The Grange advance., 1874-09-02
Crops and Prices.

10 know the prospects as regards the
price which wheat is to bring, and the
time when the highest figures will be
reached: is a sort of knowledge more
anxiously sought after a: this time Of
each year than all the combined wis
dom of past ages, and seems more diff
cult to obtain. Yet there are certain
general principles which, however
much they may be effected by combina-
tions and rings for buying, hold
ing, and controlling Of the crops, at
sometime of each year must assert them
selves to the loss Of some and to the gain
Of others, and tn hese are the principles
Of supply and demand.
But the great difficulty is to ascertain
accurately either the supply or the de-
mand. ANY crude or hastily formed
opinions with regard to either Of these
are often more dangerous than no opin-
ions at all, and we believe that it is now
too early to form anything like accurate
opinions on this subject. We may safe
ly 90 this far, however, and say that if
the reports of an abundant crop through
out Europe are accurate, as they prob
ably are, the chances are that prices
will rule low during the present year.
Yet when the fact is taken into account
that the European crop has been mark
.eted unusually early and thrown upon
the market causing sudden depression,
which can scarcely continue during the
unusually long season for consumption
that must follow SO early crop. Then
another thing must be taken into consid-
Grafton, the cheapness Of an article al
ways increases its consumption, and with
wheat at its present prices great deal
more will be bought and consumed in
Europe, than would be the case if wheat
were higher.
Then late in the season will come in
prospects Of the crop for another year :;
if the prospects are for good crop,
there, of course, will be- tendency to
lower the. prices, while if the crop
should be backward, with a prospect
for small yield, prices must necessarily
advance.
We believe it to be for the advantage
Of everybody that the farmer should
get the best price for his wheat, for
by so much is the country made richer,
and while we recognize the difficulty of
judging at present, We should do just as
most Of the farmers are doing, unless
compelled to sell this fall, that is hold
for higher prices. AS the season ad-
vances it will be possible to judge more
accurately and we shall give our read
ers all the information that we can pos.
sibly obtain at the earliest time possible,
but at presentw We must content ourselves
with an extract from the Mark Lane
Eepress, which is good English authority
at least.
THE WHEAT CROP OF EUROPE.
LONDON, August 18.-The Mark Lane
Express, in it's weekly review of the bread
stuffs market, has tie following:
Bad weather has prevailed throug ghout
the past week, but our farmers have
kept 3 good lookout, and have secured
their crops. There are no reports of
sprouting, though much wheat was stacked
in poor condition in consequence Of high
winds and low temperature. The same
weather has ruled on the continent. This
will bring good samples to the front, and
increase the value of old stock. There is
little difference in prices since last reports,
although the tendency is downward.
France is sending back here the cargoes
shipped hence. The crops here and in
France are mostly secure, and the depend
ence of both countries on foreigners is ma
teriallyllessened. The latest estimates put
our crop at per centum below the aver
age. ~ 81 .,-@
To which. we add the following from
the New York Tribune u
New wheat has already appeared in the