The Washington herald., 1921-08-03
REPORT EUROPE'S
GRAIN CROPS ARE
-ERIOUSLY HURT
Spring Wheat Quarter of
Worlds Supply Is in
Poor Condition.
HIT BY DROU GIT
Prospects in Hungary and
Austria Appear
Better.
HIT BY DROUGHT
rimiuary reports to the United

states Department of Agriculture
from winteT-wneat-growin coun-
tries whose harvests are either near
ing completion. or about to take
place, point to deficiency in the acre
age Of winter wheat as compareS
with the preceding season. Spring
wheat. which constitutes approx
mately one-fourth of the world's
supply has, as yet, to pass through
its critical stages of development
and with a continuance of the pres
ent climatic conditions these are not
very bright.
Estimates Of the 1921 production
Of wheat in BelgiuTs are placed
at 7,679.OO bushels, or 74.6 per cent
of the 1890 production; in Bulgaria
4S,so5, 900 bushels, or 123.2 per cent,
of last year; in Greece. 13.9e2.0o0
bushels or has per cent of last
year; in Algeria. 33.142.0oo bushels.
or ss7.2 per cent of last year: and
in Tunis --,T5s.OO0 bushels. or 225
per cent of the production in 1920.
Recent unofficial reports state that
the coming wheat crop in Italy
will approximate about 176.Ooo.OQO
bushels, compared with 141.337.0eO
in 1920. while commercial estimates
place Canada's production for the
present season at approximately
SOC, ,0Oo. 900 bushels. compared with,
ss3.1s9, 900 bushels last year.
Complaints of Drought.
{ Generally speaking. from practi-
caIly the whole of Europe have come
complaints of drought. In France
the rainfall during the first half
of the crop season was the lowest
for many years. and the present
month promises to establish rec
ord for dryness. Conditions are said
to be the worst in many seasons.
The prolongation of the drought
gives cause for keen uneasiness-
Beets. spring cereals asd meadows
have suffered most. Autumn wheat
still presents good appearance.
Winter oats will give a good yield.
but the condition of spring oats
and wheat leaves much to be de-
sired.
Recent reports indicate that in
the United Kingdom the drought
continues to prevail with unabated
severity The deep-rooted winter
wheat has stood the dry conditions
remarkably well, and though the
straw is short, the yield of grain
promises to be satisfactory. Spring
sown cereals have suffered more or
less from dryness, and the yield
will be somewhat below the aver
age. On the average. both barley
and oats are expected to give poor
yields in all parts of the country.
Denmark Hard Hit.
In Denmark the agricultural pros
pects are nearly as discouraCing as
those of France. The harvest has
commenced earlier than usual and
the rye crop is almost talure
on the sandy lands Other parts OF
the country are not so badly anected.
but the crops generally are expected
TO be below the average. Similar
climatic conditions are also AFFECT
ing the harvest prospects of Bel
gium and Holland. The production
of rye and barley in Belgium is es-
timated as follows: Rye, 19,lI2'0oo
bushels. OF 1858 per cent Of the lS2o
production; barley 4,4O9.oO bushels
or ld1.S per cent of the 1920 pro-
duction.
The drought has spread over a
good part of Germany. but the ce-
real crops are too forward to suffer
good harvest. However. recent cool
weather has dispeIled all hopes of
an early harvest. and supplies of
old crop grain will have to last
longer than was anticipated.
According to unofficial sources, the
disastrous failure of the Russian
crops is now generally known. The
famine area embraces the whole
VoIEa region. the Kuban district.
the province of EkaterinOslav, and
six central provinces. The yield
of crops will only be a third OF
the amount expected.
In Rumania crops prospects are
generally well maintained except in
the dr6ughty districts. although lat
er reports Atate that in consequence
Of fcrther rains the outlook of spring
/ cereals in these districts is becom-
ing favorable.
Better Prospects.
In Hungary crop prospects are
considered satisfactory and an in
creased production is expected.
In Austria the harvest is progress
ing everywhere. but on account Of
the drouGht the weather is not all
that could be desired.
In Jugo-SlaVla the crop prospects
are not very satisfactory owing to
adverse weather conditions. Heavy
rains and hailstorms have been ex-
perienced and these have beaten
down the cereals in the Bosnia and
Timok districts. Owing to the
drought and the adverse weather
mentioned above the wheat crop will
be poor, but the corn crop is ex-
pected to be a little more prom
ising.
In Italy seasonable weather con-
ditions are prevailing. So far. crop
reports are generally favorable.
! Spring crops, such as corn, haricot
beans, hemp. etc. are ripening in
satisfactory condition.
From Spain reports indicate sat
isfactory conditions with the pros
poets of a larger wheat crop than
last year.
From India disquieting reports OF
the failure of the monsoon have
come to hand and moisture is gen.
eraly urgently needed. Grave anx-
iety prevails as to the weakness
. kf the monsoon in Western India
And fears are expressed of famine
in many parts of the country.
In North Africa harvesting Il
practically finished and the yields