EUROPE'S CHAIN CROP.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 588, 17 August 1909, Page 10

EUROPE'S CHAIN CROP.

: SCOPE FOR NEW ZEALAND'S NEXT ' - WHEAT. All evidence relating to the future of the markets confirm the expectation that thero will be good prices awaiting New • Zealand's wheat of-.the next, harvest, and thcjse. farmers who' are still sowing. wheat -appear, as far as one can judge (at this distance from the date of sale, to be acting wisely. The spring conditions in northern countries wore not conducive to .heavy yields.

' "In.Europo, with no important exception (says the American "Crop , Reporter of June), during-the first half of May there was a"general'retardation of plant growth, and in part'actual crop injury.' In western and southern Europe lack of moisture was the cause, while in central Europe abnormal cold damaged-the standing crops and delayed spring planting. .The; second half of May was much mono favourable. The. drought was broken by rains that were generally adequate, although in somp parts of Europe additional rains" are .still 1 greatly needed. Official crop reports referring to" the middle of May havo been published by France, Germany, Austria, and. Hungary. In each country, the crop cutfook is decidedly" less"- promising tiikn; a year ago. Apparently the most serious situation is that oif Germany,' where- i'ro'm 'the beginning of their life history, the winter crops have met with setbacks. The area, while not yet officially estimated, is almost fcertainiy much restricted;. 10' per.cent, of tho decreased area .of wheat has,-been ; lost during the "winter ; by 'severity ,of .-weather and ravages of insects; the sudden return of winter in May, following ten days of warm spring weather, completed the obstacles to which this year's crops have been subjected. : "The most favourable conditions are found in" England and Spain, as far as can bo judged from the reports available, all unofficial, hr character.- The partial ■ drought prevailing in England during the -first half of May is thought to have affected adversely only the spring grains, while'.wheat'merely suffered a temporary check. Two ,vears ago Europe was.faced with a prospect of a serious shortage of winter grain, out'the spring crops, on a largely increased area, were unusually good.- Last year the production, of winter crops was, on the. whole, much' larger than the year before, but tho, spring, crops, showed a marked decrease. This\vcar neither , winter nor spring grains have attained suffi-" cient strength to give promise of a satisfactory, harvest." ...-;,. Later reports,: cabled sinco the above was published, iudicated still'-further improvements in the prospects of the British wheat harvest. ' ......