Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-11-26
GRAIN CROPS ABROAD
RUSSIAN WHEAT yleLpaReArLy
REDUCED.
All Accounts Agree TINT There II. n
Deficit, but Much Difference of Opiu.
ion Exists as to the Amount of the
Shortage.
Condition Of Foreign Crops.

(Onu1t1On OF Foreign CrODS.
The Agricultural Department., in its
monthly review of the foreign crop situa-
ton, devotes much attention to the grain
crop of Russia, especially wheat, ON ac-
of its magnitude as a factor in the
European supply. The review says that
all accounts agree in representing the
wheat crop as deficient, but much differ
ence of opinion exists as to the extent of
the deficiency. After quoting many dis
patches painting the crop situation in va
rlous provinces i'll very black colors, and
the statement of the American consul Mt
Odessa that this years crop has proved IL
failure, the review calls attention to the
fact that since harvest Russia has ex-
ported grain very freely" The report
continues:
The exports of wheat from Aug. 1 to
Oct. % amounted to 4,152,S4O quarters.
against 2.S55,04O quarters, and 3,3S3, $50
quarters during the corresponding period
i'll 1S& and 1895 respectively. Those
very large exports have led commercial
papers to withhold their crcdcnce from
the more pessimistic of the reports which
have been published. That the crop was
deficient was admitted, but that the fail
ure was so serious as such reports implied
few of the grain dealers of western Eu-
rope believe.
Recently, however, some change of at
tltude is becoming apparent. Stocks in
the ports are not increasing in the man.
ner usual for this time of year, and the
opinion is freely expressed that after this
month Russia can be relied on for only
very moderate shipments.
ut is generally understood that Russia
had large stocks of wheat left over from
the crops of the preceding year, and this
fact, coupled with the good prices which
have prevailed. may account for the large
exports which have taken place, even
though the crop failure in large parts of
Hllssia has been extremely serious"
The review says the estimates of the
Russian crop are so uncertain that their
reproduction would he of doubtful utility.
IN preliminary official figures for France
show Il reduction of 26 per cent below
ls36 and Ii per cent below the average
Tor ten years. AS for five years France
and Russia produced 26 per cent of the
worlds crop. the review says a heavy
shortage i'll both countries would, there
fore, be sufficient in itself to produce a
very sensible effect on the worlds sup
ply. independent of the short crops in Aus
tria-Hungary, the Danubian and Balkan
countries and elsewhere, and the short
ness of the last crop in India, Australia
and Argentina.
In Germany rye, which is the principal
bread grain in that country, has been Of
ficially estimated at 4 per cent less than
last years crop.
The various estimates for Austria-Hun-
gary are more or less conflicting, hut there
is no doubt as to there being Il heavy
deficit in the wheat crop. The wheat
crop of the United Kingdom is estimated
Il little short of D 1.OOO.OOO bushels. The
preliminary estimate of the italian wheat
crop makes it 81. 49, 900 bushels, against
l44. 700 bushels last year. The Nou-
manian wheat crop is estimated ut 3D.
l34,12O bushels. The Bulgarian wheat
crop is estimated at 40 per cent. rye at 30
to 40 per cent. and barley at % per cent
less than last year. The wheat crop of
Turkey has been estimated at 30, 600
imperial bushels.
AS regards crops now growing in the
southern hemisphere. the news continues
to be favorable OH the whole. In Argen-
tina drought, which for Il time in some
provinces threatened serious injury, seems
to have been generally broken, and dan.
ger of my serious loss from such a source
seems now, in the advanced state of the
crop. to have passed. The Indian wheat
crop has been sown under favorable con-
ditions, and the same is in general true
of the winter grain crops of Europe, and
both in India and in Europe the weather
seems. i'll the main, to have been very
favorable to the growth of the seed.