Evening star., 1948-09-26

Germany were lnCOtupIctc, dIlo soillS
information trickling out to the
west indicated there were food
shortages In some quarters.
Russian Position Is Good
No overall statistics on the Rus
sian harvest were available, but
everything indicated 1t was good. This
Ukraine, Moldavia, Crimea and the
Northern Caucasus areas, Moscow
dispatches said. have reported to
Stain that already they have turned
in to the state 126,000,000 more
bushels of bread grains than they
did last year. They said there will
be 40,000,000 bushels more before
the end of December Harvesting Is
still going on in Siberia.
Britains wheat crop was one OF
the most encouraging aspects OF the
harvest in the United Kingdom.
Cross section reports indicated tbs
yield will be 1877 hundredweight per
acre, compared to l5.2 last year.
Oats, potatoes and sugar beets all
topped average yields. Barley, some-
what damaged by storms, just about
held its own. Some pasturage was
burned out late in August. Bread
rationing has been discontinued and
there will almost certainly be more
food Of other types.
American experts said the harvest
Of British and American zones OF
Germany is the best since 1914. I'M
provement in the food position per-
mitted a boost in daily food ra-
tions from 1850 calories to 1,755
and there were prospect of another
increase Immediately to 1,845. A
goal Of 1000 may be reached II
imports are maintained at the pres
ent level. In the 4l-day period,
from August to September 0.
about $4,000 tons of bread grains
we're imported from the United
States.
Farmers Lack Supplies
Wheat was q bright spot IN
France, and other crops. with the
exception of olives and wine, wers
proportionately higher. Farmers
were short Of just about every
thing-fertilizers, seeds. machinery
and manpower. But the wheat crops
permitted an increase OF the bread
ration from 10 to - ounces daily.
Butter, coffee, milk. tea, candy, sugar
and fats remained on ration.
Poland raised just about enough
food for its normal needs and Jan
Dab-Kociol, Minister OF Agriculture.
announced the battle OF bread has
been Won" Wheat, rye, barley and
oats crops were nearly double those
of l947, and Poland expected to DO
able to export potatoes, rye flour,
barley. bacon, eggs and poultry.
Czechoslovakia made q remark
able recovery from last years dis
astrous drought. The 1948 wheat
crop was estimated at 52,70O,oOo
bushels, compared with 36.000,0 1000 last
year. Sugar beet production was
almost doubled, with an estimated
Weld of 100000 metric tons. The
country will still need to import
wheat, and Premier Zapotocky said
rationing will be continued. but that
more food will be available for
heavy workers.
There was general substantial
Improvement In Romanis, wheat
Weld being UP to 1000 900 tons, COM
pared with 100000 last year.
Bread is rationed but not very
strictly.
Hungary to Export Corn
Hungary had its best postwar
harvest, but production was still be-
low prewar averages. There Will
be substantial quantities OF corn TO
export. Milk, sugar, fats and bread
are rationed, but supplies are liberal.
The harvest was lust a little bit
better than average" in Switzerland
and most rationing was discon-
tinued July /.
Sweden's bread grains and corn
crops are almost double those OF
last year, but Swedes are still talk
ing about the good old days. Yields
were under prewar averages, Ra-
tioning will be continued but lio-
eraliZed.
| Denmark was feeling much better.
with a wheat crop estimated at
24o. 900 tons, compared with the
81. .ooo-ton near failure last year.
Denmark will be able to continue
substantial exports Of pork, butter.
eggs and cheese. but at home Will
retain most OF its rationing. Bread
irationing may be abandoned.
Norway's agricultural ministry
called the years harvest "a good
average" distinctly better than last
year. Norway will have to import
some wheat and rye, and will get
some of 1t from Russia. Rationing
will he eo,,tiYlIed
Low Countries to Import
Belgium and Holland did well this
year, but will import some food and
continue rationing. Belgium ra-
tions only sugar and bread.
Finland reported all crops better
with the exception Of rye. Ration
ing is becoming less severe.
Spaghetti-eating italy expected
better grain crops. with an esti-
mated wheat yield of $4,000 tons
approaching q prewar average Of
7,500, 900. Orange and olive crops
are good and there Is more barley,
forage, hemp. sugar beets and rice.
There was decline In oil seed
crops and potatoes.
A cold spring retarded cereals and
c,l{ve all y,rodtefior in Epain and