The European Grain Crop

It is of importance to our farmers to know that there is likely to be an immense call for their aid abroad. The German papers indicate that the production of cereals on the continent is likely to fall far below the actual necessities of its vast population. The tremendous floods which lately devastated some of the finest grain growing regions of Germany and the Netherlands have diminished the possibilities of successful culture there, while in other directions the unusually inclement weather has done equal damage. In England, heavy rains continued throughout March far into April and the fields are still so saturated that, altho’ the vegetation is of fine appearance, it promises more hay and straw than grain. As late as April 14th white frost in the morning was followed by intense heat at noon. In France the prospect is better, but by no means satisfactory. In the North rain is too abundant; in the South the rapid succession of heat and cold has killed much of the whole sowing. Accounts from Italy, through Austrian channels, are nearly as bad, and even in Algeria, whence Europe has within a few years drawn copious supplies, the sirocco has laid waste to the grain fields. America then, will be more entitled during the coming year than ever, to be called the Granary of the World.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 10, 1862, p. 2