Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-08
Tn. PRIZE. n Wheat.

The Price Of Wheat.
This Is ut present the great question with the mass
tho people Of Virginia. Will the price rise or will it fall
VIII It go to S. or decline to Sls The question can
not be answered with the same confidence noss tina
It could be this time last year. Then it was certain
from the general deficiency of the crop in Wester'
Europe, that tho price would be high Now the crol
in that portion Of the World is probably full ave
rage one; but there are circumstances which ma,
neutralize that fall, and render it possible il not pro
bable, that wheat will bear higher price by mex
March than did At any time during the last season
We will state some OF these circumstances Tor tn
consideration Of the reader.
In the first place. there are no stocks on hand II
this oountry-nor, indeed, in any quarter Of thu
world, that we are aware Of This will render it ne
oessary to begin early upon the new crop Every
farmer knows the effects Of this procedure. II h,
has to 20 into his corn field in October before gather
ing time comes to supply the deficiencies OF the OLD
crop,h will very apt to be hard the remainder
the year.
As to the product of the last harvest in this coun.
try: while in some districts the yield has been small
and the quality inferior in Others it has been album
dant, and good We therefore assume, that it is an
average crop and will justify the expectation of many
millions Of bushels.
As to Europe according TO the representations,
and we doubt not they correct the crops Spair,
in Italy and in most if not all Of Germany, are very
fine. From France, the accounts are not so satisac-
tory. All the papers agree that throughout the
month Of June, when the wheat was in bloom, the
rains fell in torrents-pluies torreDtiettes, as the
French say. The hope was nevertheless INDUCED.
that serious injury had been inflicted. But unless
the nature Of wheat in France be very different from
what here great damage must have been the result
We know, that heavy rains in May, when our wheat
is in bloom are invariably followed by crop deli
Gent in quality and in quantity. We infer from this
circumstances, that France, il she makes enough fnl
domestic consumption will have none for export; ami
we shall be disposed to doubt whether she has made
enough for her own use, if the government papers
begin to proclaim that the crop is the most abundant
ever known!
In Great Britain. greater breadth OF land Wa
sown in wheat than usual and though the accounts
are not very favorable VIC may conclude, that she wiz
make IN average crop. That however, will not d,
sufficient for her consumption, and the pEoUabil!,,
Is that our excess will not be more than enough L
supply her deficiency.
With respect to the crops in Eastern Europe au,
IN Turkey, we have information 1t is reasonai!
to suppose that in the Danubian provinces overrur
by the Russian forces and in those the right Of liz
Danube, where the bulk OF the people was enlistct
for war, the crops sufficient for the supper
Of the population This district and the Russian do
minions, from Poland TO the Black Sea- are general,
the most productive wheat countries in the world
and Western Europe, particularly England, has here
toiore drawn large supplies from them. This, how
ever, cannot be the now, If the war continue
As already stated, il is probable the Danubian coun.
try will scarcely produce CROUCH for its own con.
sumption; and Russia will not Permit the export o.
any wheat from her territories to feed her eremes
IL this conjecture be true-the uar contin,ing-
Western Europe will not only fail receiving its usua
supplies from the East but will be compelled to draw
upon ITSELF the United States for supplies to feed
its armies on the Danube and the Black Sea. UpOr
the happening Of this contingency Of the probability
oil which every man must judge for himself will d.
pend the price Of wheat II Western Europe has II
feed Asia instead Of being fed by it. shall get ou
our own price for wheat That will depend on tho
continuance Of the war. That it will continue, W,
have no doubunless the latent principle of the Rus
sian tiOns-be brought int
play.
In view Of all contingencies we would not ventur,
70 give sdvice Some, we know. intend to hold on Il
tho LIST Of March, and take the chances for 49, Thos
who are content with present prices had better close
Iii good rule to sell when the price is sstisfac
factory,
There are two circumstances which may affect III,
price during autumn. England, since Free Trade wa
introduced, has abandoned the practice Of laying VI
stocks, and lives from hand to mouth, as il were
Until her own crop is exhausted she will not give
high price for foreign wheat The other circumstanc
relates to France If the crop is short in that coun
try, andt the Government goes into the market as it d
lastyear-6rst representing its own supplies as super
abundant-the price may be depressed temporarily
For the French press being gagged the facts of tn
case cannot be ascertained; and individuals are n
match for Government in speculation The presen
practice Of England while II tends to keep down III
price in autumn, serves TO explain fact which ha
been observed for several years, that wheat, sine
the abolition of the Corn Laws; has been general
higher In February and March than at any other tim
10 the year.