The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-06-15
FARM anu Garoen.
Coming Wheat Crop.

Coming Wheat Crop.
Mr.. ]. w. Clark, of Green Lake Co., Wis,
writing May Gath, for the Prairie Farmer,
specuat.s as follows in reference to the coming
wheat crop. If his conclusions are as sagacious
as his prophecies, the coming big wheat crop is
still subject to a good many contingencies:
All the world seems jublant, and political
editor quite gleeful, possibly enjoying the proba.
BILE reduction of staple part of their viands by
anticipation. To this there is no objection hut
the objection lies against these political sheets
talking so confidently and glibly on crop pros
poets when they really understand little or moth.
ing about the contingencies that may and prol;a-
bly, will affect the approaching harvest; and ON
this topic of probable weather contingencies I
wish TO say word or two
No one will deny that we have had very cool
spring. and that the condition of the..wheat crop,
like that OF grass, Is consequently very backward
though healthy il be. Now it seems to me that
TO make up an average temperature for the grow
ing half of the year, we must have more than an
average amount of heat for the season, before the
growing crops can ripen. A cold spring and hot
summer complement one another TO full season
OF average temperature Thus a warm spring is
usually succeeded by cool summer, and a cold
spring by warm summer; and. to bear out the
analogy, very cold spring would be followed
10y very warm summer +; for not otherwise would
an average amount Of heat be distributed through
the whole season.
Well then in the spring of 1867 we have had
thus far much colder season than the average
of our springs. 1t seems to follow that as To
summer temperature of the weather one Of two
conditions will supervene between now and the
gathering OF the wheat crop, a certain and suffi-
cient amount Of heat being required TO mature
the crop; this being true of wheat as of corn.
and the wheat being backward, though healthy
about this 25th of May, it follows that if we are
10 have an early harvest there must be heat
enough between this date and the 18th of July TO
constitute a truly Int sua1aer. But if we do not
have a hot summer, in that contingency We shall
have late harvest. have been engaged in
farming for over 20 years, but never have been
addicted to croaking; yet think little more
practical and scientific information would do
these political editors sort Of harm, before
they set up their prognostics about "the largest
harvest for many years" and more of their fol-
derol. From the present state OF facts as TO the
weather Of the season, the following inference
seems 81 be warranted
That in any event it will be reasonable to an.
ticipate a warmer summer than usual as q CON-
plement and make-weight to the spring already
had. That 70 give an early harvest. hot
summer will be necessary, and hot summers are
not favorable to large crops of wheat In fact
hot summers and large wheat crops do not, as
rule 90 together. On the other hand if we do
no, have than average heat through the
month of June, the harvest will be late and pro-
badly also bountiful.
But known facts and the state Of the season
seem 10 justify the conjecture that hot June
will give us light wheat harvest light yield
per acre and in total quantity But it the next
siq weeks give fine summer weather without
high degree of heat for the season. in that case
we may have full harvest, though certainly not
an early, and probably late one. If the harvest
be late, though ever so full, there is some time
vet 10 wait for much of red uction in the cost
Of bread-stufs ard neither bears nor bulls should
prevent those interested, from taking calm
survey Of the situvton, present and prospective.
am weather prophet, but incline to the
opinion that after SO cool spring, may have
hot weather during the month of June, and the
moister the Iir the warmer it will be. and il So
an early harvest and light wheat crop seem to
be probable consequences. This accords with
my view OF the usual reactionary movements of
the meteorological elements. But the elements
may be very irregular or unusual in their move
rnents conditions and influences, and a full bat
late harvest be the consequence. But one of the
two alternatives appears 10 be probable. The
alternative being hot summer and light yield
of wheat, or a longer growing season with lesser
heat. large yield and late harvest The latter
would be our preference of course, but see no
reason TO expect its realization