GREAT DEFICIENCY IN THE INDIAN CORN CROP.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2426, 28 January 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

GREAT DEFICIENCY IN THE INDIAN CORN CROP.

Tub Times prints the following important letter from Sir James Caird, the eminent authority on agricultural statistics : — "I have not observed any public notice of a huirc deficit m this .season's Indian corn crop in the United States of America, referred to in the September report of the Crops by the Department of Agriculture there, and fully confirmed by tbe October "Report of I:2th ult., which reached _mo two days iiffo. It was caused by a serious droutrtit, which for tnoro than a month affected a very broad and fertile district which usiially contributes about threefourths of the'product of the country, and which has this season experienced a failure greater than any heretofore reported to the Department. The reduction of crop thereby caused is reckoned by the Department at, upwards of •1:5,000,000 quarters. This loss in 3,000,00!) quarters greater than last year's produce of all cereals in the United Kingdom. It is a loss of food many times greater than that of ruiy Indian famine in recent times. The American wheat crop is considered slightly deficient in yield, hut that will be fully compensated by an increased acreage. Or' tl.e potato crop it is said "The probabilities are that it will be the least ever reported." But the acreage of potatoes is only onr- ,; ixtieth of that of !he whole of the American cereal crops, so that a considerable deficiency iu potatoes will be of comparatively small importance, although, so far as it goes, it will aggravate the loss of corn. This heavy deficiency of the Indian corn crop will luava little for export from the United Stats* if t.h'; average homo consumption is maintained. The price in that country will probably rise considerably, and the cost of feudiusr all animals through the winter there will bo largely increased. And this can hardly "fail tn stiffen the prico of nil other kinds of food products in that country and thi-\ As tho Department of Ayrieulluro in Washington »cnds_ mo a copy 01 their monthly reports, I have felt it a duty to ask you to allow mo to place before the public information of so grave a character."