WHEAT PROSPECTS OF 1885-86

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2210, 3 February 1886, Page 2

WHEAT PROSPECTS OF 1885-86

The harvest returns nil over the world from one cauao and another would seom to ptomise a yield considerably below that of last year. We have in recent issues drawn attention to tlfe shortness of the American crop. The deficiency of the Russian crop is now stated to be 8,000,000 quarters. According to tho Australasian, there is a surplus of rye in the same country of 10,000,000 quarters, but arainst this there is a deficiency of 25,000,000 quarters in oats, and 5,000,000 in barley, The. latest estimates of the American crop place it at 357,000,000 bushels, but it is stated that the flourmaking yield from this season's wheat is from 15 to 25 per cent, less,than that of last year's wheat. This is a very serious matter, and.will no doubt have its effect oii the market later on. In the meantime the largo quantities. pf flour and the large visible supply in America, are depressing the market, especially as American millers, instead of being disheartened by the low prices ruling for flour, are increasing their milling power. It 1b stated that although the visible supply is so large at present, later on, when deliveries fall off, it will be much smaller than that of last year. All reports agree that the statistical position of the market is very strong, but the laige stocks held in the different wheat consuming countries counteract the effect that this should have on values. It is anticipated, however, that later on tho fact of bad crops in America and Russia will surely iiifluenco the. market. No doubt, also, tho reduced sqpplies that will be available from the Australian colonics will help to, effect it, Tho whoat crop in New Zealand also will be seriously affected by the unprecedented drought at this Beason of the year. Until the dry weather had continued week after week beyond all expectations both growers and shippers were naturally looking forward to a good season, but now reports are coming in from almost all districts telling of the disastrous effects on gvowing orops of the continued dearth of rain, In Victoria, according to the Australasian, thore is an estimated deficiency as compared with last year's yield of 1,426,000 bqsliols, the total being 10,015,000 buihels as against 11,441,000 bushels jaet year, Had the average been calculated upon the whole aron of wheat sown, it would not have reached quite 81 bushels, but a deduction of mora than 100,000 aoros has boen made to allow for wheat cut for hay and not harvested at all, owing to failure. Upon the area of 1,058,200 aores estimated to be harvested for, wheat, the average is expected to be 9*46 buahel, or nearly 91 bushels per aore. In comparing the result with those of last year, the estimate of the -iiMtralas/anhas been employed as the business of the year has proved it to be moro correct than the Go-

vernmont agricultural statistics, which last, season returned the whesit oi op at only 10,433,148 buqhqls, After making tho usuar allowances for homo requirements this season, our figures only show a surplus of 8,077,600 bushels, or about 82,433 tons of the new crop available for export,

. In South Australia, too, the heat has been intense, and the maximum average estimated a month ago was about 3 bushels per acre. Although everything points to a rise in the price of wheat before Jong, but, unfortunately, with little or lio crop |o lmrvefefc', ' farmers will get little good 1 by the enhanced prices.New Zealand Farmer.