Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-24

VI poOplo, duQ OGn6r T6dSOQS, make II
impossible to farm on a larger scale and
to use machinery;k but even if all these
objections were removed, the present cost
of labor is too low even for the successful
competition of farm machinery, and it
may be regarded as certain that the cost of
wheat as now produced is at, or near, the
very lowest minimum, and when it does
not bring so cents bushel to the ryot, it
will be consumed at home in lieu of other
bread-stuffs aad the wheat area will be
temporarily diminished.
QUALITY.
There are a great many varieties of
wheat produced in India, and they have
become more or less intermixed, though
efforts are being made to separate and Sc
lect the best of those most suitable for the
European market. These have been divid-
ed into four principal groups, viz
l. The soft, white wheat of a bright
straw color and white floury fracture.
This variety is most suitable for the Lon
don market, and is in great demand by
English millers on account of its dryness,
to mix with the moist English wheat.
2. The hard, white wheat, with brittle
grain of finty or ricy appearance. This
brings higher price in Italy for the man
ufacture of macaroni than in London.
3. The soft, red wheat, which differs
from the soft white only by the reddish
color of the skin and smaller berry; it is
also very suitable for the English market.
4. The hard, red wheat, which is of a
dark brown color, translucent in appear
ance, with smooth and glass-like frac-
ture. 1t stands lowest in the London
market.
Compared by English standard in quail
ity and value to American wheat, select lots
of first group have been equal to the best
Californian and Oregon, but the average
best grade between No. 1 and No. 2 Mil
waukee, and the relative values of the four
Indian groups are as follows
End group 5 cents per bushel less than 1st.
81 81 :. s. g :. End.
The standard of ali the groups is being
gradually raised by more care in separat-
ing varieties, more thorough cleaning and
the use of better seed.
TRANSPORTATION.
The facilities for handling and trans
porting grain are very poor compared to
the United States; there are no grain ele-
vators and no facilities for shipping in
bulk, but all the grain must be put in bags,
handled and carted by manual labor. The
cost of ocean freight depends upon the
fluctuations of the general steamship car
rying trade, and varies so considerably
| that exporters can make no definite calcu-
lations ahead, but are obliged to watch
| their opportunities from week to week and
day to day. Nearly all the wheat exported
goes through in steamers via
transit to London is, from Calcutta,
35 to 40 days from Bombay % to 33 days,
| and from Kurraohee 80 to 35 days. While
the wheat is exposed to the air during in
land transit and storage at the seaport, it
| is liable to serious damage by the weevil,
an insect terminating in the grain itself
! under the influence of heat; but when
stored under ground it will keep in good
condition for years, and even in q ships
hold it is comparatively safe during the
time required for transit.
The money exchange market between
London and India is constantly fuctuat-
ing, which causes another serious draw
back to the export trade. The cost of in
land freight, so far as the railroads extend,
is fixed by government and not liable to
any material fluctuations. Trunk lines
are already in operation through all the
wheat producing provinces, and several
branch lines have been built, while others
are being constructed or projected; but
com pared to the principal wheat districts
III the United States, Indian railroads are
few and far between, and the work Of con-
struction is very slow. A very important
line, the "Indus Valley" has lately been
completed, and brings the Punjab in direct
communication with the sea at Kurrachee,
which is destined to become an important
seaport for the expectation of wheat. The
following table gives the cost of transpor-
tatiOn from the principal wheat districts
TO the seaport:
From Puniab to Kurrachee-Average
distance 500 miles, freight per bushel, %
cents.
From n. ". Provinces and Oudh to Cal
cutta-Average distance 700 miles, freight
per bushel, 10 cents.
From Central Provinces to Bombay
Average distance $50 miles, freight per
bushel, 16 cents.
From Province-to City-of Bombay
Average distance $50 miles, freight per
bushel, s cents.
To this cost must be added the charges
Of the middle-men at the inland bazar,
which will average cents per bushel, and
the cost of bagging, shipping and COM
mission to the exporter at the seaport, 8
cents more; ditto insurance and landing
charges in London, cents, and ocean
freight, which averages from Calcutta to
London, 80 cents, and from Bombay and
Kurrachee, % cents. Thus it will be seen
that the actual cost of Indian standard
wheat from the Punjab, n. w. Provinces
and Oudh, where thirds of the wheat is
produced, will average from $1.16 to $1.28
per bushel laid down in London, and whils-
the wheat from the other provinces is
somewhat cheaper, on account of the
shorter distance to the sea-board, it is also
relatively inferior in quality.
About seven-twentieths of the export to
Europe goes over Calcutta.
About eleven-twentieths of the export to
Europe goes over Bombay.
About two-twentieths of the export to
Europe goes over Kurrachee.
UNDEvELopED WHEAT RESOURCES.
The total area Of India under British adj
ministration, is 9O4, 900 square miles, and
that of the native states $4,000 square
miles, but the latter area is not dealt with