Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-09-10
The Produce Yield OF the Country.
To the Editors Of the Minnesotidn:

To the Editors Of the Minnesotian:
To THE farmers During journey part
ly through the States of Virginia, Maryland
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, from
what could learn from observation and in.
quiry, of the agricultural yield of grains and
all kinds of produce, am convinced that the
eastern cities have put an exaggerated est.
mate upon the aggregate yield of the country
Over that stretch of a thousand miles saw nc
corn fields promising fair yield but on the
contrary, the general character of the corn is
small, green, thin, on the ground, and wholly
depending for ripening upon the fortune Of
good fall weather. The only ripe corn saw
was in Wisconsin, near Prairie du Chen.
The continued effects of frost and drought,
in many extensive sections, have destroyed
everything. l saw numerous large fields Of
wheat into which the harvester had not enter
ed. The blackened straw still stands mel
ancholy spectacle of the destruction of the
June frost. Nor did the grass or potato
crops fare any better.
In proof of this saw men transporting DO
tatoes from Wheeling, Virginia, to Columbus,
Ohio, where they sell for $1.2o per bushel /;
hay at the same place $40 per ton. Farmers
came westward in company with me to Indi-
ana to purchase supplies of wheat for domes-
tic use. Persons come on as far as Minnesota,
and are perhaps still present, who stated that
in parts of Ohio they had so completely lost
everything that it would be impossible to win.
ter their stock, which must be driven off or
perish. .a g.aEs.. s... ..
These total and partial losses, extending
over so wide stretch of country, including
grains, grass and potatoes, will have a greater
effect upon the demand and prices, than has
hitherto been anticipated. The Mississippi
Valley, particularly the northern portion, will
have an immense surplus to send forward,
which will keep prices moderate, but certainly
the demand will prevent sinking below fair
remunerative prices, nor is there any danger
but the demands from the lower rivers will
keep the grain from accumulating as "drug"
in the st. Paul market. .r.,... %
The eastern market at this time fuctuates
considerably, which it always does at this sea-
son; but the extravagant estimate of two
hundred millions bushels of wheat, made by
the New York papers, to be thrown upon the
market, is probably done. to hasten forward
produce to aid in relieving the eastern cities
from the weight of these immense foreign i'm
portations.
From what I stated as facts made from OBJ.
servation and inquiry, each man must deter
mine in regard to the best time for sale with
in himself, bearing in mind that if the grain is
moved forward this fall to market there is no
time to lose. Probably with the greatest &C
tivity it would require all the time and all the
transport steamers to carry off the surplus Of
the State, between this and the close of navi-
cation, sometime in November. BE-. grz-e
1t certainly is grave question, and one
which no man can determine, whether prices
will rule higher in the spring than this fall
Many conjectural experiments can be raised
on both sides. If all the well conditioned farm.
ers hold back for advanced rates, this fall will
probably be the best sale, taking into cousid-
GRAFTON the losses by keeping, and the early