Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-04-27
eAsM ACTIVITIES IN EUROPE.

FAsM ACTIVITIES IN EUROPE.
LONDON, ENGLAND.
An excellent ehsnge has taken place
In the weather. There has been plenty
OF wind and sunshine, which have dried
the land rapidly. aud as consequence
the plow, harrow and drill are out and
about in all directions. Some of the
medium lands are working beautifully,
falling into tine tilth: light soils on
the chalk have dried so quickly that they
look as IL they would do with some
more rain already, but these are the
lands which will parch In only moder-
ately hot summer. Heavy and close
soils are not so satisfactory, as In many
cases the ridges are like so many lines Of
plaster, and they viii give considerable
trouble TO get into condition. Winter
wheat cannot be said 10 look particular
" promising, but Ii should answer to
the beneficial Influence Of the sun and a
more genial atmosphere. IL all goes
well, il will make up its deficiency, but
sn rufsv svorable growing period viii re-
suit Ia anything but a good wheat crop,
for the start is already far from bright.
The spring sown wheat is short, de-
ficiency which will be met with wider
area of barley and oats. Grass grows
nicely. and there IL sufficient supply
for live stock, which is one of the few
pleasant features OF the season, and
farmers are getting over the difficulty
they feared Of having too little forage
for cattle and sheep.
The grain markets In this country
have not shown any particular variation
during the past fortnight. At Mark
Lane, the centre of the English grain
trade, homegrown wheat Is worth 81 IL
to ~ 81 cents per bu., and -four S3.2O 10
s. ~ per 80 lbs; with no demand be-
yond close consumptive limit. There
are no alterations in value OF other ar
ticles. In the cargo markets the Ameri-
can red whests are a turn lower, and
are offered at 95c., and
the autumn new crop at 30 Sic. Mixed
American maize has been sold for 3ec.,
purchases for August shipment going at
a.. barley IL Lie. white clipped oats
S9c., and mixed 81 lac. The reports
from the European continent are slight
ly better for the grower than they are
in the L. n. In France there L. slightly
more tirmuess, aud wheat In the Paris
market i worth Sl.lO 3i. Farmers,
while reporting rainy weather, which
continues TO retard the sowing OF spring
crops, also speak OF the healthy appear
ance Of the winter sown. but they CON-
plain Of the abundance and vitality OF the
weeds which develop faster than the
cereals; the meadows promise plenty of
forage. Weather has again become un-
favorable In Germany, and II has had
some et,ec, on the markets, Berlin quota
tions being 81 o. for wheat. In Belgium
work Is progressing satisfactorily, and
markets are shade better In conse-
guence OF more active consumptive de-
mand. spot wheat Californian being
quoted at % lie.
Russia advices tell OF a normsl posi-
ton with regard 10 growing crops, and
in some parts the temperature Is rather
higher than usual; markets show no
sign Of change. In Holland markets
are lifeless, the quotations for wheat at
Amsterdam being ~ &c; In Hungary,
firm, and weather has not been unfavor-
able TO crop growth. Bombay prices
show the whesi and linSeed trade 20 be
steady. with feN sellers forward. From
Morocco hear Of threatened locust
visitation. There Il little news from
which will stfect the mar
kets Of the world in relation "a its ex-
ports OF wheat New England Home
stead.