WORLD’S WEATHER

Evening Star, Issue 21745, 13 June 1934, Page 12

WORLD’S WEATHER

ABNORMAL CONDITIONS THREAT TO GRAIN SUPPLIES. LONDON. May 30. _ • “What is wrong with the world s weather? ■“ asks the ‘ Daily Mail.’ The paper says London traders are excited at the prospects of a substantial rise in wheat. The prospect of a further year of drought in Britain coincides with reports of rain shortage throughout the world, seriously threatening grain supplies. British haymaking sho.uld be in full swing in a fortnight, but the growth everywhere is so stunted that fanners fear the yield will hardly repay cutting. It has been the driest May for nearly forty years._ Serious crop failures are anticipated in the Rhineland, owing to a water famine. Fruit is drying up and falling from the trees. Appalling desolation is reported on the American wheat belts, where crops have been scorched and thousands of cattle and sheep are dying of thirst. Grain prices are soaring in Chicago and Winnipeg, where traders are discussing the possibility of foreign importation of wheat, in spite of prohibitive duties. The Soviet has increased the price of bread in view of the drought affecting crops in the southern gyain belts. It is expected that the Soviet will ar-

range for additional shipments of wheat from London.

• Grain merchants are eagerly seeking additional tonnage. The consumption, of wheat in the Vladivostok area has increased abnormally, owing to the presence of troops. The higher prices mean that the crop will demand more financing, and possibly end the glut of.money.. Weather experts consider that the world is entering upon a long, dry spell. The superintendent of the British rainfall organisation told a representative of the ‘ Mail - ' that the tendency is for wet and dry years to run in sequence.