THE FOOD OF ALL NATIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2483, 22 March 1882, Page 3

THE FOOD OF ALL NATIONS.

The most recent and apparently carefully compiled otatistiro of the food nupply of the world show that, taking Europe as a whole, there is an annual defioi mey of 380,000,000 bust els of grain, which must bo imported from the other quarters of the world. The defieisnoy in the United Kingdom is 280,000,000 bushels, in France 180,000,000, in Germany 115.000. in Belgium 25,000 000, in IToll t r d 15.000. in Italy and Portugal 5 000,000 each, and in Sweden and Norway 2,000,000. In mitigation of this scarcity there are fire European countries which yield a surplus. These arc—B.uoeia, which can spore 180.000. bushels, Austria 30,000,000, Denmark 12.000,000, Turkey end the ooun tries once dependent upon it 10,600,000, and Spain 5,000.000. The adverse balance is as already stated, 380,000,000 bushels The chief countries from which supplies can be obtained to cover this deficit, are—the Unitea Slates, which can spare 370,000,000 bushels, Australia 17,00t,0j0, Canada and India 10.000. eael), Chili and Algeria 5,000,060 each. These are actual estimates of present capacity, not prospective of future possible supply. The extra Euicpeun countries which have a surplus can thus supply the European deficiency, and have a margin of 37.000. bushels to meet the requirements of other markets in their vicinities. The wants of the old countries and the superfluity of the new thus appear to be, to far, very fairly balanced. Whether this satisfactory balance is likely to bo maintained is of course a matter for anxious c.'.nsidi ration, although the question docs j o', demand an immediate answer. The capability of America and Australia to meet an increased demand is undoubted, but it is not no elcur that the European nationalities will bo able to provide tor tha over-increasing expenditure.