Evening star., 1917-04-15


h\ on the expectation of wheat
N\ and other foodstuffs. Supple
q x mental measures may enlarge
the list of embargoed products.
This is the disquieting news that
comes from Buenos Aires. 1t is espe-
cially disquieting to the allies in Eu-
rope. because Argertlna is one OF the
worlds reserve sources of food supply,
both cereals and meats. In peace times
sIl of them have drawn ON this great
granary and livestock preserve In
war times they have also drawn on it.
according to their needs. Now. ii is no
longer freely open to them.
The Argentine government has laid
the embargo in order to conserve the
food supplies of it's own people. There
is no political animus III It's action and
no intention TO eusbarrass the allies.
Nor has German intrigue had anything
to do with it. But according to London
dispatches, the British government is
threatening to forbid coal shipments to
Argentina unless the embargo is re-
Voked-
There are about S0o0, GOO people in
the Argentine Republic who must be
fed. In the case of the grain crops
quantity must also be reserved for
seeding and the carry-over between
crop seasons.
The International Institute of Agri-
culture from its headquarters at Rome.
has given an outline of the worlds
shortage i'll wheat the coming year.
The United States Department of Ag
riculture has reinforced this statement.
Farmers everywhere have been urged
to increase their wheat acreage, in or
der to lessen the shortage in food sup
plies. In doing this they have the Ger
tainty of good prices, regardless of the
war situation. Should the war end
overnight. wheat the coming season
will still command good price.
The Argentine government has taken
note of the situation simply as IL exists
within its own borders. The harvest
which began in December is now over,
and 1t is no longer matter of specula
tion that the crop is very short More
over the prospect is not encouraging
for the next season. Recent reports
from Rosario. the great grain ship
ping port of the north, have been dis
couraging They have stated that the
drought is already affecting the corn
and the wheat.
Droughts and locusts are the two
principal enemies to grain production
in Argentina. The grain area is exten-
sive and there may be drought in the
northern section, while normal wealth
er conditions may prevail in the south,
or the locusts may spread over the
SOUTH while the north is free from
them. In consequence, in some years
the crop may not be much below nor
NAL, although one section of the coun-
try may suffer a severe shortage. But
in other years drouShts and locusts may
affect the whole country, so that the
shortage is very large That has been
Argentinas recent experience.
Normally there should be a wheat
crop approximately 20O.000,00O bushels.
In 1914, however. 1t was only 114,000.-
00e bushels. In the following two crop
seasons the product was fairly good.
1t was 16S, 500 900 bushels in 1915, and
a fraction under 173,000,000 bushels in
1916, but the average for the three
years was below normal and was the
great factor in the very lage reduction
in the income received from abroad.
This income will be further reduced
by the stoppage of shipments through
the embargo. 1t Is estimated that Ar
gentina's purchasing power is cot down
by more than $500 900. 900 annually.
The corn crop also has suffered Sc
rious diminution. In 1916 it was only
161. .000.0 600 bushels, as against 33S. .000.-
600 bushels the previous year. and
263. .00O. 900 bushels in 1914. The probable
crop Tor the present year Is mol YET
known, but ii is not up to normal
Corn enters into Argentina's export
trade in a much smaller degree than
wheat. yet it is an important factor.
When the United States, by the tariff
law of 1914, removed the duty Argen-
tina began shipping corn to American
ports. This was because of the adapta- :
bility of the Argentine maize for r
tain corn products 1t did not come into
competition with American corn.
The meat supply is another question
that is confronting the Argentine gov
ernment. A few years ago all the world
was drawing on Argentina for beef and
mutton. The Chicago packers found il
expedient to establish great packing
houses there in order to supply their
European trade. Their purpose was moi
TO take care Of the American consumer
But some OF the Independents three years
80 began shipments to this country. and