Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-07-19
Whest--The Haryes

Our crop Is short, and much of it of such
quality as is unsuited to our miilers. The
capacity for the production of -four has been
increased The legitimate inference would
seem to be, that comparatively high prize
would rule.
AS an offset, it must be remembered that
the completion of the East Tennessee AID
Virginia Railroad during the past Spring,
has opened to Richmond, as a source Of great
supply. all that part Of Tennessee east OF
Knoxville fine wheat growing region. A
very considerable quantity was received last
year from the nearer counties ut tennessee,
equal in quality TO our own. N0twithstand-
ing its fac appearance, our miliers were a
little shy of it-they, however, bought all
that WAS offered, and, as far as We have been
atle to ascertain, they and the consumers
highly approved the fur. In most cases 1t
was mixed with the Virginia wheat, without
any difference being dscoyerable 10 the hJur.
The shyness of our mllers was caused by
the fact that the wheat was grown upon lime
stone soil.
The soil is Identical with that Of our own
in the counties OF Rock bridge, Botetourt, and
Roanoke, from which We have been receiving
wheat for years, aud also identical with thar
of the Valley and Southwestern Virginia,
from which we have also been receiving 10
creu.ing quantities, as the Virginia and let
nessee and the Central Railroads have pro-
gressed westward.
Another fact. well known, is, that lime has
been used for years to a very great extent
upon our free.stone wheat lands east OF the
Blue Ridge. Weare inclined to believe that
while our milIers would give the preference
to wheat grown east of the Blue Ridge, YET
a very slight difference in price would over
come that preference. The crop OF this year
in Tennessee is good. We conclude, there
fore, Notwithstanding our own short and IN
ferior crop, that the supply OF good wheat IN
our market will be nearly, il not quite, equal
to the wants of our miilers, and that, there
fore, it will not be safe for our farmers to
calculate upon high prices. While RIch-
mond flour is justly esteemed superior, ana
commands a hghsr price, yet II Is regulated
to very great extent, BY the general mar
ket price.
Our exchanges from Maryland, Pennsyl'
vania, New York, and the West and North
west, represent the present as fair average
crop. Ir the Northwest there ls very large
old stock. 1t is true that much Of this is IN
lerior, yet it will be ground, and every bar
rel, inferior as it may be, counts one IN Its
effect upon the market generally. This coun'
try will probably have as large surplus as
last year, anu if nothing should occur to
make larger foreign demand, we cannot
hatter our farmers with q reasonable expec'
tation OF high prices.
Our foreign accounts are favorable for
good crop. They, on the other side, harvest
later than we, and the weather may prove
unfayorable; but great failure must occur
before we can realize 4 large advance IL
price. 1t will be some sixty days, or more
before We can know, with any degree OF Ger
tainty the result Of the foreign harvest
Such is the habit of eXaggeratlOn, by those
who represent the producer on one side, and
the buyer on the other--V5ry much as II IL
in our own c0uDtry-that we can only safely
Judge Of the result of the harvest from tn:
presence or absence of buyers for large for
eign orders.
Oar market can hardly be said to be fairly
opened, as but very little, and that in smai
lots, has been received. Sales, however
have been made at 81 90 for red, and Sl3C
for white; and we quote these as the opening
prices.
The accounts by the last steamer, bringing
London dates to the 81 instant, are, that IL
the face of favorable harvest prospects, whea
advanced Id. to ID, and -four I'd.
We do not presume to give an opinion as
to what the price will be in the future neal
or remote. As we have done to-day, so vii
we, from time to time, give to our readers
such information ms we can gather from the
most reliable sources, and leave them 20 de-
ternine for themselves the best time to make
sales. We have this general opinion IL re-
gard 10 oil products, whether of the soil
mine, or workshop, that it is better to sell
when your product is in the best condition
for the market, and when there is fair
open market for your produce; and Ibis We
would apply especially to all perishable art
Giles. We think it will be found to be in &C
cordance with the experience and obserya
ton Of most persons, that be who has sold
bis grain, when he has gotten it folly ready
for market, has, in period of seven years
obtained larger average price than be who
has, in the same period held it for the chan
ces OF higher market; besides saving los:
by rats, weeviI, and other yernin; the risk
OF fire and other asualties.-Rich. Eng.