191 1.] International Agricultural Institute. 995 



numerical statement ' was begun in July, 1910. Statistics 

 for six countries were then given ; in August the number was 

 increased to eleven, in September to fourteen, in October to 

 twenty-two, and in November to twenty-three. The bulletin 

 published in November gives the area harvested for the years 



1909 and 1 910, and the totals and comparative averages of 

 production of the various countries separately and of all the 

 countries together. Thus, as regards the production of 

 wheat, the area cultivated in 1910 amounted to 89,955,811 

 hectares, or 106*47 of the area cultivated in 1909. The yield 

 per hectare has decreased from 10' 04 to 9*43 quintals. The 

 total production of wheat in the northern hemisphere for 



1910 was 99 '97 per cent, of the production of 1909. 



"The same bulletin gave similar information with regard 

 to the yield of rye, barley, oats, maize, and rice. It also 

 gave the area under wheat in the southern zone, Argentina, 

 Chile, and Australia, drawing a comparison with the areas 

 of last year, and furnished figures on the sowing of winter 

 crops in the northern hemisphere, with information as to 

 conditions of soil and weather in various countries and 

 districts. 



"As has been already mentioned, the work hitherto under- 

 taken has been largely directed to improving the system of 

 rendering statistics followed in various countries, so as to 

 enable the Institute as an international centre to issue its 

 periodical summaries. The statistical bureau of Prussia has 

 attempted for the first time to give a provisional estimate of 

 the probable harvest. As regards the condition of crops, 

 sixteen countries have, during the past year, furnished 

 statistics in the form adopted by the Institute. These 

 countries are Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Chile, Den- 

 mark, the United States, Great Britain, Hungary, Japan, 

 Luxemburg, New Zealand, Holland, Roumania, Sweden, 

 Switzerland, and Tunis. The Government of the Dominion 

 of Canada are examining their present system to see how it 

 can best be adapted to meet the requirements of the Institute. 



"The work of the Institute, and in particular the publication 

 of the 'single numerical statement,' appears already to have 

 had practical results in steadying markets, in preventing the 

 undue bearing down of prices in countries where local 



