Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1885-04-02
The Prospects of Wheat,

In certain parts of the West it is re-
ported that the winter wheat has been
killed by the cold weather, and while it
is not possible to determine what ex-
tent of the wheat area has thus been af-
fected, enough is known to warrant the
belief that the deficiency in produce in
the new crop, as compared with last
years crop, will be large. This may
lead to important results, for it is only
one of the causes, and not one Of the
most active, that are tending to o
"short" wheat crop this year. The
great fall in the price of wheat cannot
but be a factor in the situation, for it
will discourage the breaking in of new
wheat lands, and will also lead to the
devoting of area hitherto under wheat
to other crops. The season isnot suffi-
GENTLY far advanced to determine to
how great an extent this movement has
occurred. 1t is reasonably safe to say
that its results will be very marked.
For the world is always within one
year of starvation, each: years produce
being onlya little more than is necessa-
ry to support the population. The
United States has for fifteen years been
very favorably situated. In no year
since 1870 has the export of wheat been
less than seventeen per cent. of the to-
tai crop, and it once reached as high as
forty per cent, though the conditions
under which this occurred were pecu-
liar. But in the period 1S70--lSS0 the
area under wheat increased in every
year save one, 1877, and then the falling
off was only about $50, 900 acres, while
the actual yield was 75,000,000 bushels
greater than that of 1875. In 1872, aB
compared with 1880, the wheat area had
decreased by 900, 600 acres, and the yield
was about 100000 bushels larger. Since
1882 the market price of wheat has
fallen almost to the cost of production
under the most favorable circumstan-
ces, SO that is very likely that this alone
would cause an absolute decrease in the
yield, apart from the damage arising
form natural causes, like cold.
In the meantime the demand for
wheat is continually increasing. Eng
land imports more than one-half of her
needs; France, Germany and Austria
have within recent years become inn
porters of wheat. These countries have
largely looked to the United States for
their wants, and in the event ofa deartb
hNlC thGi nOu1t IotCCtt w
on the already known fields Of Russia
and India and the possible granaries of
South America. 1t is not probable that
the United States would have to go in
to foreign markets for wheat. The crop
of last year was large, and much Of it il
still held. A loss of one-thrd even OF
the new crop would leave enough for
our own wants. 1t is very likely that the
price of wheat will rise, and this will
not be a local movement. In that event
the populations of France, Germany
and Austria will have brought home to
them the delights of increased taxes Of
OH the necessaries of life, and it would
not be strange to have this result in re-
newed activity in socialistic move
ments. And in thiscountry the folly of
advising the farmer to go out Of wheat
because the price happens to be low
may be demonstrated. There can nev-
er be too much food produced, for popu-
lation keeps mp with the supply. IN Y
Herald.