The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1854-08-26
THE WHEAT CROP;
Quantity and Prospective Price.

DEAR DIR - sec various Statements ABOUT
the wheat crop of the United States going the
rounds in the papers, but most, if not all, of
them are predicated en- the appearance of the
growing grain, or previous to its passing
through the bushrl. p,
At the present writing am in full Roadway
at thrcSh;ng, having got out 81 melting over
800 bushels, and so far find my crop far be-
low tho average Of last season, and other sea
sons when the same land was TILED, while
the wheat, previous to harvesting gave prom
Use of a like abundant crop. The nearest
can come at the difference of crops is. that
after many countings, | find it requires nm
average of 80 sheavcs this year to yield
bushel whilst in former years have had a
bushcl from l8 Or 20 similar-siez,d Sh, ayes.
This falling offs in the product of land
which up to the LIST of June, bid fair to aver
age from % bushels per acre, to the highcs,
possible yield. Those portions of my field
which stood up we'll will yield well, but
where the most abundant yield was expected
there was little else than bati stra1r.
We have been hard at work with a strong
team Of mules, and ten men, most of them
stout Dutchmcn, and have thrcshed and gar
mere only Sc bushels up til noon, although
the wheat is dry and in good order, and the
morning one Of the clcarest and coolest we
have had for some weeks. So far as have
;hreshcd | am sure the yield is one third less
than last year. My wheat is all of the Med-
tcrrancan variety. Some of my ncighborS
and many farmers of the Eastern Shore of
Maryland have been sowing for several years
with good success, new variety called "Vcl
vet Wheat" 1t is beardless and has suffered
much from rust; indeed, it may be set down
as a complete failure. ...,
have heard of many crops, now being
threshed, which if taken to market and the
rule applicd-as was formerly charged on the
merchants Of neighboring wheat mart-of
d,ducting in price in the ratio Of the difference
III weight, it would require the forfeit of a
clever team as well as the cargo of wheat, to
enable the farmer to get home with whole
bones.
The Oats crop is far below an average one,
considering the improved condition of our
lands but the potatoes and corn bid fair to be
abundant, where not drowned out by the
Spring and June rains, which destroyed 50
much wheat.
tits, however, gratifying to the people of
the Union to know that there is no danger of
starvation, notwithstanding the fact that the
wheat crop of Delaware is short at least one
third of what it should bc-that the crop of
Virginia is so shortened by the 'joint uorm"
that the people there talk of holding a con-
vention to devise means to stop its further
progrcss-(and pass Resolutions similar to
those of '9s, perhaps, which succeeded so
we'll in stopping Improvements and almost
bcggared that once noble state --that the crop
of Ohio and the Great West is shortened much
by the ravages of an insect, which stings the
grain Of the growing and unripe heads of
wheat: and, what is worse than all-that
loectoco blight, the Tariff Of 1916. which re-
duced the price so much three years after its
passage as to cause thousands of american
farmers to quit the business of raising wheat
and go gold hunting or, turn fillibusters, for
the purpose Of getting an honest living.
To such an extent haye the farmers left
their business, that the present Congress has
offered bounty of l6O acres of land-worth,
at Government price, ts20O-to every convict,
pauper OF outcast of Europe who may be sent
here, or will come here and settle upon it,
with the privilege of voting as soon as he puts
foot in Kansas or Nebraska; and so thought
full has the Government been of the wheat of
the American farmers, that they have recent
ly passed what is known as the Goldfish
Treaty." by which, as the leading prints on
the British side boast, they can furnish us
from Canada with 10000, 900 bushels wheat,
which thcy,say is their present surplus.
From the above enumerated causes of short
crops in the United, States; that is to say !:
rust in Delaware, joint worm in Virginia,
utScCI III tlfc' w Isl, gnu tuc
British. locofoco blight which caused substan-
tial farmers to quit the business, and the ar
rival during the present year of 100000 emf
grants-eqnal as consumers to more than
seven such states as Dclaware-thcre is little
doubt that the prices wifi rule higher the
coming season than that just passed; notwith-
standing the importatienof ~, 100000 of the
trcs'trade, Goldfish uJ.eat from Canada. And
tho best evidence Of this is the further fact
that although the late news from Europe an
nounce that the weather was fair and the sun
actually shining, and. that in consequence
breadstuffs had declined some shillings per
quarter; yet wheat here stiHened in price caus-
ed by Home demand. Thanks to the indom.
table industry of the American people in spite
of the combined efforts of our locofocos with
the British to fetter their energies.
Respectfully VI friend and fellow farmer.
=. JOHN JONES.