Show Grave Wheat Crop Shortage Predicted By Basil Basin M. M Manly Ina Th Tt The Sp 5 del clil Ial Nerve f WASHINGTON D D. D C. C Feb 24 Re Re Reports ports from every part of ot the world IndIcate indicate in In- grave danger of a short wheat crop for the tho coming year car On top of ot the great wheat failure of or last year this would bring the time entire world close to famine In Russia next to the United States tho the greatest wheat growing country cold weather prevails with only a a. light snow covering to protect the time seed As Asa a result the thc outlook for tor winter crops there Is not good and at the same time tho the stocks on hand are only moderate and the consumption for food has b been en unusually hoa heavy In France the fourth largest wheat producer the winter winter is said to be the severest since 1803 with only light snow covering for the crops as the time present low temperatures followed recent recent re re- cent rains The smallest crop In years cars Is therefore expected The Ban Balkan an states slates will certainly produce pro duce no surplus grain this year for not anI only are arc these countries ravaged by war and crippled b by a scarcity of or labor but the season has been delayed de b by wet cold weather In Italy the weather has been bad bad bad- cold and wet with little snow and tho the national stocks arc are so 60 small that foreign foreign for for- eign buying Is very heavy In Australia where the seasons are the reverse of or ours harvesting Is said to be slow and it is wet over oyer a very ery large area As a result time the crop estimates estimates esti esti- mates are arc being reduced millions of or bushels In the United States extreme cold has endangered the winter wheat t which throughout the great wheat belt has had anI only a a. very 1 light gift or no snow covering The crop experts are arc unanimous unanimous unan unan- imbue in predicting tho time American winter winter win win- ter wheat crop will nr be be below normal although a greater area was planted this year than ever before The situation Is rendered perilous because the failure of or last year In practically all aU crops all over ocr the time world will bring us an and amid other countries up to the tho harvest with practically no wheat in fu storage while in normal years there Is a surplus on hand at the beginning o of the Harvest o of bushels or moro The United States alone ordinarily comes to the harvest hanest with bushels In the time storage elevators or in the farmers farmers' bins And the time danger is being daily dally Increased increased In In- creased b by tho timo submarine campaign Every grain ship that Is sunk carries down with It thousands of or tons of at wheat which is lost forever No one can estimate even how much wheat is being lost In this way but there Is no question that it is great enough to reduce reduce re re- duce uco appreciably the meager supply now on hand Fortunately there is a way out if the agricultural population can be aroused to the gravity gravit of the situation The spring wheat Is still to be planted and if all the available area is planted there will be enough to save tho time day Every farmer that cares anything about his c country and incidentally about the cl chi ance nce of bl big profits which this almost certain failure of the wintel winter win win- ter tel wheat crops opens to him will him will plant in wheat every acre of ground round that thai Is tillable He Ho will plant close to the fences and In the comers corners In order that not a foot fool of or ground that can raise wheat will lie idle Plant wheat is tho time slogan an that ou ought ht to go ho o out ont to every farm in the United States Within six months unless all signs fall fail tho the whole world will be calling call in lag ing for Cor wheat with the tho anguish of oC Impending impending Im im- im pending famine In their voices |