The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1884-06-14
nnA1v AND nrEApsrurFs.

For some time past the question OF the
preGent condition and the Ia uro prospects
OF wheat cultivation IN India has excited
much attention IN the United States and in
England, and IN RESPONSE 20 " General de-.
mand for inform alton the results OF a mum.
Der of nvestigstions official and private,
nave been given % the public. Summa-
ries OF the most important OF these, says
Bradstreet's, have been published In these
columns from time 10 time. A review OF
the evidence which has neen thus collected
suggests the conclusion that 1t Ia yet too
early 10 pronounce with any approach to
definiteness as to the future relative rank
OF India as q wheat producer. IL Is to be
borne 10 mind hat there are as yet no COM
plete agricultural statistics for India, and
that such figures as are forthcoming are
based for the most part upon official
estimates. According TO an estimate re-
Gently made by the Indian government, as
the results Of an investigation undertaken
at the request Of he home authorities,
the area under wheat In British India ID
about 100000 acres. and that In native
territory at about 100000 acres and the
total yield is about DO O0. 600 bushels
yearly. India wss able 10 export in lSSl-s2
over $4,000 goo bushels, OF which nearly
one-hali went 10 Great Britain. The ex.
ports OF wheat, however, iell OIL about one
fourth IN the year 1882 SO The question
oiMogt lntcrf.t IN regard - indian wheat
production is, Of course. the important one
TO what e1t,nt that production, and the
consequent export, is lisely TO be increased
by the extension OF rail way accommodate
tiOns and by improvements in cultivation
resulting from bet or systems OF irrigation,
etc. Upon this question no very cofidcnt
conclusion appears TO be entertained by
those regarded rs best quail fed 10 express
nn opinion. Sir James Cair1, 10 giving |
testimony beior recent sit
ting OF the parliamentary rail-
way committee, said that while he
looked TO a general increase OF O great
many Indian products as the result OF rail- |
wa extension, vet that In his opinion the
population OF India was increasing 20 rap.
idly that In two years it would require the |
whole quantity OF wheat now exported, I'M.
less there was a much larger production
than at present. He thought that the Gig.
nal progress which had been made In the
export OF wheat during the last two years
was owing TO the exceptional seasons which
had occurred since the last anime. Wheth
or sny great increase was to be expected
from improved agriculture in India was, he
said, n question. the solution OF which de.
pended ON the price OF wheat aud the temp
tatlon iherebv Offered to the Indian grow.
or 10 cultivate II. In many parts OF India
where the land was good aud there was n
wells, there would undoubtedly be an in
crease, but the cultivation would not be
greatly extended, unless the price OF wheat
became rsmunerstive. IL is evident from
recent indie ,tions, however, that this ques-
ton 10 not TO be left In tn.
that, on the contrary, every effort
Will be made TO bring IL TO a practical
under as favorable conditions as
The Investigations to which We
have referred. were undertaken ct the in
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