[709] Shaw Lefevre, Agrarian Tenures, p. 19.

CHAPTER XXII

IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.—­LIVE STOCK

It is a curious fact that the barriers which protected the British farmer were thrown down shortly before he became by unforeseen causes exposed to the competition of the whole world.  Down to 1846 Germany supplied more than half the wheat that was imported into England, Denmark sent more than Russia, and the United States hardly any.  Other competitors who have since arisen were then unknown.  By the end of the next decade Russia and the United States sent large quantities, as may be gathered from the following table [710]: 

ANNUAL AVERAGE IMPORTS OF WHEAT AND FLOUR FOR
THE SEVEN YEARS 1859-1865. 
Cwt.

Russia                                        5,350,861
Denmark and the Duchies                         969,890
Germany                                       6,358,229
France                                        3,828,691
Spain                                           331,463
Wallachia and Moldavia                          295,475
Turkish dominions, not otherwise specified      528,568
Egypt                                         1,423,193
Canada                                        2,223,809
United States                                10,080,911
Other countries                               1,036,968

In the years 1871-5 the United States held the first place, Russia came next, and Germany third with only about one-sixth of the American imports, and Canada was running Germany close.  Other formidable competitors were now arising, and by 1901 the chief importing countries[711] were: 

Cwt.

Argentina                                  8,309,706
Russia[712]                                2,580,805
United States of America                  66,855,025
Australia                                  6,197,019
Canada                                     8,577,960
India                                      3,341,500

Since then the imports of wheat and flour from the United States have decreased, and in 1904 India took the first place, Russia the second, Argentina the third, and the United States the fourth.  However, in 1907 the United States sent more than any other country, followed by Argentina, India, Canada, Russia, and Australia, in the order named.

It is probable in the near future that the imports from the United States will decline considerably, for in the last quarter of a century its population has increased 68 per cent. and its wheat area only 25 per cent.  On the other hand, the population of Canada increased 33 per cent. and her wheat area 158 per cent. in the same time; while in Argentina an addition of 70 per cent. to the population has been accompanied by an increase of the wheat area from half a million to fourteen million acres.  It is probable also that India and Australia will continue to send large supplies, and there are said to be vast wheat-growing tracts opened up by the Siberian Railway, so that there seems little chance of wheat rising very much in price for many years to come, apart from exceptional causes such as bad seasons and ‘corners’.