Morning journal and courier., 1884-04-25
SINGLE COPIES TWO CENTS.
Friday, April 10, 1884.
WHEAT

WHEAT.
A few weeks ago while the price OF wheat
was rapidly declining one Of the arguments
used to ''shake out" what are known as
"Weak holders' was that Indian wheat was
already sharply competing with American
wheat in the European markets, and that the
competition was likely to reach such point
that it would be impossible for the American
wheat-grower to make anything out of wheat.
We were told how the Indian wheat-growsr
could live on few cents week and raise
large quantities of wheat with q stick for q
plow. And so forth and so on. These tales
had great deal Of influence in helping along
the decline, and SO persistently and frequsnt-
ly have they been related that a great many
people believe that they are entirely true,
and that the American wheat grower has
seen his best days. Perhaps he has, but a
report on the cultivation of wheat which b as
just been made by the government of India
will tend to encourage him little.
The area under wheat cultivation in British
India is about 20. 900. 900 acres, yielding be-
tween 175, 600, 900 and 200, ,ooO, 600 bushels,
and in the native provinces 6 900, 600 acres,
yielding about 68, 00O, 600 bushels. The
average yield is, therefore, not far from ten
bushels per acre, although there are wide
differences in the yield, depending upon fer
tility, carefulnsss of cultivation, rainf all,
ETC. The quantity available for export
is estimated at one-quarter of the whole
''in a good year" But good year is de =
fined to be one in which the yield is up to the
average and in which the price Is satisfac-
tory. It wheat brings good price, the cul-
tivator will sell it and live on miIlet, and
other cheaper kinds of food. If the price in
the British market is unsatisfactory, India
will consume her own crop, whether the
quantity be great or small. At 4s shillings
per quarter the vhole surplus of India would
be exported. At the present price e39 shil-
lings for English wheat and 33 to SO shlllings
ter. 1t costs, at the least calculation, the
Indian wheat grower thirty-seven cents to
produce bushel of wheat, and at the time
the report was made he could sell his wheat
at about fifty six cents bushel.
Sir James Caird, as was noticed in these
columns the other day. Is Of the opinion that
the population of India is increasing 80 rap
idly that within two years she will consume
her entire wheat crop and have no surplus
for export. He also points ont that the ex-
tension of wheat acreage and product in In
dia is dependent upon the price which can
be obtained for 1t and that at present prices
there will be no extension and NO csnsiderR-
ble expectation. The unusual expectation
of the past season is, in his opinion, due to
two exceptional harvosts following after a
year of famine. He looks upon South Aus
tralis as a moro promising source of regular
supplies for the United Kingdom than India
Any light on the very important question
as to whether America is to have formida-
BILE rival in wheat-growipg 10 eagerly looked
for by very large number of people In this
country whose "brsad and butter" depends
on it. It'does not now appear that India 10
so certain to become that rival as speculators
have asserted.