Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-08-19
Foreign and Home Crops.

| NeSR SShNANAOh ACPuktSt rs RAtIl-
cred by the Department of Agriculture and
recently published in the Crop Reporter, in
dictate that the crops abroad will not be
abundant as has been anticipated The
Governments report says:
IN Spain results, though not up to ex-
pectations in the case of all crops, are on
the whole fair average. The wheat crop
of Italy is above all previous records
but one. Roumania and Bulgaria have
each apparently harvested record crops of
wheat.
IN Central Europe and in countries far
Their north recent climatic conditions have
generally been adverse, giving rise to much
complaint Of rust, rank growth of weeds,
and where cereal harvest was on. interfer-
ing with the operations.
The seemingly continuous deterioration
OF wheat in parts of France causes grave
anxiety. In Austria, Hungary and Ger
many more or less important declines in
agricultural prospects are confirmed by Of
fetal authority, and from Russia have re-
Gently come numerous reports of impor-
tant reductions in the wheat yield because
of drouth and of probably serious impair
ment of quality by rains during harvest.
Last year the European wheat crop
roundly 2, 100000, 900 bushels establish
ed record, exceeding the production of
the previous season by 100000 BUSH
els. The increase was due almost entirely
to European Russia. whose 7il.000.000
bushels yield was exceptional and not
likely to be Immediately repeated"
MAY Be RECORD YIELD Or Corn.
The winter wheat harvest is practically
made. and in respect to it no development
Of the future can modify the statement
that it is the best, with but two exceptions,
in the country's history. Spring wheat has
been damaged. but the damage is not so
great as was apprehended prior to last
week, the government figures in the Au-
gust crop report indicating crop Of both
spring and winter wheat greater by 49,
000. 900 bushels than was indicated in the
July report. OF corn there will be a record
yield. unless unusually unfavorable weather
harms the crop in the weeks remaining
before harvest. The Oat crop is good, and
Of the three grain crops. wheat. corn and
barley, there is now reasonable certainty
of crop exceeding last years in quantity.
Cotton estimates vary widely and provide
the only remaining apprehension of crop
failure. but the lowest estimate of the cot
ton yield places it almost 100000 bales
above last years crop. and the estimate of
yield not far from 100000 bales is
still generally accepted
BIG DROP In FoOD EXPORTS.
The existing decrease in exports of
breadstuffs during the month Of July as
compared with last year. has attracted
considerable attention. The cause of this
falling of in exports was sought from Mr.
o. P. Austin. chief of the Bureau of Stats
tics. Wheat exports fell off from 2,714.-
962 bushels in July. 1909. to 875138
bushels in July, 1910. When asked the
cause of this Mr. Austin said
Corn and wheat exports have fallen off
rapidly. This is due partly to the larger
consumption of food products at home and
the larger demand at home for corn and
wheat products. To some degree the higher
prices of the products at home have been
responsible for the reduction in exports,
as the consuming countries have looked
elsewhere for some Of their breadstuffs.
Another reason has been the competition
from countries like Argentina. Canada and
Australia. which have increased their pro-
duction of wheat.
"As to meats. the falling off in exports
is largely due apparently to the decreased
production of meat animals. the breaking
up of the great stock ranges of the West
as that section of the country has developed
and become more thickly settled. In former
days cattle ate little of anything but grass
before going from range to market. They
did not have to be fed 50 much corn. Now
cattle have to be fed much longer before
going to market. and this is an additional
expense. Statistics show that there has
been a marked falling off in the number of
beeves. In 1907 there were 51.500.000 in
this country On January this year the
number had fallen to AZ. 279 900. or about
the number we had in 1906.
with the increase of the United States
in population there has been a greater de-
mand for our own food products. The sec
tons of the country where food products
could be grown more cheaply have been
settled. the ranges broken up. and large
farms have grown smaller. This has re-
duced considerably the beef cattle available.
There has also been movement Of food
producers from the farms to manufacturing
cities. The population Of consumers has
been increasing in the cities while there
has been no corresponding increase in the
producers Of food products The history of
the world has shown that the new coun-
tries are great food exporters. The United
States has led for a long time. Now other
new countries, like Canada. Argentina and
Auatralia are comin0 alOno The day will