The record-union., 1897-11-17
Monthly Review Issued by the Agri-
cultural Department.
The Failures In Russia Not So Serious as
Reports Have Implied.
News Regarding Growing Crops In
South America Continues Fa-
vorable-The Threatened Seri-
Gus Injury to Wheat in Argen-
time From Drought Believed to
Have Passed.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-The Agri-
cultural Department has issued it's
monthly review of the foreign crop sit
uation. Much attention is devoted TO
the grain crop of Russia. especially
wheat, on account of its magnitude as
a factor in the European supply. The
review says that all accounts agree in
representing the wheat crop as def
cient, but as to the extent of the de-
ficiency much difference of opinion ex-
lists.
After quoting many dispatches paint
ing the crop situation in various prov
inces in very black colors, and the
statements of our Consul at odessa that
this years crop has proved failure,
the review calls attention to the fact
that since harvest Russia has exported
grain very freely.
The exports of wheat from August
LIST to October 23d.'' says the review,
amounted to 4.152,S4 quarters,
against 2,SS5. 049 quarters and 1888, ,7SO
quarters during the corresponding pc
Rod in 1896 and 1860. respectively.
These very large exports have led
commercial papers to withhold the
credence from the more pessimistic of
the reports which have been published.
That the crop was deficient was ad-
mitted, but that the failure was so Sc
rious as such reports implied, few of
the grain dealers of Western Europe be-
heve. Recently, however, some change
of attitude is becoming apparent.
Stocks in the ports are not increasing
in the manner usual for this time of
year, and the opinion is freely ex-
pressed that after this month Russia
can be relied on for only very moder-
ate shipments.
1T is generally understood that Rus
sia 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 ac-
count for the large exports which have
taken place, even though the crop fail
ure in large parts of Russia has been
extremely serious
The review says the estimates of the
Russian crop are so uncertain that their
reproduction would be of no difficulty.
The official figures for France show a
reduction of 70 per cent. below 1896,
and IL per cent. below the average for
ten years.
AS France and Russia produce 26 per
cent. of the worlds crop, the review
says heavy shortage in both countries
would, therefore, be sufficient in itself
to produce very sensible effect on the
worlds supply independent of the short
crops in Austria Hungary, the Danu-
bian and Balkan countries and else
where, and the shortness of the last
crop in India, Australia and Argentina.
In Germany rye, which is the prin-
cipal bread grain in that country, has
been officially estimated at per cent.
less than last years crop.
The various estimates for Austria
Hungary are more or less conflicting,
but there is no doubt as to there be-
ing heavy deficient wheat crop.
The wheat crop of the United King
dom is estimated at fifty and two
thirds millions bushels.
The preliminary estimate of the Ital-
ian wheat crop makes it 1,131 600
bushels, against IA. I'D. 700 bushels
last year.
The Roumanian wheat crop is esti-
mated at 37,134, 720 bushels.
The Bulgarian wheat crop is esti-
mated at 40 per cent; rye at 80 to 40
per cent, and barley at % per cent.
less than last year.
Inc Wneat crop OF turkey mas been
estimated at 50,S00.000 imperial bush
els.
AS regards crops now growing in the
Southern Hemisphere, the news con-
tinues to be favorable on the whole.
In Argentina the drought, which for a
time in some provinces threatened Sc
rious injury, seems to have been gem
orally broken. and danger of any sc-
r1ous loss from such a source seems
now. in the advanced stage of the crop,
to have passed.
The Indian wheat crop has been sown
under favorable conditions. and the
same is in general true of the winter
grain crops of Europe, and both in
India and in Europe the weather seems.
in the main, to have been favorable to
the growth of the seed.