The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-11-28
THE GREAT CROPS.
A Correspondent T'dIR With
Farmer WIN Farmers Hold
Rack Their Wheat and Corn

Sun writes to the following effect: This
is written in Newell, the northwestern
corner of Iowa. 1t is here that they
raise the great corn, wheat and grass
hopper crops of Iowa. For two years
the crop has been principally grasshop-
pers, but this year the prairies are load.
ed down with wheat and corn. What a
change since last year Then the farm
ers we're disheartened, but now they feel
rich and ambitious. The grasshoppers
have all disappeared from the country,
| leaving no eggs, and every one is look
ing forward to still bigger acreage
next year.
As Newell is type of hundred
towns in Iowa, 1 will give you their crop
status as the farmers give it to me.
met farmer with faded suit of
clothes, muskrat skin hat and string
of plow-points in his hand.
Chow are the crops" asked.
" Big, sir; couldn't be better"
" But the big crops don't arrive in
New York." L said. "They all want to
know what has become of them"
"Want to know what's become of 'em?
Why, they're here, sir. Do the fools
think we can get our crops to market in
sixty days?"
"Why, yes, should think you could
do good deal at it in sixty days.
oval, we can't, sir. Why, look here,
neighbor, don't you know that we never
shell kernel of corn till next Febru.
aryP Don't you know that we never
ship it till May or June? We can put
good deal of corn into beef and pork and
ship that this winter but the corn crop
don't move till next spring and sum-
mer."
Chow about the wheat crop 2"
oval, we'r holdin' it. / hav'n't got
mine threshed yet. It's in the stacks.
It's only the poor farmers who stop
blowing to draw wheat to market in
wagons Smart farmers keep ON with
their fall plowing and draw their wheat
to market when it's good sleighing in the
winter"
"Then the wheat crop is here in he
country yet? ?"
"Why, of course-and will be for
months. Only just enough going to the
market to supply the mills. Then the
price don't suit us, sir. Let's see,
they're payin' eighty-fve cents for
wheat in Newell to-day. amt going
to sell bushel of my wheat for less
than dollar"
Chow much did You raise % asked.
Me and my two boys raised 100 acres,
sir, and it will run thirty bushels to the
acre -figger it yourself, sir !"
"Four thousand eight hundred bush
els-$4, 800 will pay you well for your
summers work ?" said
eyes, about 81, 200 piece, besides
the advance in the land"
"How much land have you got ?" 1
asked, becoming interested.
"Seven hundred and twenty acres
now, sir. I've just bought $50 acres. 4"
"At how much ?"
"'Five dollars an acre, sir
"And what did your first $50 acres
cost ?"
"Seven years ago 1 homesteaded
eighty acres. The rest cost me from 81
to 50 per acre. Now it is all worth 50,
and next year it will be worth 80. Why,
seven years ago this whole country
around Newell was a wild prairie owned
by the government. Now it is crossed
with railroads, and every inch is taken
up. Land that will produce thirty
bushels of wheat amt to be sneezed at,
sir !"
find on thorough inquiry here that
these facts, which send for the benefit
of the Produce Exchange, are true.
1. The crops are immense, everywhere
in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Min
nesota. The Illinois corn crop surpasses
last years crop by 100, 900, 900 bushels,
and the wheat crop of Iowa, Minnesota,
and Wisconsin is 10000, 600 bushels
ahead of last year.
II. The wheat crop will begin to come
to market and continue from now ON til
spring. Farmers have spent the fall
plowing for n larger acreage next year.
They have not stopped to thresh THEN
wheat and draw it to market as usual.
III. Only portion of the corn crop
can come to market this winter, and thai
in the shape of beef and pork. The corr
crop proper will not reach New York
= until next spring-the mass of it with
= spring navigation. It's only old corn
that will come to market this winter.
5 ~. find many rich farmers keel
= their corn till July and August the fol
3 lowing season, feed it with clover to cat
] tie and hogs, thus making the same
2 amount of beef and pork on a small