Great and Far-reaching Changes The apprehension.of Russian scientists that the drought of last summer would commence a period of drought years, and that the failure of the crops last year would inaugurate a period of famine years, is unfortunately coming true, writes the '"Observer's" correspondent at Riga. Over a great part of Russia the winter was extremely cold, with little snow and early thawing. The spring was unusually early, and very dry and hot.
The first preliminary reports upon the winter crops are pessimistic. Out of twenty-two provinces reports from which have been_printed there is only one indicating crops. The indications fro: thirteen) provinces are fairly good, from six poor, and from one bad. The area under cultivation by winter crops in several southern provinces has decreased fifty per cent. compared with last year's area. The droughty and extraordinarily hot spring has already resulted in a number of big forest and peat village fires.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.