132 
Indian Wheat. 
[may, 
absence of drought in India during the last decade have 
tended to stimulate the exports from the latter country. There 
is a very general impression that the staple food of the natives 
of India is rice, but it is evident from Sir James Wilson's 
figures that only one eighth of the total produce of wheat is 
exported, and that no less than seven million tons are retained 
for home consumption. It is estimated that the average out- 
turn per acre is nj- bushels ; but in comparing this figure with 
that for the United Kingdom — 31 bushels per acre — it must 
be remembered that much of the wheat produced in India is 
grown without irrigation during the "dry" months, a season 
which is co-extensive with the whole period of growth — 
October to March. On irrigated lands, the average out-turn 
is probably not less than 15 bushels per acre, a remarkable 
figure if it be borne in mind that very little farmyard manure 
and no artificial fertilisers are used by the Indian cultivator. 
Most of the former is used for fuel, while the cost of the latter 
places it beyond the means of the cultivator. For France the 
figure is 19, and for Australia only 9 bushels per acre. 
The diversity of the varieties of wheat grown in India is 
very large. The head botanical expert attached to the Govern- 
ment Research Station at Pusa has enumerated and described 
37 distinct botanical varieties, and has recorded the remark- 
able fact that the choicest qualities are retained for home 
consumption. That most in demand for export is a soft 
white variety deficient in "strength," and chiefly sought after 
on account of its great dryness and easy milling quality. 
In discussing the future of the Indian wheat trade, Sir James 
Wilson states reasons for anticipating an increase in the 
world's supply of wheat, especially in Canada, the ilrgentine 
Republic, Russia, and India, due to the ever extending area 
of cultivation ; but since it seems likely that the world's 
demand will keep pace with the supply, the present level of 
prices is likely to be maintained. For some years to come the 
writer is confident that the average price of imported wheat 
will not fall much below thirty-five shillings per quarter. 
The principal factors which determine the value of wheat 
in the wholesale market are examined by Sir James Wilson, 
and as some obscurity exists on this subject, it may be of 
interest to recapitulate his conclusions. The value of wheat is 
