Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-07-29

The Wheat Crop.

Correspondence NJ me dferdadf'd GdzeHe.
| perceive from an article in the Gazette
of the Goth inst, taken from the New York
Courier, on the Wheat crop of 1859, that
the campaign against the farmers has, as
usual, been opened, by formal array OF
figures. As one OF the wheat growers Of our
State, ! wish Ia enter my protest against
these unfair and speculative statements.
gotten up by Northern spectators to swim
die the farmers of their hard earned gains.
The trick is i stale one, but still successful.
Wheat has generally declined in the markets
from 30 to 20 cts. per bushel in the last few
weeks. not from the increased supply, but
through the influence of these very state
mrnts, OF which complain. We have
had the same glowing accounts Of full
crop of wheat for years past. You will ind
the newspapers teeming with such state
ments aud estimates last year, and that
wheat started in your market ut about 81 %,
and during the seasun advanced to over 81
per bushel. This WAS for home consump-
ton the crop Of 'jS, with the surplus Of
-, and all We could get from Canada,
scnrce y suiiicing to feed our population. |
venture to state that the granares OF the
United States are now more thoroughly ex-
hausted, than ut any period for the last thir-
~ years.
The estimate of the Courier purports 10
be made from II comparison with the crop OF
rs, Of which IL Yet We have no reliable
data 1t gives to the various States u crop
ut POI. 100000 bushels The census of
1870. estimates the wheat crop Tor that year
ut lO0, ~, loo bushels.
The Courier makes out an increase In the
eight States Of New York. Pennsy wanna,
Virginia North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio
Illinois, and Indiana, upon which it relies
for II, estimated surplus oI GS,0OO.OOO,) OF
some IT, 100000 Of bushels. These States
produced in lSjO, 1860, liz bushels Is
it necessary 10 say any thing more! Does
any rational man describing, if You please.
aiI the accounts Of injury by frost, nudge.
AMI other disasters, with which the newspa
pers of the above States were filled lew
weeks since, believe, that they have increa
-rI the production Of wheat Onr-tcurth Of
the amount. Kentucky, from little over
2,OU0,OUO, is by the flourish Of pen made
10 produce II oUO,OOO. more than five fold.
Virginia and North Carolina by the same
easy process, nearly double. 1t is unneces
sary to argue the subject. There is one
very important point which should not be
overlooked. Our population is increasing
much faster than the production OF wheat.
1t has Increased some eight millions since
the last census, giving al Increased con
sumption Of -iO,OOU,UUO bushels, Il luct which
readily accounts tor the price al grain in our
markets. for the last six months, in the alb
>rnc" Of II foreign demand.
Taking into consideration the exhaustion
of our old surplus can see no reason for
the recent great decline in wheat. The crop
in the Valley is Il good one, the best for
many years, but this is not the case in lower
Virginia, and think it somewhat doubtful
whether tho crop of our State comes up to
the estimate of the last census. The Coun-
ty of L"udnun will not am satisfied, pro-
duce as much by twenty five per cent, and
l.rudoun used Ia produce about one-twrn-
ticth ul the crop III our State. In conclu-
sion, would respectfully advise my brother
farmers not to be in too great haste IN put |
ting their crops i'll market. Owing to the |
depreciation III the yalue ut money, SD Is
rather IL poor price tor wheat On our sea-
boards not remuuerntiye one for the far
mers OF this section aud less than the con
sumcrs Of the United States can well afford |
Ia pay. | would advise them to pay no at
ian Il, su,.h ,sriuutrs nc that which has
called out this article. being well assured
that whether tn" war in Europe is continued
or not. We will get, after awhile. fair prices
Tor our crops. Yours, truly, W. n. b.
Aide, Loudcun County, Va, July %.