INDIA AS A WHEAT PRODUCER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2250, 11 October 1889, Page 2

INDIA AS A WHEAT PRODUCER

("Oamaru M.H.") The question ia oft>en Bsked why Ind(», which at one time promised to be a large wheat exporting coantry now tends comparatively little gfrtln away from her shores, Tbe buge fertile valley of tbe Gauges oontalna aome of tbe finest whe*t growing land In tbe world, aud yet tbe export of India, In this oerea), Instead of Increasing la absolutely falling off, The reason la not far to seek. The population of India Is increasing enormously, and with It the home consumption of grain natarally Increases to a corresponding extent. The last ladian oenunn, taken In 1881, gave a population of 262 millions, and tho present (intimate, )n the absenae of a more recent tf&olal census, places It at over 272 millions, ahowing an luorease of 2) mllliopfl In 8 years. Tbie pbeDomensl raultlplloatlon lo duo to a variety of oaoeea Tho Brltloh adminlst-'ulon of government haa ptevontod the deolmatlng intec-trlbal wars of early doys, British okill bes oonfiuod tbo treacherous rlvors to their banks, (bua miitorlDg the dUastroaa floods which annually swept away thoußtnda of the dwullera In the valleys of tho Ganges and the Indus, British enterprise baa opened op vast thlokly populated dletrlo'a where an unfavorable season once meaut tbo destraolion of thoasands from shear starvation, and British hardihood has settled Itself in hitherto uncolonlaed regions of ihe vast aontiaeor'i All iheae reasons tend to a rapid Increase of popalatlon »n$ an Iccreaae, morecv ( 0' ? which oihnot but ba permanent and which muat remain' a fteady ohfl.ck tho p?por£ of wheat from India;