BRITISH AND CANADIAN CROPS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2972, 9 January 1917, Page 8

BRITISH AND CANADIAN CROPS

Preliminary statements relating to cereal and other production in England and Wales were never of greater itif torest than in the case of tlioso relating to the yiolds for tho 1916 season. The whoat harvest was reckoned at 6,942,559 quarters, or about 1,500,000 1 quarters loss than last year, but greater than in 1912 or 1913. Tho yield per acre, 29.05 bushels, was about two bushels below that of 1915. Barley, although about 1} bushel per acre below ' average, was better than last year, and with tho acreage increased has given a total nearly 700,000 quarters in excess of 1915. Oats are only very slightly below the average, and slightly better than last year; the total production, 10,461,164 quarters, being the largest eince 1910. Beans are over average by three-tenths of a bushel per. acre, and 2 2-5 bushels per aero above last year, but as tho area has been reduced the total production is rather below that of 1915. The yield of peas is practically identical with that of 1915, but 1£ bushel below average; in this case also, owing to a reduced acreage, the total production is less than in 1915. Tho "oritire production of hay is estimated at 8,837,079 tons, which is 2,250,000 tons, or fully 34 per cent., more than last year.

Latest estimates of the exportable surplus of wheat in Canada set the total at approximately 108,000,000 bushels. At ono time it seamed doubtful whether the yield from tho 1916 harvest would be sufficient to warrant the shipment of any considerable quan-. tity of the cereal. Assuming, however, that ■ the yield will not exceed 168,811,000 bushels, there should be, therefore, an exportable supply of about 81,000,000 bushels, after providing for home consumption and seell requirements. Census statistics show that at the end of August nearly 12,000.000 bushels of the large wheat crop of 1915 still remained in the hands of Canadian farmers. Adding to that quantity about 15,000,000 busllels, the visible

supply in tlio elevators on September 1, ivo get ,i total of 27,000,000 bushels as the quantity carried over from the crop j-oar which\ elided on August 31, so that altogethor about 108,000,000 bushels should be available for export botween now and next year's harvest.