The Washington herald., 1920-02-02
FOOD OUTLOOK

In It's review Of conditions gener-
ally, The National City Bank Of New
York hasN the following to say on
the food situation:
Nothing would do so much to relax
the tension Of the Industrial situa-
tion as a good all-round crop OF
foodstuffs this coming season. The
reduction OF about 25 per cent in
acreage of winter wheat, together
with reports that much of the crop
has been uncovered during the cold
weather and that II did not enter the
winter in the best condition, is not
reassuring to the supply OF that grain.
II Is true that the acreage last year
was larger than usual :, under the
stimulus Of the government guarantees
but the present area is below. the ten
year average. The reduction may be
made good by the acreage in spring
wheat and IT is to be hoped that this
will be the case.
The United States Grain Corpora
ton reports that wheat receipts on
primary markets from June q, 1918
to January 2, 1920. aggregated s53sS2,-
goo bushels, and estimate the remain
ing amount in the country at 25l. .o69 900
Dushels. Exports In that time were
ScsN~SsS~V DaohClb lOWGT imam In fI1c
corresponding period of last year.
Mr.. Barnes predicts a considerable
Carry-over into the new crop year,
but other well-informed people think
there Will be no carry-over IL Europe
can find the means of making ths
purchases it would like to. From
present appearances none of the BILL
lon dollars provided to cover the pos
sible loss to the Treasury under the
wheat guaranty will be required: The
pest grade of hard wheat has been
commanding premium above the
guaranteed price at Minneapolis, of
nearly 81 per bushel.
Ihe prospects for wheat in other
countries are not especially good. A
4 good crop has been harvested In Ar
gentina, but the Australian crop has
been cut by drought so that there will
DC little to spare for export. In Eng
lanu' contrary to many predictions,
tne increased area in grain, due to
the menace OF the submarine, has been
! promptly put back into grass. On the
continent. larger crops may be looked
Tor than during the war, but il is
| doubtful If full prewar yield is OBJ
tanned. The soil has not been well
] cared for. and work animals and i'm
plements are short. In eastern Poland
I an extensive region was completely
devastated. The chief deficit. how
/ ever. in the European supply will be
| In Russia. Europe will not get back
to normal food Supplies until Rus
sia is able to export as In pre-war
years. and that cannot be counted
! upon for the coming year.
Higher prices for butter and eggs
! In the latter part of January are
probably charGeable 10 inadequate
| transportation facilities The season
| is drawing toward the close and
higher prices are not likely to be sus-
tanned.
The action OF the allied powers in
permitting trade with Russia will al
low the associated farmers cooper
ative societies OF that country to show
what they can do in the way of ex-
porting products. Their officials rep
resent that very considerable stores OF
fax exist in northern Russia and of
wheat and other grains in other sec
| tions which can be brought out. 1t is
said that the peasants are unwilling to
sell for the paper money of the coun-
! try or TO part with their products ex-
cept in exchange for the products they
want.
The corn crop of 1919 was one of
| the best in yield and quality ever
raised in this country, and the num-
ber Of hogs on the farms is large,
promising a good supply of pork pro-
ducts. The total receipts OF both cat
tie and hogs at public stock yards in
1919 were slightly below those of 1918. -