The Washington herald., 1921-03-28

PREWARPLACE
WHEATCONSUMER
Nation Struggles to Re-
gain Former Agricul-
tural Conditions.
INDIA is NOW THIRD
Cereal Producing Position
Changes in 1910; French
Fail to Recover Laurels.

The wheat crop and grain import
tfigures of France tell something Of
the struggle which that country is
undergoing in its efforts to get back
TO prewar agricultural conditions,
says the U. S. Department Of Agri-
,culture.
Until 1910 France ranked as the
third wheat-producing country OF
the world. with crop OF 325.0oO'-
900 to $50, 900. 900 bushels In 1910
India took third place and has
maintained 1t. except in an occa-
sional short-crop year.
France also held third place In the
per capita consumption of wheat
before the war, with only Canada
and Belgium leading. The large an
nual wheat crop did not quite suffice
for bread and seed. so France i'm
ported some 5000. 900 bushels in ex-
cess of exports during good crop
years and considerably more in short
<crop years. Gross imports of wheat
rwere 3o,o00.000 to 100000. 900 BUSH
els. However, exports of flour were
large.
Had Largest Yield Per Acre.
France easily held the record
among the large producers for the
average yield of wheat per acre.
In an average year the yield per
acre for the entire country was 20
bushels. The average has been as
high as z2s bushels: an average OF
Is bushels was regarded as low.
France has fewer short crops than
any other large producing country.
But perhaps the most noteworthy
feature of the country's record as a
wheat grower Is that from about
1898 to 1903 the wheat acreage
steadily decreased while at the same
time the crop increased. During
the thirty-year period prior to 1908,
France saved nearly 100000
acres, yet produced more wheat on
the reduced acreage than on the
larger area. One of the countrys
largest crops was grown on 1880
900 acres: that acreage was under
the average for the ten or hftesp
years before the war.
Acreage figures for the war years
ARE not available. but the official
estimates of the wheat crop show
how hard the agriculture of France
twas hit by the war. In 1915 the crop
droped to 255,000.o0O bushels, 100,-
o0o. 900 below a full crop. In 1915
the total 215,000, 900 for that year.
Then, in 1917. the depths of agri-
cultural disaster were reached, for
the total yield of wheat was but
145,ooo, 900 bushels, which was a loss
of zoe, 100000 bushels from a full
crop. The imports that year were
but 100000 bushels. which shows
how France must have suffered be-
cause of the lack of bread that year.
In 1918 the wheat crop was $780,
000, 900 bushels ad imports were S0,-
O0O, 900. a total of $4,000, ,o00,. or
some So.000.oo0 under normal pre-
war bread and seed requirements.
In 1913 the crop was the same. and
the imports were s,0oo.ooo bushels
Imports during the war and since
have of course been for home con-
sumption Practically no -four has
been exported.
1920 Harvest Encouraging.
The 1890 harvest gave the first
indication of agricultural recon
struction The provisional official es-
innate, which has not yet been cor
rected. was 700 bushels, or
so.0oe, 900 to f0o.0o0,ooo under the
crops of 1911. 1912 and 1913. The
1 area harvested IN l5SO was OIL
1cially given as 11,40o,o00 acres. This
is approximately 100000 acres be-
low the average prewar area
Imports Of wheat and -four in the
first four months of the crop sea-
son following the 1920 harvest,
August 1 to November 80, amounted
to $1,000. 900 bushels, while total ex-
ports. all nour. were equivalent to
only 100000 bushels Of wheat. With.
this amount imported in the first
four months. IL is reasonable to exS
pect that total imports for the sea-
son will amount to S0.000.000 bush
els. This amount added to the crop
of 230.000,000 will bring the total
supply for the year up to 310, ,000, 900
bushels. As 10000, 900 bushels may
be taken as a full prewar total for
bread and seed. ii appears that
France Is again close to normal
bread rations, which were 10 bush
els OF wheat per capita. Indeed, IL
the reduced population Is taken into
account. several million bushels less
wheat is now required than before
the war. The increase in popula-
tion and production by the addition
of Alsace-Lorraine Is a matter for
future consideration.
Rye Imports INTO france from
August 1 to November 30, 1920, were
remarkably large They were g.
SOC. 900 bushels. as given by an Eng
Ilish statistician. compared with
only $4,000 in the same period of
1918. Only in an occasional year
lhave rye imports been important.
The Official estimate for the 1891
wheat harvest Is 12,10o,0o0 acres, an
increase of 100000 over last years.
This still leaves France 3.300.000
acres below the prewar average
Crop conditions are reported as
favorable in France this year. which
gives reasonable assurance of an
average yield. which is 20 bushels
per acre, and indicates a crop of
2so.ooo.oo0 bushels for the country,
not including Alsace-Lorraine.
The following table shows the de-
cline In the wheat crop in France
as a result of the war, and the
gradual recovery that is taking
place: 1914 was a short crop, and
part Of il was lost by the invasion,
although IL Is not known whether
this was deducted from the total:
1000, 900 onitted.)
Bushels. Bushels.
1921 .........:..24o 1915 ........... 255
1870 ...........f230 1914 ......... $50
1919 ........... $50 1913 .......... 322
1918 ........... $50 1912 ........... sss
1911 ..-........ i45 1911 ....:...... $50
1915 ........... 215
Estiuated 4 Not nnal
II annears frora the acra.1a "a