. per acre, except that near the city of Buenos Ayres. A 

 minimum sum, therefore, of 3s. must be added to the above 

 items, so that the cost would seem to range from 23s. 6d. to 

 33s. lod. per acre. In the first estimate (A), however, there is 

 probably no allowance for the farmer's own labour or cost of 

 living, while in the second (B) the production is above the 

 average. In the third of these estimates, which represents the 

 actual ascertained cost over a considerable area, the rent is 

 stated to be 2s. 11-Jd. per acre, and the cost of raising an acre of 

 wheat, including all expenses, as 34s. 6|d., or almost 2s. 2d. per 

 bushel. This, however, was in a somewhat unfavourable season- 

 In the previous year a yield of 20J bushels was obtained at a 

 cost of 36s. 2d. per acre, so that the cost was is. 9^d. per 

 bushel. 



Comparing these figures with those which appeared in this 

 Journal in 1894, it would seem that there has been some 

 advance in the cost of production since that year, as it was then 

 estimated that, making every allowance for rent, living, interest 

 on capital, and depreciation, the cost, assuming a production of 



