The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-09-19 00:00:00

THE WHEAT CROP OF 1874.

The Times has published the following letters:—
Sir,—The publication of the Agricultural Returns
affords a safe basis for an estimate of the last crop,
and of our foreign requirements for the coming year.
Between the increase of acreage and the increase 14
yield and quality, I estimate the wheat crop of 1874
as at least 3,000,000 quarters better than the deficient
crop of 1873. Taking the crop at 30 bushels an acre,
and then deducting seed, the home growth available
for consumption will probably exceed 13,000,000
quarters.
As the potato crop both in Ireland and in this country
is very promising, the consumption of wheat is not
likely to exceed 22,000,000 quarters. The foreign
supply required will thus be 9,000,000 quarters. The
general reports of the foreign crops and the special
abundance of that of France lead me to the conclusion
that we shall get this quantity at probably 15s. a
quarter, or for about 20 millions sterling.
The home crops of 1872 and 1873 required to be
supplemented by an importation of 12,634,000 and
11,892,000 quarters respectively, or an average of
12,250,000 quarters for ea.th year. The price of this
was nearly 60s. a quarter, so making the outlay on
foreign wheat upwards of 36 millions sterling as the
average of each of these years. There is thus every
probability that the good wheat harvest of the present
year will save us between 15 and 16 millions sterling
in the cost of foreign corn.
Instead of having France as a competitor with us in
the foreign markets, we may look for considerable
supplies from that country, as the wheat crop there has
been exceptionally abundant, both in quality and
quantity; and the crop of France, as I showed some
years ago, rules more than any other the general price
of wheat. Accordingto L'Econmniste FrancaMe of the
29th ult., the price had then fallen 37 per cent, from
the highest point of the year, a depression probably
too great to continue, but clearly denoting the general
opinion of the oicnile?Fe of the crop.
..... .

The harvest of 1874 in regard to -Wheat and potatoes,
the food of the people, is thus likely to prove a highly
productive one. In oats and hay it is far otherwise,
and to some extent the gain in our expenditure on
foreign wheat will have to be qualified by the scarcity
and increased cost of cattle food.

The numbers of cattle and sheep given by the returns
show a considerable addition to tue total live stock of
the country, the cattle being more numerous than in
any previous year, and the sheep having nearly cc.
gained the highest previous figure.
The effects of this increase in crops and stock have
already been felt by the produce in a reduction of about
20 per cent, in the price of wheat and sheep, the whole
of which reduction does not yet appear to have reached
the consumer. —I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
JAMES ('ACED.
September 14.

Sir,—The agricultural returns, published, in The
Times of Saturday, show, as I anticipated, that the
acreage under wheat is little over the average. In my
report on the harvest and crops I estimated the wheat
area in Great Britain to be 3,600,000 acres, and the re-
turns show the actual acreage to be 3,632,063.
With a knowledge of the exact area, and adhering, as
I do, to my former estimate of the acreage yield, the
total produce of the wheat crop of 1874 may be taken
in round numbers, at 12,800,000 quarters.—! am, your
obedient servant, JAMES SANDERSON.

117i;ii liiLTigt, S.W.