enth century England only produced 10 bushels per acre, but we
have improved this yield to 30 bushels, while Roumania has increased her
yield from 15 bushels per acre in 1890, to 23 bushels in 1908. France
has increased her yield from 17 bushels in 1884, to 20 bushels in 1908.
Germany has increased her yield per acre from 20 bushels in 1899, to 30
bushels in 1908. So that we may not only look forward to a greater area
being placed under cultivation, but we may reasonably expect heavier
crops, if land proprietors will bring science to bear on their work of
development. Indeed, with land rising in price, with an increasing
influx of immigrants, and with more intelligent cultivation of the soil,
the land must of necessity give a far larger yield than it has done
heretofore.
The following tables, taken from the Board of Trade returns, show from
whence England draws some of her supplies. They also show how
prominently Argentina figures as a food producer. The first table
includes corn and meat; the second gives corn alone, and the third meat
alone:--
FOOD IMPORTED INTO AND RETAINED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM IN 1908.
CORN (including wheat, barley, oats, rye,
buckwheat, peas, beans, maize, wheatmeal,
flour, oatmeal, and offals) L71,103,487
MEAT, fresh and frozen (including animals
for food) 48,704,613
Total L119,808,100
Of this--
L Per Cent.
Argentina supplied 29,569,773 or 24.68
U.S.A. supplied 38,229,135 or 31.90
Russia supplied 7,394,607 or 6.18
Canada supplied 11,907,203 or 9.94
Australia (including
Tasmania) supplied 4,520,244 or 3.77
Other Colonies and Foreign
Countries supplied 28,187,138 or 23.53
L119,808,100 or 100.00
* * * * *
CORN IMPORTED INTO AND RETAINED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM IN 1908.
Argentina. U.S.A. Russia. Canada. Australia
(including
Tasmania).
L L L L L
Wheat ... ... | 13,096,812 10,779,221 2,286,180 6,335,329 2,402,988
|
Barley ... ... | 22,943
|