1'2 
O71 the Conditions of Wheat-Qrowing in India. 
errors in the estimation of cultivable and non-cultivable lands 
whicb necessity alone will definitely determine, it may safely be 
concluded that little more than half the agricultural resources, 
even of British India, have as yet been tapped. 
Modern Improvements and Facilities brought about through 
European enterprise have greatly assisted the inherent capabilities 
of India. Among these the opening of direct telegraphic com- 
munication between India and England in 1865 must take a 
prominent place. The commerce of Her Majesty's Eastern 
Empire was thereby brought into touch with the " mother 
country." It was rendered possible to interchange a knowledge 
of the state of markets at the same moment. As a consequence, 
a large business like that of cotton, and even a business like 
that of wheat, which must ever be more or less speculative, 
became possible. Of no less importance was the opening of the 
Suez Canal in 1869. The time necessary to deliver Indian pro- 
duce in the European markets was materially lessened, viz. 
from three or four mouths to four or five weeks ; and in the 
case of wheat the risk from weevil was greatly mitigated. 
Within India itself greatly enhanced facilities of transport 
were instituted. Roads were pushed over the country in every 
direction, river communication simplified, and harbour accom- 
modation greatly improved. The opening of Prince's Dock, 
Bombay, enabled the shippers from that port to carry on their 
business throughout the year, whereas formerly the monsoons 
practically stopped the export trade for three months of the 
year. As a forecast it may be added that the docks at present 
under construction in Calcutta will have a similar effect. 
Railways were introduced and pushed on at the following 
rate of construction : — 
In 1853 there were in all .... 20^ milea 
„ 1863 „ „ .... 2,519 „ 
„ 1873 „ „ .... 5,695 „ 
„ 1883 „ „ .... 10,317 „ 
„ 1887 „ „ .... 13,386 „ 
and at the present moment 14,510 miles are open to traffic. 
The railway between Calcutta and Bombay was opened in 1870. 
Very shortly a second route will connect the eastern with the 
western capital of India, and open up at the same time one of 
the richest wheat-joroducing tracts of the country. Dr. Forbes 
Watson, in his memorable report (1879) on the wheat trade of 
India, pointed out that the opening of the Indus Valley Rail- 
way would lessen the distance between the Panjab wheat-fields 
and a port of shipment by a mean of 400 miles. The prophecy 
contained in the following sentence has been literally fulfilled, 
although at the time, both in officio,! and private circles, i^ 
