The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-15 00:00:00

OUR HARVEST PROSPECTS.

The following is condensed from a long and valuable letter
by Mr. 11. Kahle-Jackson In 31onday's Timex, in which here-
views the harvest prospects for the year :-•

_
He says there is no doubt whatever that the wheat
yield is, at the least, a good average in bulk and
quality. As to any and what excess there is above an
average,. opinions are somewhat divided. A heavy
balance loin favour of the judgment that this year's
crop is considerably above an average. Growers and
merchants whose decisien is entitled to attention de-
clare that the large crop of 1868 was not superior to
this of 1874. A good English wheat crop may be con-
sidered an assured fact, and already numerous samples
iof the new corn are daily offered n the various mar-
kets, at prices starting from 545. to 57e. for red
wheat, 58e. to 625. for white, while of the latter there
have been a few parcels, fine and heavy enough to sell
at from 655. to 70s. per qr. "I may here add," says
Mr. Rains-Jackson, "that from personal observation
of the English wheat crop, following the reaping
machines in many fields, and in different counties, the
straw is stiff, strong, and healthy; that the plants are
more numerous, and the surfaces more level, than in
1868, and that the differences between light lands and
heavy soils are much lees marked, the whole crop
being a more even one; it will, therefore, certainly
be a good one; but that the ears are as well set, as
heavy, and full of flour, as they were on the wheat
lands of 1868, cannot be allowed ; a sheaf of 1874 is
certainly not comparable with that of the former year,
in which, be it remembered, wheat ripened without
a single drawback, genial nights succeeding sunny days
without break from spring to autumn." Mr. K'ains.
Jackson goes on to say : To start with the British
crop, there will be, I estimate, a yield of 14,000,000
and not exceeding 15,000,000 quarters of wheat, after
allowing 1,000,000 quarters loss for blighted and laid
fields, the effects of frost during the blooming, and the
thunderstorms of the last six weeks. To this home
produce not less than 8,000,000 and not exceeding
9,000,000 quarters will be wanted for the 32,000,000 of our
population. Judging from all accepted present estimates,
California and the Atlantic American States, Russia,
Hungary, Germany, France, and Turkey will have
11,000,000 quarters, which they mustsell, to supply the
8,000,000 to 9,000,000 quarters required by the United
Kingdom, and for which this country will be the sole ap-
plicant;theonlyeompetitorwiththe English buyer being
the farmer, holder, or speculative investor. If this view
be accurate, a loaf of bread this season will be cheap,
as manufactured from good wheat at 50s, per qr. for
the next three months, and after that date at a price
probably lower, but whi^h future events and prospects
will determine. The English wheat crop this year at
50s, should be worth k 10,000,000 sterling more to the
country than last year's yield at 60s, per qr. The
price to be paid for our wheat imports will probably
reach a total of 1:22,000,000, against the 05,000,000
paid this year just ending."