The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-01-27
The Wheat Problem .


In his Bradstreet article on India and
the wheat situation, Mr.. John w. Book
walter emphasizes the danger to the
American wheat trade with the state
ment that the Indian farmer raises
eleven bushels of wheat per acre, al
though he plows the ground with a
forked stick. Mr., Bookwalter is OF
impression that when such results are
obtained by the crudest methods OF
tillage, the wheat yield will be doubled
or trebled when improved methods and
appliances are used in Indian agricul-
ture. It is not probable that the land of
India viii yield more bushels to the
acre under the improved methods OF
farming, but it viii be the means OF
opening up larger acreage to cultivation.
There are in India about 10000
square miles of land that have never
been cultivated, and which is suitable for
the culture OF wheat. The English
government is making strenuous efforts
to induce the natives to open up large
territories in the central and northwest
ern provinces, that are, in the highest
degree, adapted to the growth of wheat.
Improved agricultural machinery is
being shipped in large quantities to
India. The building of from ten to
fifteen thousand miles of new railway is
contemplated, and canal enterprises on
a large scale are in progress, for purposes
of irrigation and navigation. Nothing
will be left undone by the British gov
ernment, to induce the development OF
India's wheat-producing capacity. Great
Britain is the great food-consuming
country of Europe, and has always been
compelled to supply the deficiency OF Its
own product by purchasing abroad.
Thae country has been the principal
market for American wheat expectation
And herein lies the danger to American
wheat. Great Britain will now look to
India for its wheat supply, because II
can be had more cheaply than else
where. Even though Indian wheat and
American wheat be quoted at the same
price in the Liverpool market, it will be
cheaper for Great Britain to buy from
India, because it can pay for Indian
wheat in articles of British manufacture
on which a profit is made. So far as the
Indian wheat trade is concerned, 1t Ii
only development of one Of thu
resources of the British empire.
While there is no cen ial of the fac
that the Indian competition is serious
| menace to American wheat growing, still
there is left to the northwest one ele
ment of security that cannot be affected
| by India's wheat product. India canno
compete with us in the production 0
| hard wheat. In view of this fact, j
should be made matter of special atten
ton on the part Of our northwestern
wheat growers. to see that the STANDARD
of our wheat is kept up. As long a
there is wealth and wealthy classes j
the world, there will be demand 70
Minnesota hard wheat As long as ther
are people who will have luxurie
regardless Of the cost Of getting then
there will be people who win prefe
bread made from hard wheat, and vii
have it, no matter if it costs double th
price Of the Indian product. It will !
well for our northwestern farmers t
keep this fact in mind, and instead {
becoming shak5 al the prospect Of India
competition, they should stifen up wit
the purpose TO keep the standard
Minnesota hard wheat well elayated--
Globe.