Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-13
The CrOps--Prices, &c.

State-Rich. EXAMINER.
The CrOps--Prices, &c.
SELLING EARLY.-Thc EGedericks burg Her
aid says:--"We heard the other dag of one
sale of growing crop of wheat by river
farmer, who will probably prod uce sOme
four or FIVE thousand bushels. The price
was Sl-early delivery of course. 10 view
of the great prospect ahead, the sale may be
regarded as a very good one for the farmer u
The above paragraph is the foreshado~lng,
we fear of gloomy season for wheat-grow-
ers this year. Ever since last September,
the tendency of this grain has been steadily
downward, until the market has reached q
rate which pays the farmer not one cent for
his labor. Except Oh lands that have been
so highly improved as to need no application
Of costly stimulants aud fertIliZers-laud
that without such expenditures would aver
aye twenty.fv OF thirty bushels per acre
The culture of the wheat crop at present aud
prospective quotations, Is a losing business.
II the price of guano and super-p hosphates,
articles largely used on our wheat lands, had
undergone q proportional reduction, the evil
would not be so great-but whilst wheat has
fallen upwards OF one hundred per cent below
it's MAXIMUM price in the last two years,
guano and the super phosphates have scarce
y receded at all.
In view Of this fact. che Of two things, we
think, must result. Either the wheat crop
will be prDdigiously curtaled where it re-
quires the assistance Of the EXPENSIVE tert!.
Tiers above mentioned, or the farmers who
persist in sowing their usual breadths &C the
usual terms, Will have TO pocket very heavy
losses. A yield of ten or twelve bushels 10
the acre, which is above the genera! average
10 Eastern Virginia is not, in our estlma-
ton, sufficient to justify very enthusiastic
adherence to this isvorite crop, in the pre-
sent extremely depressed state of the mar
kets on both sides of the Atlantic--and
there is no reason TO expect any material
change for the better, for several years to
come. The annual production has under tie
stimulation Of the high prices Of the last four
or five years, reached an aggregate which
far exceeds the consumption; ADD until this
difference between supply and demand be-
gins to be narrowed by force of the equaliz-
ing principle which governs trade IN all It's
channels, but which works ordinarily by
SLOW and gradual process, there can be no
reaction 10 the market that will indemnify
the farmer to any greater extent than be Is
now Unidentified, as far as the wheat crop IL
concerned.
Ii devoves upon him, then, to determine
10 his own wisdom whether it is better for
him to continue its cultivation as heretofore,
or turn his attention for few years to other
crops that will pay him better. The subject,
we confess is an embarrassing one. All des'
crptions Of agricultural produce have 10 the
last twelve months declined heavily IN value,
but We believe we may safely venture to as
sert that wheat has Jared the worst in this
respect--and thattobacco has suffered the
least--and that consequently the latter is
better and surer reliance than the former in
this period Of general and severe depression
of the markets, and their still downward ten
dency.
We are sorry that we cannot cheer our
country friends with more encouraging rep
RESERVATIONS on this head. Afterth bOmyant
and prosperous time they have had for the
last few years, we can appreciate the resu!-
sion in their feelings upon having 70 grsppie
with s1ch unsatisfactory quo,aious, rs we fear
will rule the ensuing seas n. But, they viii
have the consolation TO reflect that they have,
for a series of seasons, been emInently bless
ed in this respect, and if they have prudent
ly availed themselves of the opportunity to
get out of debt and lay up for a rainy day,
they can easily stand this ugly turn in the
wheel o!fortune. They can 1--we comfortably,
enjoy themselves within doors over books
and newspapers when the weather is bad,
aud when it is good, they can exercise them
selves agreeatly and proftatly 10 supervising
their lands and improving them with home
made fertilizers and BY system Of judi
cious tillage--.pd thus prepare for turning
to the best account the refux of the tide in
com mercla and financial affairs which will
succeed sooner or later, It's present etb.--
RterSbdry Int.