Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-07-05
The Wheat Crop of 1899.


harvest is just gathered is difficult to
do with any show of accuracy. The
Baltimore Sun has the following in
teresting article on the subject, which
our farmers will read with much in
terest:
The size of the Wheat crop of 1899
is just now the subject of anxious in
quiry and speculation. The condi-
tions are such that the farmer is JUS
titled in looking forward TO fair pri-
ces for the present crop. Prices
were reasonably good for the crop of
1898 and from present advices the
worlds production this year will be
less than that of last year, and with
excessive surplus to start with. The
latest government estimate of this
years crop in the United States is
interpreted by the New York Pro
duce Exchange to mean that it will
be about 56S,OOO,OOO bushels, or
about a hundred and twenty million
bushels less than last years crop.
1t will require about four hundred
and twenty million bushels for bread
and seed In this country, leaving a
hundred and fifty million for export,
In addition to the surplus brought
over from last year. That surplus
is variously estimated at from fifty
to hundred million bushels. Dur
ing the year ending with the present
month of June the export of wheat
will have been something like two
hundred and twenty-five millions.
If this amount is reached next year
it will consume our entire product
available for export, including a
large part of the surplus carried over.
Reports indicate that at least as
much will be demanded this next
year by the bread importing coun-
tries of Europe, and with a smaller
crop In the exporting countries to
supply it. In England it is estima-
ted by those who are we'll informed
that the worlds wheat crop of 1899
will be from pa, 100000 to 352, 900
600 bushels less than that of 1898.
In Southern Russia, where the bulk
of the great exports come from, it is
reported that both the wheat and rye
crops have been destroyed by drought
and other parts of Russia the yield
is small. The last number of the
Mark Lane Express, the leading au-
thority on the subject, summarizes
the situation as follows: "The latest
crop reports from Austria Hungary.
Italy and Germany are decidedly IA
vorable to the growing wheat. The
French and Spanish reports may be
called average, while those from Rus
sia, Roumsnia, Poland and Bulgaria
are decidedly unfavorable."
France will yield, according to the
estimates, little less than last year,
and Great Britain's crop is about the
average. In India the crop was light,
but the outlook in Australia is good
If we are to judge by these figures
alone there would be every reason to
anticipate strong foreign demand
for our wheat. But scarcity of
wheat is not the only element enter
ing into its market value. During
the whole of this past year there has
been grievous bread famine in large
provinces of Russia, but the people
are too poor to buy bread. When the
price of wheat is low millions of peo-
pie in Europe eat wheat bread. AS
soon as it advances they stop its use
and substitute rye, barley or potatoes
and the yield of these crops is always
TO be considered in connection with
the price of wheat. The present re-
ports indicate, however, that the
same conditions which caused the
short wheat crop in Europe have OPP
Grated against the other cereals. In
the United States it is likely that
with a good season the corn crop will
exceed the average, because many
wheat fields were ploughed in the
spring and planted in corn. If the
price of wheat should advance mate
rally it is likely that the amount
consumed in this country will be
largely below the estimate and the
people will use more corn bread and
potatoes. Upon the whole the pres
ent outlook is favorable for fair pri-
ces for the wheat crop that is now