542 



Cereal Production in Greece. [dec, 



the Central Statistical Committee at St. Petersburg have esti- 

 mated the total wheat production of the seventy-two Governments 

 in 1904 at 82,818,000 qrs., or 355,000,000 cwt. This is con- 

 siderably more than last year, and also much over an average 

 crop. It may be anticipated, therefore, that during the season 

 1904-5 the bulk of the wheat consumed in the United Kingdom 

 will be of Russian, Argentine, and Indian origin. 



Greece at the present time imports cereals to the value of 

 nearly £1,500,000 per annum, but there is a good reason to 

 suppose that, with a better supply of 

 Cereal Production labour and better agricultural methods, 

 in Greece. 



Greece could supply itself with all the 

 grain required for home consumption. It is not easy to arrive 

 at a trustworthy estimate of the country's total production of 

 corn, but the following figures, which represent the only recent 

 compilation of the kind from official sources, have been supplied 

 to the British Delegate on the International Financial Com- 

 mission at Athens by an official of the Ministry of the Interior. 

 Without placing too great reliance on the accuracy of these 

 figures, it is permissible to accept them in their broad lines : — 



Cereals, 



Yield in 1900-01 





Thessaly. 



Other 

 Provinces. 



Total. j 





Bushels. 



Bushels. 



Bushels. 



Wheat 



2,276,798 



4,557,6*9 



6,834,457 



Meslin and Wheat and Barley 



229 490 



i,I99,56o 



1,429,050 



Barley ... 



789,812 



2,161,801 



2,951,613 



Rye 



54,730 



41,283 



96,013 



Maize 



925,299 



3,399,337 



4,324,636 



Oats ... 



149,029 



708,772 



857,801 



According to this table in the season 1900-01, which pro- 

 duced a very indifferent harvest, the total production of wheat, 

 meslin, and of wheat and barley mixed, was 8,263,507 bushels ; 

 the normal annual import of wheat during the last few years 

 of poor harvests (excluding 1903), has been about 6,coo,ooo 



