| 831,972 | acres | in | cultivation | in | 1898, to |
| 3,835,750 | " | " | " | " | 1908 |
MAIZE—increased by 250 per cent., and other crops, including Oats, 300 per cent. in the same period.
The United Kingdom purchased from Argentina and retained for its own use (in round figures) during the year 1908—
| WHEAT | to the | value of | £13,000,000 |
| MAIZE | " | " | 5,600,000 |
| FROZEN MEAT | " | " | 9,300,000 |
| Making a total of | £27,900,000 | ||
Indeed, we buy from Argentina nearly 25 per cent. of our total food purchased abroad, and she supplies nearly 29 per cent. of our corn and grain requirements. These figures again clearly demonstrate that we have a vital interest in the well-being of our friends across the sea.
In every direction Argentina has progressed, and judging from the past we may look with confidence to the future; the total area of the Republic is 776,064,000 acres, and certainly it is within the bounds of reasonable forecast to consider that 100,000,000 acres of this land will be, when opened up by railways, and other facilities, available for corn-growing. To-day only one-fifth of this available area is being cultivated, and another 43,000,000 acres are being utilised for feeding purposes; thus, only 63,000,000 out of 776,000,000 acres are being occupied. The chief reason why more is not utilised is because there is not sufficient labour available.
| Argentina | has | 5 | inhabitants | per square mile. |
| Russia | " | 18 | " | " |
| Canada, Newfoundland, etc. | " | 1½ | " | " |
| Australia | " | 1⅓ | " | " |
| U. Kingdom | " | 364 | " | " |
| Belgium | " | 625 | " | " |
| Germany | " | 290 | " | " |
Not only is there an enormous tract of land lying dormant, but the productive power of land now under cultivation may be vastly increased if farmers will devote their attention to improving the conditions of cultivation. 11.3 bushels of wheat per acre is not high-class farming, yet this is the average production for Argentina. Manitoba in 1908 produced 13½ bushels per acre, Saskatchewan, 17 bushels. In the fourteenth 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:—