West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-09-06
Tho Crops In Europe.

The sudden activity OF the wheat market
in United States centers OF grain speculation
has led TO n general commercial inquiry as TO
the crop prospects OF Europe
Tho harvest OF 1888 is generally Thought 20
bc one OF the most curious In the history OF
European agriculture, and Is raising constant
discussions, and the newspapers are eagerly
scanned as 10 the latest reports Of the
weather aud tho crops OF Europe.
Tho general outlook as 10 the European
wheat crop Is an extremely gloomy one.
Ihroughout the whole Western Europe tho
climatic influences have been wholly adverse.
Especially has this been been the casa
IN England, which, though mainly im-
portant 20 tho general market as consuming
rather than as "A producing country, Is e
factor In the calcu alton. It a. estimated by
competent judges that the English wheat
harvest VIII prove ono OF the worst OF tho
century.
The total estimated number OF bushels Is
about V0,OOOO0O, so that England should be
dependent ON other countries for about
lno, ,OV0, 900, were it not for tho gain OF 20
Ooo,OO) bushels surplus from last years lato
crop, which must DO deducted from this
amount
England will havo 10 import this year an
excess at least OF 1000, OOO quarters over her
imports year ago Theshortago In Italy Will
loo S,OOO,OOOqunrtcrs and in Germany y, ,0OO, 900
quarters, making I'm all Europe n shortage OF
certainly iG,OOO,O0) quarters, which will
have To be supplied from Russia, India Aus
trala and America. Holland and Belgium
are not quito up TO the mark, with n deficit
OF about tlve million bushels as compared
with last year
In France also the wheat harvest will be
very bad, duo TO similar weather 10 that ex-
porienced in England Advices report that
new wheat Is so soft and out of condition
that 10 IL quito unfit for marketing.
Austria Hungary and Germany have only
poor crops, and the harvest Is fin
ished. Tho quantity is fair average,
but it Is generally OF inferior quality.
weather has been very bad, and In both Gem
tral and Southern Russia large quantities OF
grain are reported damaged. Spain has also
a poor crop. No other nation has SUM-
Client arens under wheat cultivation 10 be en-
titled 70 place I'm the computation
IL may fairly be said that from no sub
stantial area In Europe is there wholly sat
isfactory report
Should tho weather turn warm and fIno
the greater part OF the wheat crop may be
saved France will suffer more than any
other country and will find herself obliged
TO bc large buyer.
The crop in the South OF Russia will this
year surpass both In quality and quantity
anything we have known for fourteen or fif-
teen years, says another report.
Tho general verdict seoms TO be that tho
year, on tho whole, will not be quite so dis
astrous as fgr as the quantity OF wheat goes;
II is the quality which Is causing farmers and
corn factors TO feel uneasy.
The European wheat crop this year will
not bear comparison with last years; but
then, it must ba remembered that the
harvest IN 1887 was phenomenal, and
this will form very principal
cause why tho shortage will not be so
great as anticipated. In 1887 the harvest
was exceptionally good, but it was almost
two months late, so that operators will have
only eleven months 60 provide for, which
will make difference OF twenty million
bushels in the demand this year.
The European harvest is not satisfactory
In its quality, 80 much so that much OF IL
Will be unfit for anything but fodder The
demand. therefore, upon Russia and tho
United States will be treinendons