Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-12-19

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per month from September, 1872, to Sep
tember, 1878. Should this estimate prove
correct, It will be the largest quantity ever
yet imported into England In single year.
Whether it can be supplied, and at what
price, are questions which Dir. Card under
takes to answer, and answess in a way that
VIII perhaps surprise the american wheat
growers. We shall find, says Mr. Card,
that it Is not solely question of price,
though that has much to do with it, but
also very greatly question how prolific
other wheat countries have Been; and
chlef1y whether France is OF Is not likely to
compete with England as purchaser. To
afrenehman, who believes that everything
which happens anywhere finds its real cause
IN Paris, this theory win seem the most
natural thing in the world. THERE'S
good deal Of testimony which goes to con-
nrm 1t. DurinS the last fifteen years the
three years of highest prices were 1857,
LOO, and 1871, and in each Of these years
france was an active competitor. In 1858,
1893, 1865 and 1866, years of low price,
nearly one-fourth the whole foreign supply
OF Great Britain was derived from France.
This year she is able to export apparently
more than ever before, having sent to the
English market during the last two months
at q rate Of 40 per cent. higher than in the
most abundant Of former years. France,
therefore, being out of the market az buy
er, and In the market as a seller, prices
ought to be moderate. In fact, they have
been moderate thus far, The etate Of the
English crop considered; yet thew have SUI
need to bring in within two months the IN
precedented supply of-20, 64S,O 900 bushels.
A continuance Of that rate during the
twelvemonth would produce more than 120,-
OOO,OOO bushels of import, or very much
more than Mr.. Card thinks likely to be
wanted. From all of which it follows that
the supply from foreign sources will be suf-
hciently large to keep down prices to
point at which the consumption will not be
materially checked by dearness.
In potatoes, the year has been still more
unfavorable one. There has been nothing
so bad since 1913. In almost every part of
the country the crop on the rich and low
lying soils Is deficient 70 per cent, nor is
there large yield on the dry soils, though
what there is is good. ANY estimate must
be to considerable extent coDjectural, but
Mr.. Card has little doubt that the potato
crop of England will be 100000 tons
short. 1t is In Ireland Of course that this
question is most serious. The Irish plant
twice as much land with potatoes as the
English, 100000 acres to 100000 or Co.,
600 here. In 1857-'S-'9 the Irish yield was
1871, 900 tons; in the three following
years, 6,74S000 tons, hardly more than
half. This year good judges do not look for
more than half a crop in Ireland. But the
Irish get on by help of pinching, so that
even with a short crop they make no de-
mand on the outside world for more pota
toes, and the Irish small farmer is much
better off now than he was in 1862, and
bis ability to Withstand bad season is
greater. In England the deficiency of this
year has not occasioned any great increase
Of price, the continent sending over sup
plies freely.