The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-08-25
Our Wheat Crop.


Next in importance to producing a good
crop comes the matter Of selling it to the
best advantage. The farmer who is il
debt and needing money cannot afford to
wait for better prices, but usually sells as
early as he can get his crop to market.
In the long run, this rule of selling as
early as he can, may be as good as any
other; but, there are times when, by lit
tie forecast and reservation Of his crop,
he may get the top Of the market. Such
is the state Of tho case, We think, at this
time, and we give, below, some reasons on
which this opinion is based. The first ex-
tract which we subjoin is from the n. Y.
World, which journal predicates its opin-
ion upon that of the London Economist.
Il is as follows:
OuR WHEAT CRoP AND THE WAR.-Russia's
difficulty is our opportunity. 1t is announced
that the export OF wheat usually sent from the
northern ports will be seriously diminished in
consequence Of the war, and that the export
from the southern ports will be cut off alto
gether. The London Economist, in the last
number at hand, on the authority of a London
expert, treats the cessation of shipments
from the south of Russia as foregone con.
clusion, and aiirms that there is reason to be-
lieye that both the English crop and the
French will be de6eient-that is to say, the
demand for imported wheat will be greater
than usual both in France and England, and
the chief source of supply will be cut off. 1t
is perhaps useless TO speculate how much the
diminution will be in the exports from the
northern ports Of Russia, but the usual supply
from that source is not much more than half
the supply from the southern ports, which is
now absolutely cut off, The proportion, TAX
ing the average Of the years lS71-5 inclusive,
was almost exactly as one to two. With the
shortness of the crops OF even with an average
crop IN Central and Western Europe it seems,
therefore, that at least two-thirds Of the wheat
usually shipped from Russia to England and
France will be called for from this country.
The importance Of this virtually new outlet
for our surplus may be judged by the fact that
the export Of wheat from Russia to England
alone for the i've years named above was of
the average value Of el0, 000, 200, or almost
the same as our own export Of wheat for the
a doubling of our export Of wheat would be
Of great importance to US at any time. At
this time il is of vast Importance. Of our own
ability to meet this increased demand the as
suranee Of our magnificent wheat crop leaves
US no doubt. II is the opinion of careful ex-
perts that the surplus Of this crop available
for expectation will be between eighty mil
lions and one hundred millions OF bushels
The promise Of a market in Europe for so
large q share of it is more solid assurance
of better times than almost any other assur.
anee that could be given to us.
The blessing has come to us undeserved
That we should get share of the Russian
wheat trade happens to be our good fortune
and the misfortune Of Russia. To keep it
will require wisdom in the relaxing of our
abominable commercial laws. We do not
even now get the whole benefit of our increas.
ed export, for our navigation laws have made
it impossible that Americans should get the
profit Of handling and transporting to its
market the surplus Of this great harvest. But
if Congress does its duty what is now wind.
fall may become a steady and permanent
source Of prosperity.
The next is from the Baltiimore Sun, of
August IS, as follows:
THE GRAIN TRADE AND EUROPEAN DEMANDS.
Baltimore grain merchants, who spent two
months IN Europe, returned on Thursday by
speak encoaraginrIy Of Z the p prospect T for ora
large European demand for the wheat crop
# there IS sappy for sxnor w wl eos even
much more for transportation because of the
& @ ro nj ~. coun a y w,n
were holding off pending the settling of prices
10 Tor wheat, which are now thought to be about