'March 1896.] 



REPORTS ON FOREIGN" CROPS. 



433 



have to be brought into requisition. It will be fair to assume that 

 wheat will be harvested from 1,200,000 acres. Say the average will be 

 about 5 bushels per acre. This gives 6,000,000 bushels as our total 

 yield. For seed purposes next year the same area at one bushel per 

 acre will mean that 1,200,000 bushels will be required for seed. Now 

 for the quantity required for food purposes. When people are in 

 flourishing circumstances it is estimated that nearly 6 bushels per head 

 per annum are consumed. An estimate of, say, 5^ bushels will be a 

 fair one to go upon for Victoria. A population of 1,000,000 people at 

 51 bushels per head will require 5,500,000 bushels for food purposes. 

 Taking what will be required for food and seed together our home 

 requirements of wheat will not fall short of 6,700,000 bushels, which 

 means that local production will fall short by 700,000 bushels of local 

 consumption. Against this, however, there is the old wheat in stock 

 to be taken into consideration. What quantity is in stock is hard to 

 determine, but after allowing for a liberal estimate things are beginning 

 to look as if Victoria will have to import wheat this year. Our 

 estimate of 5 bushels per acre as the average yield may appear low. 

 Those who think so should visit some of the wheat-growing centres and 

 see for themselves. 



The position in Victoria is regarded as a serious one both for 

 consumers and producers in the colony. There has been an 

 entire absence of the usual winter and spring rains, while, during 

 the winter, harsh, dry, northerly winds prevailed for a con- 

 siderable period, consequently the crops of wheat, barley, and 

 oats have generally failed. 



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