I9ii.] 



Notes on Agriculture Abroad. 



169 



also continued since 1904. (Bulletin of Agricultural Statistics, 

 Int. Inst. Agric, April, 191 1.) 



Method of Estimating the Production and Consumption of Wheat in 

 Canada. — An account of the method in use for the estimation of the 

 figures relating to the production and surplus stocks of wheat in Canada 

 is published in the Census and Statistics Monthly for March, 191 1. 



The estimates of production are based upon returns of reliable agri- 

 cultural correspondents, and any tendency to exaggeration or to too 

 sanguine estimates is carefully guarded against. The surplus stock is 

 calculated by deducting from the figures of production so obtained the 

 exports of wheat and flour, the requirements for seed, and the con- 

 sumption of wheat in the Dominion. The method will be seen by 

 reference to the following table, relating to the fiscal years 1908-9, 

 1909-10, and 1910-11 : — 





1908-09. 



1909-10. 



19 10— 1 1 . 



Estimated production ... 

 Imports for home consumption of 

 wheat and flour 



Exports of wheat and flour 



Balance retained for home consump- 

 tion, seed, etc. 

 Seed ... 



Consumption at 6*24 bush, per head ... 

 Deficiency or surplus ... 



bushels. 

 1 12,434,000 



224,000 



bushels. 

 166,744,000 



200,000 



bushels. 

 [49,989,600 



336,000 * 



1 12,658,003 

 57,104,000 



166,944,000 

 63,785,000 



150,325,600 

 61,000,000 * 



55,554,000 

 13,563,000 



103, 159,000 

 16, 266, coo 



89,325,600 

 18,813,000 



41,991,000 

 44,833,000 



86,893,000 

 46,736,000 



70,512,600 

 48,578,000 



-2,842,000 



40, 157,000 



2i,934,6co 



* Estimated. 



In the foregoing statement the requirements for seed are reckoned 

 at the average rate of 1*75 bushel per acre upon the acreage of the 

 following year, while the estimate of consumption at the rate of 6*24 

 bushels is based upon the statistics of production at the census of 1901 

 and the imports and exports of that year, the population of Canada 

 being estimated as 7,184,744 in 1908-09, 7,489,781 in 1909-10, and 

 7,784,900 in 1910-11. 



The table shows a deficiency for 1908 which would have to be made 

 good from the stocks held over from 1907, of which there is no record. 

 In 1909 a proportion of the surplus would be required to replenish 

 depleted stocks in the elevators and mills ; and in this connection it will 

 be noticed from the table that while the production of 1909-10 is 

 54,000,000 bushels in excess of 1908-09, the export is only about 

 7,000,000 more. 



It may be reckoned that about 5 per cent, of the total production, 

 as above estimated, should be deducted owing to losses in cleaning, &c, 

 and if we put the average losses from frosted and other grain used for 

 feeding at 3 per cent., a total reduction of 8 per cent, reduces the above 



