Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1869-06-18
The wheat Crop, sc.

&AG ~ NE0ps &C.
Reports continue 10 como 10 from al
over the Union of the almost unparalleled,
prospects for another abundant wheat
crop this year. 1t is certainly so in
Wisconsin and Minnesota, and unless
the crop should fail in other states, OF
there should be large and unexpected
foreign demand, our farmers may aban-
don the idea Of further rise in the price
per bushel and trim their sails accord
ngIy. A system Of rotation in crops
should be practiced by the western far
mers, as is done in the eastern states,
which will be the only safeguard against
ultimate impoverishment.
The Springfield (Mass) Republican
speaking OF the crops, etc, makes tho
following sensible remarks:
California and Minnesota now produce
the largest average crop TO the acre,
about twenty bushels, while the average
yield in Illinois and Iowa is not over
twelve bushels and in Ohio and New
York not over ten bushels. In Minneso
In anl California there will be as rapid n
decrease in the production per acre as in
the other states, if the present wasteful
style of cultivation is continued, and tho
time is not far distant, when, to obtain 0
large crop of wheat any where in the
United States, system of rotation and
renewals will have to be practiced, as in
New England and New York. At the
present rate of taking them up, the
new lands" with the glorious crops
and handsome profits TO be derived from
them, cannot last very many years lon
ger.
This year the wheat crop of California
bids fair to be larger than ever before.
One fourth more ground has been sOwn,
the weather since the middle Of April
has been ali that could be desired, with
opportune rains and favorable winds,
which have dispelled the fears felt the
first part of the season and rendered it
reasonably certain that the average yield
per acre will be larger than usual.
Twenty million bushels is The amount es-
iimated that the state will have to ex
port, and now tho question that causes
most perplexity is, where to find mar
ket, that at the East being likely to be
supplied BY IFS own production. The
Asiatic and Australian markets are linn
tied 10 less than a fifth of the supply of
the state, but ut the present rates of
freight wheat can be sent from California
10 Liverpool cheaper than to the same
port from any of the states of the Mississ-
ippi valley. and California is consequent
" anticipating almost monopoly of the
grin trade with Europe.
Freights are not going to be as high
from the Mississippi river to the sea-
board, as they have been, however. The
vigorous attempt making by st. Louis to
direct the grain carrying business down
the Mississippi, with itself as the chief
emporium and center, instead of Chica
go, seems pretty likely to prevail; GER
tainly all the natural tending of things
would seem TO be that way. But, at
any rate, the movement has already re-
shifted in a sensible reduction in freights,
charges of elevators, commissions, insur-
ance, etc, by the railroad lines and cities
east, and still further reduction must
be the result of the struggle for the su
premacy between st. Louis and Chicago,
between the natural and the artificial
routes of travel and transportation. The
effect of this cheapening will have mark
ed effect in increasing the population and
production of our new West and will
add immensely to the prosperity of pres
ent settlers, particularly the farming por
ton.