, 1875-11-27
The Russian Gran Harvest.

There IS no longer q doubt but that
the harvest in Russia tr the past year
are far below the ayrage. THIS Is
true OF the whole of European HuSSia,
but more especially the of Western
Russia. The Russian journals no
longer attempt TO conceal the Tact.
The failure Of crops Is 10 longer local
but national. The wheat crops have
followed the fate OF ctfer cereals. The
peasants find themseleS at tile ap
pvoach Of winter Without ieed Tor
themselves or fodder hr their cattle.
They are therefore forced TO sell their
cattle at a sacrifice, nd next spring
they will sadly need The very cattle
they part with nov br nothing -
great is the stress in mis- respect that
farmers put three yoke OF cattle out
to keep tor the wint.r with the con
dition that the keeper shall retain two
yoke, returning to the former but one.
The 4Hgemeiae Zetl0lg speaks OF
this failure as an absolute pros
tration of nearly The whole grain
growing region of Russia While
Russia naturally reflects upon the con
sequences of this famine 10 her own
people, Europe and America ealcu-
late It's effect upon the grain markets
of England aud France. According
to the best authority, the latter couu-
try will have little or no gram to eX-
port. The surplus OF the grain grow
ING districts where crops have been
fair will be required to feed the peo-
pie of other districts. II was evident
some weeks siuce that England would
deaend principally upon Russia and
the United States for its grain, and
more recent intelligence indicates
that, for this year, Russia Will be
practically out OF the field. Probably
some grain will be exported from the
ports of Southern Russia, even if
greater amounts should be drawn
from Germany to preserve the people
Of Western and Northern Russia from
starvation. In the year 1873 Russia
sent wheat to England 10 the vaIue, in
round numbers, of SO ,O00,0 in gold.
The United States sent 10 Great Brit
ain the same year grain to the value OF
S0,0O0,00O This year, if the wants
of Great Britain are the same, nearly
all ihis vast amount viii be drawn
from the United States. The disas-
ter which has betalen Russia cannot
fail. therefore, TO have & favorable et-
feet upon the wheat markets OF Great
Britain. Already the rise OF prices at
Odessa affords Indication Of the threat
eued famine. But the rise in the
prices at seaport in communication
with the world affords no criterion OF
the upward movement in the interior.
where prices Tor hay, straw and gram
are saId 10 have reached a fabulous
snn. The condition OF these untOr-
tnnatc Russian peasants is worthy Of
passing thought. They are repre-
scented As being without food as the
rlgoTS Of Russian winter comes upon
them. What hat winter Is. Caliicr
mans have no idea. 1t il six munrhs
in which the earth is frozen 50 solid
that tor all useful purposes it might as
well be solid rtck. The tragic Incl
dents attending The burning Of Moscow
and he retreat f the French in 1914
have given general Idea Of the hard.
ships Of = RusS.a winter; bat the army
which suffered 30 terribly WAS COM
posed OF hardened soldiers, innred 10
changes ct heat and cold. The Rus.
sans survive ueir winters without
much suffering, when they are well
fed; but the sparscne>s of the poyn-
iajlOn III many districts, and the lack
OF internal communications. must rem.
der distribution OF supplies a matter
Of great difficulty even If the govern
ment >hoa,d take the matter in hand.
The prospect, therefore, for the Rus
sian peasant for tie coming winter is
by no means pleasant TO contemplate.
S. +. CqH.