From a preceding table it will, however, be seen that in 1902 New Zealand produced nearly 40 per cent. of the total wheat crop in Australasia, and New Zealand and South Australia together, about 70 per cent.

As producers of wheat, these states are of little account when viewed in comparison with the great wheat-producing countries of the world, Australasian grown wheat last year forming less than 0.7 per cent. of the world's wheat crop. According to the estimate published by Beerbohm, the world's production of wheat in 1902 was 375,000,000 quarters, of which Australasia produced only 2,500,000 quarters. The figures for each country are appended :

The yield of wheat per acre during the season 1902-3 ranged from 1-2 bushels in New South Wales to 38 bushels in New Zealand, and, with

the exception of New Zealand, Tasmania, and Western Australia, was far below the average for the last ten years. The average yields per acre for each state for 1902 and during the ten years 1893-1902 are shown below :—

A yield of 77 bushels per acre is a very small one when compared with the following results obtained in some of the principal wheatgrowing countries of the world. The averages shown are mostly based on the yields during the last ten years:

A bare statement of averages, however, is somewhat misleading. In South Australia, for example, it is found that owing to favourable conditions of culture a yield of 7 bushels is financially as satisfactory a crop as one of 15 bushels in New South Wales or of 20 bushels in New Zealand. In these states the yield could be greatly increased if cultivation of a more scientific character were adopted. Progress in this direction is being made yearly, however; but not to the extent which should prevail, although the tendency in former years simply to put the seed in the ground and await results has been outgrown, and better cultivation and the use of artificial fertilizers are becoming more general.

The average value of the wheat crop for the last five years and the value of the return per acre in each state and in New Zealand are shown below:

The very high value returned in New Zealand is due to the heavy yield of grain, the area under cultivation being comparatively small and specially selected; the values in Tasmania and Queensland also appear high for similar reasons; while in Western Australia the value of production was increased by the high prices obtained for wheat during portions of the years.

A detailed table of the value of the yield per acre during each of the last thirteen years is shown below for the three principal wheat-growing states New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. The values are estimated on the basis of the market rates ruling in February and March of each year. It will be seen that a considerable decline took place between 1891 and 1895, due for the most part to the fall in prices rather than to any decrease of production. The effect of the rise in prices is seen in the more satisfactory results in New South Wales during the seasons ending March, 1896, 1897, and 1898; for Victoria and South Australia the drought is largely responsible for the low values in those years, also for the very low values shown in 1902-3 for Victoria and New South Wales :

The rates just given, as well as elsewhere in this chapter, represent farm prices, and not values at the place of consumption.

The average consumption of wheat per head of population in each of the six states and in New Zealand for the last decade was as stated below. The large proportion of adult male population in Western Australia accounts for the high figures for that province :

New South Wales

Victoria

Queensland

South Australia

Western Australia

Tasmania

New Zealand

:

Bushels.

5.9

5.2

5.6

6.3

8.6

7.2

7.7

For the whole of Australasia, the average consumption was 6-2 bushels per head, which is larger than the quantity consumed in any other part of the world for which records are available, with the exception of France and Canada.

The following table shows the net imports or exports of wheat and flour of each of the states during the year 1902, 1 ton of flour being taken as equal to 50 bushels of grain. The exporting states were New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Between 1896 and 1902, New South Wales has almost been able to supply the wheat required for the food of its inhabitants, and in 1901 exported over 7,700,000 bushels. In the early part of 1902, heavy exports were also made, but towards the close of the year, when the harvest prospects were discouraging, shipments ceased and extensive imports were arranged for. The year, nevertheless, showed an excess of exports amounting to 2,774,782 bushels. During the last few years Tasmania as a rule produced enough wheat for home consumption, and in 1901 had a small surplus available for export :

The records for the six states which form the Commonwealth show that since 1879 there were only four years during which they were forced to import wheat from places outside their boundaries. These years were 1886, 1889, 1896, and 1897. In the first-named year the wheat crop was a partial failure in Victoria and South Australia, and almost a complete failure in New South Wales and Queensland. In 1889 there was a general failure in New South Wales and Victoria. In 1896 the crop failed in Victoria, and in the following year, that state for the first time in twenty-two years was compelled to import wheat, the net import, however, being only 61,160 bushels. The following statement gives the figures for the Commonwealth for the twenty years since 1882 :

In ordinary seasons Australasia ranks about sixth amongst the exporting countries; still, its contribution to the world's markets does not form more than one-thirtieth of the demand, and it cannot, therefore, be said to form a factor of any consequence in the trade.

The United Kingdom is the largest importer of wheat, and the British demand largely influences the price throughout the world. The average London prices per quarter of 8 bushels during the last decennial period were as follow: