The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-06-25
COMING HARvESTs AND PROBABIL
The Actual Situation SO Far as it Has
Developed.

From the Chicago Tribune
As many estimates of the coming
harvest and the needs of the importing
countries are going the rounds that are
based upon something except knowl-
edge of the conditions surrounding the
growing crops and the existing reserves.
it is not amiss to state the actual situa-
ton so far as developed by the advanc-
ing season.
In the United kingdom, as well as up
on the continent, the winter and spring
have been abnormal and the cold the
greatest experienced since 1914, vegeta-
ton is now from three to six weeks late,
the stand of wheat thin and patchy,
fields resown to other crops in many
cases, and the season thus far resembling
that of 1858, when the persistent low
temperature resulted in rlpenIng but
two thirds of the English crop.
With the most favorable weather from
now until harvest the crop of Britain
can be but fully 10 per cent short of an
average Of late years British imports
have been about 152, 100000 bushels per
annum, and each years addition to the
population necessitates an addition of
l per cent, or something over 2,O0O,O 600
to the wheat supply. while the deficient
crop will add at least 7,500,0 900 bushels
more to the imports, which are likely to
reach 1852, 900, 900 bushels.
The November freeze caught many of
the French fields unsown, the rigors OF
the winter destroyed millions of acres
since resown to spring grain and other
crops, while what does remain of the
autumn sown does not promise half
crop, and the facts are that the wheat
acreage of France Is today 1900, 900 be-
low the average of the last decade, the
loss from this source being fully 10000
900 bushels, while there are 100000
acres that, at best. will yield not to ex-
coed one-half an average, the loss on this
area being 60,000,00 bushels, while the
remaining 100000 acres will
yield not more than three-fourths
of an average the, shrinkage
here being 30,000,000 bushels. This esti-
matemay to Unconstitutional bear appear
excessive, but it accords with that made
some weeks since by the French Milling
association, and since there has been
material reduction in the average condi-
ton of the fields.
Italy b dNeldSC 10 d1C dOOuO
0O0, 900 bushels, and the crop now prom
ising 10 per cent less than average out
turn. this 10 per cent on an average crop
rs, 200. 900 means that the imports are
likely to be "A, 1000, 900 bushels.
Germany's imports will in all proba-
bility reach more than 40, 900, 900 bushels
of wheat and very great quantity of
rye, as both crops are in deplorable
condition-so deplorable that the govern
ment hesitates to make their condition
known, and the situation is so grave that
every dispatch from Berlin makes it
clear that the scarcity, present and pros
pective, is disturbing factor in politics,
and the government finds it impractic-
able to arrange for the mobilization of its
army by reason of the difficulty of pro-
viding the needed stores.
In Pomerania the peasants are on the
verge of starvation with no prospect of
relief from the growing crops, which
have been largely destroyed by frost.
In the Austria Hungarian empire the
crops are in better condition than else
where in Europe, unless it be in the
Scandinavian peninsula, where but a
small acreage is in wheat and rye, and
the population is small. 1t is barely pos
sible that the empire of the Hapsburgs
NAV send abroad so per cent of the usual
exports, although in some districts the
rye crop is an entire failure.
In Belgium the situation is much the
same as in France and imports of "a. 000,-
600 bushels last year are likely to reach
36,000 900 the coming year, as the rye
has suffered with the wheat, and has
been the case in the Netherlands, where
the imports may be estimated at 20,0 00,-
900 bushels, with material additions to
the importations of rye, always assum-
ing that the sources of supply exist.
Switzerland produces barely 100000
bushels of wheat per annum and imports
$4,000, 900, which we may expect to be
increased by a couple of millions, as
both wheat and rye-which employs
about four times the acreage of wheat
have suffered from the rigors of winter
and spring.
Spanish imports of 100000 bushels
are certain to be augmented as the crops
are reported to have suffered great loss
and are likely to be from Is to % per
cent below even the low yield of the last
two wears, and this would indicate an
importation of about $4,000 900 bushels.
Greece grows but 10000 acres of
wheat per annum, hence the imports
cannot be much increased by the failure
of the crop, which, however, is reported
to be in good shape, as is that Of dimin-
ished Turkey proper as well as that of
its Asiatic dependencies. while that Of
Bulgaria has suffered somewhat and that
of Romania much more.
The winter wheat and rye of Russia
have met with grave disaster in many of
the provinces, and promise well in but
few, while the spring wheat was sown
in the midst of a great drought, which
continued until the first week of this
month, and there is but the barest pos
sibility of an average crop of spring
grain, and none whatever of an average
one of winter wheat or the far more i'm
portant rye crop, which constitutes
about five-sixths of the bread of the
Russian people.
In the provinces of Simbrisk, Kazan,
Penza. Tamboy, Samara, and Mimi
Novgorod the peasantry are reported to
be dying by the hundred from starva-
ton, and the prospects for the growing
crops are most gloomy.
In northern Africa the winter left but
little of the wheat in fair condition. and
for many weeks Algeria, Tunis and Mo
rocco have been devoured by clouds Of
locusts, and the British consul at Algeria
advises the Marquis of Salisbury that
most disastrous famine is threatened and
that northern Africa must become an
importer.
Although the New Zealand crop proved
TO be the poorest ever grown in the col
onv. Australasia, as whole. had about
an average crop, but the demand has
been so sharp that only sufficient wheat
remains for home and intercolonial needs,
and such Is the case with Argentina,