Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-03-11
Where We Stand.

The International Institute of ASri-
culture of Rome. Italy has issued
bulletin OF agricultural statistics UNI
der date of February, 1910 containing
tables showing grain production in
the countries of the world in a graz
phic manner Study of these tables
which are as accurately compiled as
may be likely to change the popular
idea concerning the supremacy of the
american farmer among the farmers Of
the world.
Let us take up the table which
treats of wheat. winter and spring.
| The system of measure is the metric.
| The table shows that Russia devoted
| 26,426,S0l hectares to this grain which
produced 2l3,425,336 quintals and east
" holds first place both in acreage and
| in production. The United states
which stands second with 1S90S.19S
hectares producing 193,564,975 is far in
the rear. British India devoted 10
503.94S hectares to wheat and stands
third in point of area but as it pro-
duces only 68,S11.470 quintals it is
fourth in point of production for
France is fourth in point of area with
6.73O50O hectares and produced from
that land 9S.032.700 quintals, indicating
of course the advantage of the higher
state of cultivation which obtains in
the situation in 1909 The previous
year Russia held the lead in area and
in production, though the area was
some 100000 hectares less and the
production was some 59.000,000 quin-
tails less showing plainly that Russians
production per unit of area was ma
terally advanced. In the case of the
United States the area was more in
1908 than in 1909, in fact nearly mil
lion hectares more. while the produc-
ton was between II and Is uuiutaIs
less British India devoted more area
to the grain ard produced less than
did France as in the case of 1909 Civ
ing India third place in point of area
| comparison by percentage shows that
Russia the leader in point of area in
1909 as compared with 1908 devoted
1864 per cent. in the latter year and
took thercfrom 1888 per cent of prod
uct The United States devoted 9S2
per cent. in area and increased it's
production to 110.2. British India in
point of area increased to 1873 per
cent and in point Of production 124.3,
while France which is already cult
waited to its limit increased it's area to
1901 and it's production 1877. OF
course climatic conditions and wealth
er conditions enter somewhat into this
increase in point of production but it
is not fair to assume that in part at
least the advantage is due to more in
telligent cultivation of the land.
The next grain tabulated is rye,
winter and spring and the years COM
pared are as before. 1909 and 1908. In
this grain too. Russia leads with 90
l3S.324 hectares in area and a produc
ton of 22S.OI1,9l6 quintals. Germany
is second with upwards of 100000
hectares in area and upwards of 49,.
100000 auintals of production. Aus
tria is third with a bear of 1000. 900
hectares and production of a bear
2S.ooV.ooo auintals. France is fourth
win little more than half the show
ing made by Austria and Hungary
fifth only slightly behind France. Poor
old Spain comes next with. s3s.lO4
hectares devoted to the crop and s.
S65.S64 quintals of grain as a pro-
duction while the United States is
seventh with S11,S2S hectares and a
production of S.19S.0SS quintals OF
grain. The standing for the previous
year was the same except that the
United States produced more per uni,
of area than did Spain. Tables oi
comparison however show concerning