Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-10-12

decline. Kentucky and Ohio show n
slight decline, Virginia q marked im-
provement. and North Carolina and
Iowa slight Improvement.
THE WHEAT SITUATION.
Although there has been some de-
cline from the highest prices reached in
August, the general tenor Of the infor-
nation CLEANED from all available
sources is not Of a character to war;
rant either the expectation or the fear
of any material cheapening of wheat
until another crop is in sight with a
prospect of ampler stocks. With an
annual average European product of
over l, ,42S, 100000 bushels during the six
years from 1891 to 1885, inclusive, we
exported an average of 166, ,S72 BUSH
els a year. This year the European
crop, according to BroomhalPs Corn
Trade News, WILL in round numbers
amount to .329,OOO,O0O Winchester
bushels, or 99.000,0O0 bushels less than
the average of the six years in ques-
ton. If we make the comparison with
the figures for 1897 given by Beebhohm
the deficiency in the European crop is
still greater, amounting to about 49,
900, 900 bushels. To make UP this de-
ficiency little help is to be expected
from India, Argentina, or Australasia
for months to come, and in so far as
Europe will have to import a larger
quantity than usual she will have 20
draw it mainly from North America,
and especially from the United States
the Canadian contribution being rela-
lively small. Official returns for On
tario and Manitoba give for these two
provinces an aggregate of 51,042,253
bushels. If the Argentina crop shall
escape the ravages Of locusts it seems
likely to turn out unusually well, ard
from January, 1898, when the bulk of
the harvest will be got in in Argentina.
that country may have more or less
wheat to export, as the latest mail ad-
vices represent the crop as being in fine
condition and the weather highly ia
vorable. There are, however, many
chances of serious damage during the
next three or four months. The latest
accounts from Australia indicate that
the drought from which that country
has suffered for the last two or three
seasons has been broken, and that the
wheat crop is giving good promise
throughout most of the Australian
colonies; but the area was narrowed by
drought at seeding time, and, as stocks
must be low. it is not likely that even
with full yield the crop will be eone out of
which any great amount can be spared
for expectation. The present high
prices, would ordinarily tend to en-
courage the sowing of an increased
breadth in India, should the weather be
favorable, this fall; but any inclination
on the part of the poorer cultivatorS 10
take advantage of such favorable con-
ditions will probably be in a great
measure thwarted by the impoverished
condition in which they have been left
by the famine in the greater part of the
wheat-growing districts. Many of them
lack the draft cattle necessary for the
tillage of even the usual breadth of
land, and will, moreover, be unable to
buy the necessary seed wherewith to
SOW it. Public and private charity will
aid them to some extent, but it is
probable, on the whole that the area
will be below the average rather than
above it, and that even should the crop
to be harvested next spring be one Of
abundant yield, the aggregate out-turn
will be somewhat short.
But leaving out of view the fact that
the burden of supply for Europe will
fall more largely than usual upon the
United States, it is evident that there
would, in any case. be demand for a
larger surplus than is to be expected
out of this years crop.
THE WORLDS APPLE CROPS.
England, with the exception of early
apples in the home counties, has a very
bad crop, the worst crop of winter fruit
that has been known for many years
France, in the south, is short, AMI
there are only moderate crops in the
north; cannot export many except at
high prices.
Belgium.-Very poor crops. Prices (
present are ruling very high through
out. Belgium will, later on, no doubt,
be a buyer of American red apples.
Germany.-Very bad crops indeed.
Orders are expected to be sent to Eng
land from time to time for red fruit
Coming to your side; Nova Scotia la: t
season exported to the United King
dem 100000 barrels; from information
ODtdlItu lIOul IelldDlt SOlICGS IL Gail
only estimate the crop this year from
10000 to 100000 barrels, in addition to
which, am told, the quality cannot be
reckoned as good.
Canada, last season, shipped to the
united kingdom from the port of Mont
real 70O,274 barrels; this year the crop
will not exceed 100000 barrels, of which
the larger portion will be Greetings
and Northern Spys; choice red fruit is
likely to be scarce.
New York last season shipped us 570.-
900 barrels, but this year. unless fruit
is brought from the far West (for
which there will be heavy railway
charges) supplies cannot be reckoned
over 100000 barrels; reports from this
district also speak of a shortage in red
fruit
From Boston; last season, we had
something like 1000, 900 barrels, but fear
the quantity this year will be only one
quarter that number.
Seeing that there is likely to be q
shortage of red fruit from Canada and
New York, we think this should leave
a good opening for best reds from