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 Argentine 

 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 



