The total crop of the grain in North Manchuria for 1994 cannot be jetimated a+ more than 80—85 per ent. of that of last year, and it is possible that even this figure may Be-excessive, as the damage done by the flood has not yet been fully assertained, There have been many pessimistic statisies on the crop of this year in Tocal newspapers, and that of "Ta Tung-pao" Sepiember 7 may be quot "In the opinion of many pessimists," says the paper, "in connec-ion with the foods and the low temperature of the present year, the [grain crop will be lessened by 30 to 40 per cent. and in some districts leven by 50 per cent. However, authoritative circles state that the' prospects of the crop are not so bad, Jand the decrease will not exceed 20) er cent."
As to the surplus of grain for export purposes, it is almost impossible arrive at any reliable figure resent moment, but even those during the past three years from North Manchuria have decreased by Inearly 60 per cent. and it may be! Jexpected that this process will con-Hinue in the present 1994/38 season.
'A decrease in crop of 20 per cent. must cause a decrease in exports of at least 25 per cent, and thus it maybe considered that the exports Jot grain from North Manchuria dur-ting the 1994/35 season will not reach Jone million tons, this being about 35 per cent. of the exports of the season 1980/31.
From this table it will be seen that in all districts gravitating towards the CER. the average decrease in sown area is 189 per cent, the maximum being seen' on the Eastern line, which shows a decrease of 308 per cent., and in the Tsitsibhar region, which shows a decrease of 29 per cent., but owing to several of the districts in the Toltsihar re-felon not having sent in any esti mates, the figures cannot be considered' as very. reliable.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.