572 Value of Crop Estimates to the Farmer, [oct., 



of the various provincial Amalgamated Associations of Co- 

 operative Dairies, and those of the great export associations. 



The rule is that the State receives from the Associations 

 information as to the best means of benefiting the individual. 



In considering the effect which the production of the 

 principal grain crops is likely to have on the world's markets, 

 and hence on the price obtained for his 

 The Value of own particular products, the farmer 

 Crop Estimates needs to have the information sum- 

 to the Farmer. marised in a very small compass, so 

 that without minute and detailed know- 

 ledge, he may ascertain the probable tendency of the price of 

 any particular crop. With a view to supplying an authorita- 

 tive statement of this character, the International Agricultural 

 Institute at Rome is endeavouring to obtain monthly reports 

 from all the Governments of the world, and it is proposed to 

 reduce the information thus obtained to percentage figures 

 which will enable comparison to be made with the crops of 

 previous years. For instance, an experimental calculation 

 which was made in August last for a group of eleven countries 

 showed that the probable crop of wheat was 102 per cent, 

 as compared with that of 1909, and it is hoped in the future 

 to publish a similar figure applicable to the whole world. 



With a view to showing the value of such a " single 

 numerical statement " of production both to producers and 

 consumers, the Institute discusses the question in an article 

 in its August Bulletin, from which some extracts may be 

 given : — 



1. Disadvantages under which the Farmer Labours. — The 

 price of the staples of agriculture is mainly determined by 

 the ratio between the world supply and the world demand, but 

 the farmer can only guess at the price his crops will bring 

 by basing his calculations on facts within his own limited 

 sphere of observation. 



If he sees that his own crops and those of his neighbours 

 promise better than the previous year, he may easily come 

 to the conclusion that the harvest in general will be abundant 

 and that prices will fall as compared with the harvest and 



