The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-02-06

has to do mainly
with the great
agricultural coun.
try Of Argentina. is about completed.
The work is progressing from north
to south with the advance OF the sea
son.. just as in the northern hemls-
phere the work of harvesting pro-
crosses from south to north, the cool.
err zones always having crops that
mature more slowly.
II it should develop that the Ar
gentlna wheat crop is short, the ca
bles would no sooner announce that
fact than there would undoubtedly be
sharp advance in food prices in the
United States and Europe. officials
of the department OF agriculture,
who keep closely in touch with such
problems. say the advance In prices
would probably be way beyond any
thing warranted by conditions. The
spectators would seek to obtain an
abnormal profit and. OF course, the
consumer would pay for 1t all in the
increased price Of loaves.
There viii apparently be no wheat
shortage in Argentina, however, al
though so many dealers in the United
States and South America are watch
ing anxiously for such signal The
yield of Argentine wheat is thought to
b" large from all the reports of an
Official character that have come up
over the equator from that distant
country. The southern republic is
none the less having lot of rain.
That Impedes the harvest. but It may
not affect tile quality of the yield.
Much as to that will depend upbn the
kind of storms The bumper Cana
dian crop Of wheat this past year was
considerably affected by the heavy
storms of sleci and snow which swept
the western provinces after the reap
ers had passed and before the grain
had been thrashed The official state
ments from Canada indicate that
there will be GO,OOO,OOO bushels Of Ca
madam wheat so badly damaged by
October and November storIps that II
viii 20 to market as No. grade and
be fit chiefly for animal feed.
But the important consideration toI
those who are interested in the broad
question OF the worlds welfare is that
there Is an abundance ofo;f food for
men, women and SfIldren during the
year Just beginning. That is on the
authority Of the department OF agri'
culture, and is made after iuyestiga.
ton which assures reliability What
ever happens in Argentina. the wheat
supply of the world from the 1911
harvest will be about up to normal
This will be true IN spite OF two bad
factors one the Canadian storms al
ready mentioned and the other the
great shortage of wheat In Russia,
where the yield In 73 governments.
according 10 the reports from the
Central Statistical Bureau of the Min.
lstry of the Interior show that 599.'
10000 bushels have been harvested.
AS against ia G9G.0 600 bushels in 1910
and 7S3,270.O00 bushels In 1909.
There are many people in the
United States to he affected by the
status. because great shortage of
food staples In any part Of the world
In these Gays OF lightning cOmmunica'
ton and ready transportation means
a rise in prices Of all food staples in
this country. and consequent In
crease In prices to the consumers, in
claGitg rcDi people IN thA cities But
even with quite wheat shortage III
,n,s Years harvest. which appm emily
there will not be there would yet be
food enough. The wheat granares OF!
the world have carried over a large
stock, both from 1908 and 1910, when
there were large crops. So there is
wheat enough, and the SPECTATORS
should net he allowed to promote any
alarm
Another greater food product than
WIipnI Is dISu NUN ''''ANA 'i'N"SS'St
at tins iuncture. That Is the potato
of which, there has been an enormous
sh3rage In Germany alone the po.
talo shortage in 1911 amounts TO 100
600 1000 bushels. This, however is not
ms serious as 1t might seem, because
while notatoes both In Europe and
thc Emitted Statcs constitute n very
important article Of human diet, very
large quantities are also fed to ami
mails and possibly larger quantities
are used for the manufacture Of alec.
mol. Experience shows that potato
shortage in any country does not mean
a large demand for importations.
There Is undoubtedly wheat enough
in the world 10 take the place of what
ever is needed on account of the short
age OF potatoes