THE WORLDS WHEAT

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1686, 22 June 1904, Page 61

THE WORLDS WHEAT

Beerbohm, writing by the English mail, gives the following summary of the condition of growing wheat crops at tho middle of April, or a couple of months before harvest:— Great Britain.—We are now enjoying comparatively warm, springlike weather, which is undoubtedly promoting the growth of the autumn sown wheat, concerning which the reports had been distinctly unfavourable from many districts.

France.. —The weather in Franco has become finer and much warmer, and is quite favourable for the growing crops, concerning which there are now very few complaints.

Belgium, "Germany, and Holland.— The agricultural reports from these countries are normally favourable for the time of year. •• Austria-Hungary.—After a short period of frost the weather is now milder at Vienna and Budapest, and quite favourable for the crops. Roumania.—The agricultural reports remain favourable on the whole, although there are compaiints - in some districts. -1

Russia. —There is a decidedly unfavourable note in our crop reports from South Russia, both from Odessa and the Azof. Our Odessa correspondent writes; in fact, that the severe night frosts have definitely destroyed the greater part of the autumn sown crops in the Odessa district, the condition of which was already precarious. In the Azof districts six or seven degrees (Reaumur) frost was also regarded as highly unfavourable for the crops.

United States of America.—The American markers have ruled firm this week, and maintain their comparatively high level of prices, especially for spot or cash wheat. .Both May and July deliveries also maintain last week’s price at both New York and Chicago. Tho event of the week has been the publication of Die Washington Burma’s estimate of the winter wheat crop condition on April 1. As was to be expected tho average condition is very low viz., 7t>.5, against 97.3 last year—o 6in Ohio and Indiana, 78 in Kansas, and 59 in Kentucky are among the lowest, hut the California condition is only 8 per cent below a full average. The average condition last December was given at 86.6. \Ve must go hack to 1885 to find an equally low condition on April 1. In that year the condition on April 1 was 76.3, and on July 1, 65, the yield being the smallest recorded -since 1876. In 1893, 1896, and 1899 the April condition was also low, viz., 77.4, 77.!, and 77.9 respectively, the July condition beinoj 77.3 in 1803, 75.6 in 1896, and G 0.6 in 1899, goes to prove that an April outlook is seldom improved upon. This year the acreage sown has been officially estimated at 32 million acres, but ifc remains to be seen what area will be harvested; in 1899 over 3.]* million acres wore recorded as winter killed. It is,, of course, too early t’o estimate the probable yield this year, but the bureau's report indicates, we venture to think,, only about 325 to 350 million bushels against 401 million bushels reaped lasrfc •year. . •