GREAT DEFICIENT IN THE INDIAN CORN CROP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1733, 6 January 1888, Page 2

GREAT DEFICIENT IN THE INDIAN CORN CROP

The "Times" prints the following Important letter from Sir James Oalrd, the eminent authority on Agricultural statistics : —

I have not observed any publlo notice of a huge deGcit In this season's Indian corn crop m the United States of America, leforred to m the September Report of tue Orope by the Department of Agriculture there, and ftrly confirmed by the Uctober Report cf 12 h ult, which retched me two days ago. It was caused by a aenoiiß drought, wbich for more than a month effected a very broad and fertile district which usually contributes about three-fourths of the prodoot of the country, and whiob has this season experienced a failure greater than any heretofore reported to the Department. The reduction of crop thereby caused is reckoned by the Department at upwards of 43,000,000 quarters. This loss it 3,000,000 quarters greater than last year's produce of all cereals m the United Kingdom. It Ii a logs of food rrp.ny times greater than that of any Indian famine m rec«.nt times. The American wheat crop m considered slightly deficient In yield, but that will be fully compensated by an increased acreage. Of the potato crop it is said '* The probabilities are that it will be the least ever reported." But the acreage of potatoes ii only one* six iftth of that of the whole of the American oerefel oropi, bo .tbat a oon> sidarable deficiency m potatoes will be of comparatively small importance, although, so far as it goes, It will aggravate the loai of corn. This heavy deficiency of the Indian corn orop will leave little for export from the United States if the average home consumption Is maintained, The price m that oountry will probably rise considerably, and the coat of feeding all animals throngh the wiater tbere will be largely increased. And this can hardly Ml to stiffen the prioe of ali other kindi ot food products m that oountry and this. As (he Department of Agriculture m Washington sends me a copy of their monthly reports, I have felt it my duty to ask you to allow me to plare before the public information of so grave a oharaotet."