THE WORLD'S WHEAT SUPPLY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 14

THE WORLD'S WHEAT SUPPLY.

The following is an approximate estimate of the world's crop of wheat harvested from the beginning of Jui y, 1896, to the end of June, 1897, as compared with the crop for the preceding 12 mouths : —

A deficiency of over 23,000 000 quartern is shown, j moat of it being due to a falliug-off in lluss:a, the ! United States, Canada, Argentina, and India. | The estimate for India is only a rough one, as the I crop is not yet mature ; but reasons were given recently for concluding that the yield could hardly exceed the quantity put down in ths table, as the crop was sown late on an extremely short acreage Judging from the decrease of stocks which took place in 1893-0, the production of that cereal year \v«s at least 5,000,000 quarters j les? than ths consumption, which should b; still i greater for the current cereal year. It appears, I then, that the production of 18&U-7 falls below the last caieal year's consumption by considerably more than 30,000,000 quartern. But if the consumption was over 308,00 '.r.OO quarters in 1895-6, the inciease in the populitioa of bread-eaters, at 1\ per cent , would add 3,530,0C0 quarters to the requirements of the current Cu-real year Consumption, however, varies, and id least in a mild winter. Even if we put tlrs cereal year's consumption at no more than 310,000,001 quarter?, there is a deficiency of about 32,000,000 quarter. It may be objected that, in consequence of the famine, India will consume less wheat by the ' amount of the deficiency in the productioo, and thia will be the cas>e approximately if other kinds of grain instead of wheat should be imported to feed the people, which remains to be proved. But, even if the Indian fignrei ara withdrawn ■ from tli** calculation, the deficiency will brf over j 24,000,000, and yet the average price of wheat in . Eu&land b only 2Ss 2d a quarter.

18W5-6. Auatvia-Hungai'y ... 22,M)8 750 Lelgium 2,300,000 Bulgaria and Roumclio, 5,750,000 Denmark .. ... ... 551, 00K France 41,25-1.000 Germany 12,8^0,003 Greece ... 75u 000 Holland (530, 00» Italy 14,2(15,270 Portugal 70.1,000 Roumania 8,298,100 Jtussia 49,0(10,000 Scrvia 1,100,000 Spain 12,500,1)00 Sweden and Norway... 4G5.000 Switzerland KIO.OOO Turkey in JCurope ... 4,500,01-0 United Kingdom ... 4,785,ti40 Total Europe 183,327,760 Unite! States 6-2 501,000 Canada 6,275,000 Argentina ... ... 5,570,000 Chili ... 1,750,000 Uruguay 1.250.<i00 Mexico 1,500,003 India 25,<f:<i030 Turkey ia Asia 5 000,000 Persia 2.5(i0,0»0 Algeria 2.H00 000 'lunis 750,0 0 E»ypt 1,250 000 Australasia 2,985,( 00 Houth Africa 500,000 Total outside Europe 120,097,000 The world 303,424,760 ISO 6-7. Q.x. 22/00,000 2,5'i(1,00') e.ono.iioo 500,000 4fI,BSS,(i(JO4 f l,8SS,(i(J0 13,000,100 750 OUO 750,000 16,720.0(10 500,000 S.fi-M.OOO 40,000 0 iO 1,773,800 10,000.000 ■160 0 10 (500,000 5,000,000 7.280.850 177.547.250 5(5,250,000 4,212,500 3,400,000 1.500,000 700,000 J. 010,000 18,000,000 5,000,(00 2,500,000 2,500 000 750,000 1,000.000 2,772.(501) 600,000 I i 100,133,100 | 278,032,3:0