The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-06-22
DECREASED WHEAT CROP.
A Falling OF Of Over 200. OOo,O 900 Bush
els Indicated.

The Agricultural Department has is-
sued a circular giving the substance oil
reports received by 1t up to June III on
the condition of foreign crops. 1t says
that q British commercial estimate
tentatively puts the worlds wheat crop
OF 1899 at 2, 5O4. 900. 900 bushels. against
274s. 900 900 bushels in 1898. a reduc-
ton Of 244 900, 600 bushels, or nearly
SO per cent. Another estimate makes
a reduction of S52, 900 900 bushels. Such
information as can be gathered for
different countries is then given in de-
tails.
Reports from the country around
Odessa and Nikolaieff. Russia, repre-
sent the winter grain crops, both wheat
and rye, as almost destroyed by drought.
by which the spring grains also had
been severely injured. and would soon
be beyond help unless relieved by rain
Taking into account the injuries here
tofore reported as having been caused
by insects in three or four other province
within the winter wheat region, 1t Is
evident, the department says, that the
crop Of bread grain for the empire as
whole cannot be good one. notwith'
standing that for the few other locali-
ties which have been heard from the
reports art generally favorable 1t has
even been suggested that the crop may
not exceed that Of 1897.
Information from Germany is scant
but there has been complaint of deficient
sunshine and warmth, and the harvest
was thought likely to be a week or two
later that usual. Later advices indi'
cate better weather in various parts OF
Germany.
According to the official reports on
the Austrian crops for the middle OF
May, wheat and barley promised about
an average yield. but rye and oats were
below that standard.
In a report Of the Hungarian minis
try Of agriculture, issued on May 90
the area under wheat was estimated at
about z, 800 900 acres. against Z, 100. 900
acres last year, and oHthis basis, taken
in connection with condition Of plant
some commercial estimates put the crop
as high as 14O. 900 900 bushels. against
l24, 900, 900 in 1898, though other esti-
mates are less favorable. Unofficial
reports of ten days later show that the
whether had been such as to cause a
lowering Of the condition Of cereals
since the official report was issued.
Severe drought has prevailed in Rou-
mania. and the wheat and rye crops are
not expected to give more than half Of
an average yield. Some estimate the
wheat crop at no more than 80 per cent
Of an average. Other cereals also have
suffered. The reports from Bulgaria
are better, though by no means good.
Those from Turkey, both European and
Asiatio, are favorable.
Accounts from Italy are favorable,
and those from Spain show marked
improvement in the respect Of the cereal
crops throughout the greater part Of the
peninsulsr, though it seems improb-
able that either wheat or other cereals
wiz yield as we'll as in 1898.
Next TO the Russian wheat crop, that
of France is the largest and most impor-
tant In Europe, and the outlook for a
good yield lie decidedly better than in
the former country. According TO the
official crop report for May 10, the area
under wheat is about the same as last
year, Or very little less, while the con-
dition is about per cent lower. On
this basis q crop would be, in round
numbers, about 20, OOO, 900 bushels less
than that Of last year.
In other continental countries, and
also In great Britain, there has been
considerable complaint Of cold, I'M
seasonable weather, but. except in Den.
mark and Sweden, there is no mention
of any lserious injury to important
cereal crops
No official report has yet been made
Is to the Indian wheat crop recently
harvested, but it is known to be con-
siderably smaller than that Of 1898. Re-
ports as to the agricultural outlook in
Australasia are very favorable.