HARVEST PROSPECTS.

Evening Star, Issue 3065, 14 December 1872, Page 3

HARVEST PROSPECTS.

The harvest in Great Britain bps been a failure ; in France and Spain it has been unusually abundant; in Northern Europe it has been deficient} and that throughout America, but more particularly in CalU foruia, it has been very considerably above the average Vngland will have to import, instead of the 8,000,000 or 0,000.000 quarters, which on an average has satisfied her yearly wants, at the very least 15,000,000 quarters, when the failure of the potato crop is also taken into account. Latest information from Australia, and Adelaide in particular, is somewhat indefinite, almost contradic‘ory. At least three estimates of the probable yield in South Australia have been given—2o, 15, and 12 bushels to the acre. The first of these may be at once set down as too sanguine, the second as possible but not probable, and the third as a high average. The area crop is said to b$ apd GAiug the lowest estimate—which vf,e dq pot thi'pk wfll b,e exceeded, apd may not be reached—this would give a gross yield of ff,s,UO„ffOo| bushel*, or sqy I&OUOidiOQ ip round numbers, If, howpver, t,he lopqgts aye making such ravages as latest telegrams report, the yield will in all probability bo much reduced. Still, the weight of information points to a larger surplus for export than South Australia has ever had before, and the question arises what effect will this have on the Australasian market ? The V ictorian papers, as usual, are quite certain that the yield in that colony will be equal to its but we have learned by experience what allowance to make on Victorian estimates. Even though Yictoria should not require a single bushel from South Australia, tpe latter will find, a good markfet for all she can to England,' and 1 her tyeWy surplus, will nqt! hqvfe’ hj depressing effect op the Australasian mayket. Canterbury may yield a million and a half or two million bushels, or more, but there is no reason to fear that low prices will rule from ovcr-abundancc. We shall have the home market to ourselves, and England will absorb all that the Australasian colonies can spare. — Li/tleltun Times.