The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-31

absorbed by the progressively greater year
~ additions being made TO the bread-eating
populations. and this absorption. at least 30
Tar as wheat Is concerned. would have oc-
Cured about 1888 but for world wheat crops
| In 1887 and 1888 much In excess OF average
yields: the result being that great reserves
were accumulated from these crops, which
carried the bread-eating world safely to the
harvest OF 1891. when the stocks wero
certainly lower than for ten years. and
probably lower than they had been
for generation. When prices would
have advanced with average crops. there
came the great American harvest Of 1891.
which gave US product that was reported
by the Department Of Agriculture to have
been 900 bushels In excess Of the av-
erage OF the preceding ton years: and this
reported product was less than the actual
by some 65.o0O0oo bushels, as has been
shown by the wheat which went into con-
sumption. When prices should have re-
covered from this extraordinary supply.
and would have again reached remu-
nerative lerel with moderate harvest.
there cams the enormous yield OF 1892. really
but little below that Of 1891; and this. with
the aid OF the great European crop. swamped
the market with a reported product OF
516.o0o.ooo bushels, which there is every
reason to believe should have been placed
at SIC. 1000. as indicated by the quantity
OF wheat that has come In sight. and Is be-
lieved to be still In the hands OF producers.
millers. and flour dealers.
Even excluding the great crop OF the
United States. the worlds harvest OF 1892
WINS the greatest ever known. with the
exception Of that Of 1887. although grown
upon fully 100000 acres less than the
area upon which that Of 1884 was grown.
So far as prices are concerned there
could be but one result from such world
crops. and this result Is registered in the
lowest price known since 17+5.
Since 1884 the additions to the worlds
whea. area have been even more deficient
than they were excessive before: and such
gains as have recently been made in Hun
gary. Roumania, Bulgaria, Argentina and
Uruguay have not suficed to Offset losses |
sustained in western Europe. India, Aus
tralasia. Chill. and the United States. |
Spain Is converting wheat fields into vine |
yards. Switzerland and Denmark Is con- |
verting them into dairy farms, and in the |
United Kingdom 100000 acres Of the wheat
lands have. since 1880. been turned into
meadows and pastures to supply the in
creasing urban population with the needed
dairy products. This reduction OF soc. 900
acres in Britain offsets additions elsewhere
OF 2.0O0.oOo acres. as the English acre yields
two and half times as much as the average
OF the world. Australasia shows a los. Of
100000 acres since 1887. when her wheat area
reached its maximum at 100000 acres.
1nst hory al - |
100000 acres less than produced that OF
1885: while the census shows the United
States to have had 1.s56. 600 more acres en-
ployed in wheat growing In 1879 than In
1885, and the current harvest is being made
from fully 5000. 900 acres less than was that
of 1884. Canada has made gains in Mani
toba and sustained losses in Ontario and
the maritime provinces. and the area Is
little II any greater than 1t was ten years
since. Relatively to home requirements it
Is certainly less.
Since 1854, additions aggregating A. 0O0, coo
individuals have been made to the worlds
populations. while the worlds
wheat area has shrunken 5000. 900 acres. In
other words. the wheat producing power OF
tho world. relatively to the consuming pop
ulation. was 1872 per cent. greater in 1884
than 1T Is in 1898.
The following table shows. year by year.
since 1881. the bread-eating population Of
The world. the area under wheat. the wheat
product. the requirements. the surplus or
teilcit resulting from each OF the twelve
,rops. the average yield an acre, the aver
,ge product for two six-year periods. and
or the twelve years:
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