The Grange advance., 1874-09-16
The Crop ut.Look.

Since our, last issue, the wheat has
been fully harvested in Wisconsin and
Minnesota, and We are now able to give
our readers correct resume of the re-
suits of the harvest in this country and
Europe. The status Of the winter
wheat producing sections, We report
same as noted in our last issue, I. e.,
full average yield of superior quality,
and secured in the most excellent con-
dition. In the spring wheat sections of
middle and northern Illinois and Iowa,
the crop is generally fair average,
with a slight decrease Of yield per acre
below the expectations Of the result iu,-
mediately preceding the harvest, caused
by the shrinkage Of the berry by the
prevailing drought. We confirm our
previous statement Of damage by grass
hoppers in Iowa and Minnesota, Of 6
per cent. Of the crop Of each State. In
southern and central Wisconsin, the
yield will be about half an average crop
the result Of the drought-while the
northern portion Of the State will pro-
duce about an average of spring
wheat crop; while the winter wheat
yield is about half an average.
The quality of the wheat in Mime.
sofa and Wisconsin will. as rule, prove
hardly so good as last year, and will re-
suit in more No. 2 in grade, and less
No. l. The Michigan crop is 6ne-a
full average crop, secured in splendid
condition the same may be said Of
greater portion Of the States of Indiana,
Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania,
though some sections Of each Of these
States show a falling off, estimated at
from one-fourth to one-half Such dis
tricts are, however, the exception, not
the rule. The Agricultural Bureau
Report indicates crop of 277, 900, 900
bushels: against 294,OOO,O 900 last year.
We, however, apprehend this rather
over estimated, as the reports were Civ
en- to the department before the aau-
age caused by the drought was fully ap-
parent, which will reduce the estimate,
in our opinion, several millions of bush
els. Probably 270, 100000 bushels will
be nearer the mark Of which 25O, ,OO0,-
900 to 255,000,000 will be required for
home consumption, the natural increase
Of consumption over last year, and de-
crease in price being considered
The extreme low prices prevailing in
the winter wheat districts, has resulted
latterly in developing decided dispo-
sition on the part of farmers to decline
marketing their wheat, believing that
better prices will prevail later in the
season and we strongly incline to the
correctness of the 20 Honest Granger :"
opinion in this respect. 1t has been sev-
eral years since spring and winter wheat
sold within one or two cents of each
other in this market, yet such is the fact
to-day. No. 2 Spring, worth 94c.; No.
2 Winter, 96, 81. No. l Spring, SO :;
No. l Winter, $1.00. No. 1 Amber,
Southern Illinois, however, is very scarce,
and would readily command $1.2o to
$1.25, for prime to choice of that grade.
Our No. 2 Amber Wheat is identical
with the St. Louis standard for No. 3,
and salable at ST.. IL to $1.15, as in quail
ity. These grades are sold mainly by
sample and on their merits, and are in
greater demand than the supply.
The prospect for the corn crop varies
greatly in different localities. In Iii.
nois, east of the Illinois river and north
of Springfield, the crop will be largely
short, probably not to exceed half crop,
if that. West of the Illinois river the
prospects are generally better, and
range from half crop to full average.
The Iowa reports are generally very fa-
vorable, and full average crop may be
expected from that State. In Kansas
the crop is nearly a failure, and the
price in that State is now from IS to
80 cts. per bushel, and scarce at that
in many sections of the State. Nebras-
ka reports show in most of the State a
good crop, though short in few locali-
ties. The Indiana and Ohio reports in
dicate, on the whole fair average crop,
!. e., more than an average in some Dor
tions Of each State, and less in other
sections.
The cat crop is unquestionably short,
probably, for the whole West, 20 to 25
per cent. less than an average crop.
These general results are gathered
from the reports given to US in answer
to about thousand circulars, sent to
various portions of the States named,
which are. We think. as reliable IA anv