The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-11-06
The Hog and Corn Crops.


Reports from 214 points in Illinois,
Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio
and Indiana, the great corn and hog
producing states, seem to confirm opln-
ions previously published indicating a
decrease in hogs and fair crop of corn.
In the majority of instances the number
of hogs reported is considerably less
than at this tinae last year, as confirmed
by the official reports of the several state
auditors. There is but little doubt as
to there being fewer hogs in the country
than at this time last season. In almost
all sections of the country hogs are re-
ported in poor condition. owing to the
scarcity of old corn. In Canada it is
also said there will be slight falling
off in the number.
The corn crop, according to latest es-
Inmates, will be fair one, but as there
is very little of last years corn now on
hand, and as the market price Is fully
100 per cent higher than in 1873, it
seems probable that the farmers will
sell their hogs early in the season, In
order to realize better value for their
corn.
Last year the price of hogs at Chicago
ranged from $3.50 to 81 on the LIST of
November, to 1892 to S5.75 at the
close of February, and the result was
safe price for product, at which shippers
early, and spectators later, took hold
free. This year, however, we shall
doubtless commence packing at much
higher rates, and as the country is bare
of stock, the new crop will doubtless
be largely drawn upon to supply the
immediate necessities of trade, both
home and foreign. Summer curing has
been more extensively carried on this
season than ever before, and especially
in the west, and the product has gener-
ally given much better satisfaction than
winter cured stocks. Owing to the scar
city of winter meats, the southern trade
MSS taken the ice-cured 10 a larger ex
tent than usual, while there has also
been large amount of old and dam
aged bacon reshipped from Liverpool
and sent south, which has completely
cleared both Europe and America of old
bacon. Long clear was at first the only
cut inquired for, but of late Stafford
shire, Cumberlands and Stretfords have
been in demand. This shows cOnclu-
sively that the number OF hogs cut dur
ing the summer has been greater than
last year, and that the balance left since
the returns of the government statlst1-
cal bureaus report was made up is less
in proportion than for last year or form
er years. So far statistics enable us to
Judge of the course of the future
market but, as we have often remarked
before, statistics are getting, year by
year, to be less relied upon by the mer-
camille community, because they have
so often and invariably failed them of
late years. No stronger illustration of
this fact is needed than the statistical
position of the provision market year
ago, which Enthusiastically pointed to
low, or at least not high prices. This
was accepted by the trade generally
early in the season to be the situation,
and yet spectators took hold of the
whole crop later and carried it success
fully through at the highest point
known for years. And no one seems
yet able to account fully for this appar-
emily anomalous condition of affairs.
Clearly, statistics failed. The cause of
these changes are in constantly chang
ing currents of trade and different
modes of business, to which must be
added the speculative or non-specula-
tive disposition of the trade itself dur
ing different periods. In view of these
facts, the provisions trade are standing
aloof, and the question of future prices
is still as doubtful as ever.-Nea0 York
Bulletin, Oct. "a.