The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-12
EUROPEAN CROPS.
An Alarming Shortage in the
Wheat Supply
Unreasonable Weather has Ruined
both Quantity and Quality.

The sudden activity of the wheat market
in United States centers Of grain speculation
has led to general commercial inquiry as to
the crop prospects Of Europe.
The harvest of 1883 is generally thought to
be one of the most curious in the history OF
European agriculture, and is raising constant
discussions, and the newspapers are eagerly
scanned as to the latest reports OF the
weather and the crops of Europe.
The general outlook as to the European
wheat crop is an extremely gloomy one.
Throughout the whole Western Europe the
climatic influences have been wholly adverse.
Especially has this been been the case
in England, which, though mainly i'm
portant to the general market as consuming
rather than as q producing country, is q
factor in the calcu alton. It is estimated by
competent judges that the English wheat
harvest will prove one OF the worst OF the
century.
The total estimated number of bushels is
about 60, ,000, 900, SO that England should be
160, ,O00, 600, were it not for the gain OF 20
10000 bushels surplus from last years late
crop, which must be deducted from this
amount.
England will have to import this year an
excess at least of 1900, 600 quarters over her
imports year ago. Theshortage in Italy will
be 1900, 0O0quarters and in Germany 3, ,OOO, 600
quarters, making in all Europe shortage OF
certainly 100000 quarters, which will
have to be supplied from Russia. India, Aus
tralia and America Holland and Belgium
are not quite up to the mark, with deficit
of about five million bushels as compared
with last year."
In France also the wheat harvest will be
very bad, due to similar weather to that ex-
perienced in England. Advices report that
new wheat is so soft and out of condition
that it is quite unfit for marketing.
Austria Hungary and Germany have only
poor crops, and the harvest is I'm
but il is generally of inferior quality.
Russia has fairish crop, but there also the
weather has been very bad, and in both Gen.
tral and Southern Russia large quantities Of
grain are reported damaged Spain has also
a poor crop No other nation has suf1-
cient areas under wheat cultivation to be en-
titled to place in the computation
1t may fairly be said that from no sub
stantial area in Europe is there wholly sat-
isfactory report
the greater part of the wheat crop may be
saved. France will suffer more than any
other country and will find herself obliged
to be 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 If
teen years, says another report.
The general verdict seems to be that the
year. on the whole, will not be quite 80 dis
astrous as far as the quantity Of wheat goes;
it 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 be remembered that the
harvest in 1887 was phenomenal, and
this will form very. principal
cause why the 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 to provide for, which
will make a difference of twenty million
bushels in the demand this year.
The European harvest is not satisfactory
in its quality, so much so that much Of it
will be unfit for anything but fodder. The
demand. therefore, upon Russia and the
United States will be tremendous