The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-16

General Failure of the European Crops.
The year 1870 will long be remembered in
Europe, not only for its intense heats but for
the prolonged and widespread drought that
now gravely threatens nearly two-thirds of
the cereal and other harvests. BY our latest
advices we perceive that the situation In this
respect has become actually alarming. In
many departments of France not drop OF
rain has fallen for many weeks, and even
throughout regions near to the seashore the
crops look poor and thin compared with those
of former years. Universally hay, straw and
clover are lost, and the peasantry are hurrying
their cattle to the butchers because they no
longer have fodder wherewith to feed them.
At the late La Villette market, In Paris, four
thousand head Of beef cattle were offered for
sale at almost any price, where two thousand
has been the usual figure. Thus there 10
more meat offered to consumers than ever
before; but the question arises, ''What are
the latter to do next winterp" Farmers
near the garrisoned towns, who usually enjoy
the loan Of artillery horses by the govern
ment, have sent them back to the army for
lack Of the oommonest feed for them. Wheat,
barley and oats have doubled In price, and
the standing growth 10 wretched. Peas and
beans are In the same condition hemp and
fax are gone the fruit trees Of all kinds
begin to droop and are full Of caterpillars.
and the vineyards ofthe Southern districts are
seriously attacked by the worm known as the
a,1a frSo A 10 hoo a,vf-
fered from both drought and locust, and can
count upon only medium crop Of grain to
aid France. Spain and Italy are similarly
tried, and the only really fine crop of staple
that the latter will be able to boast of will be
silk. Bohemia, Hungary and the Danubian
Principalities will come to the rescue, to some
extent, but the deficit in Germany will
probably absorb all their superabundance.
The most singular feature Of this ''beggarly
account of empty boxes" Is that in some Of the
| finest grain provinces of the Russian empire
| the crops are short for another reason than
| heat and drought. Untimely cold and
moisture have crippled them. Sweden will do
no more than sustain itself, and II is doubtful
whether Belgium and Holland will do 80 much.
The East seems to be similarly threatened.
Early in the season we noticed the distressing
lack of rain and running water in Syria and
parts Of Turkey, and both those countries look
to Importation for help.
Prices In France have gone up largely and
are rising every hour, and the reserve which
the government always makes there, for year
or two in advance, is likely to be more than
taken out Of It's hands. At all the leading
markets grain has reached the rate Of thirty
francs per metrical quintal. In some places
| it has risen even to thirty-ive, which Is from
Eve to ten francs above the prices Of last win
ter. What we may ask, will it be three
months hence, particularly should an insane
war open the foodgates Of devastation and
waste?
1t is now that the United States step into
the foreground as the granary of the nations
1t is to this 'frpitful land of Canaan" that all
must look. Here are the golden fields and the
laden orchards all the way from Maine to the
Gulf of Mexico, and from ocean to ocean.
Here are the cattle on thousand hills along
with the rich grass, the luscious fruit and the
bursting ear. Out Of the midst Of war and
desolaHon this much favored land hos been
raised up to offer the Old World, in the
hour Of Its dearth and its warlike madness,
healing and refuge. To-day the Republic
stands before mankind the image of Liberty,
holding the olive branch Of peace in one hand
and the horn of plenty In the other.