Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1878-10-03

quick, Keen, ana 1OfClOlo manner. AS
young as she is, negress, without edu-
cution in the principles she sets forth,
her power partakes strongly of the
marvellous.
The Barley Crop.
From the Evening Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Early in the season our reports and
exchanges from the agricultural districts
contained notice after notice of As
per cent, 80 per cent, and as high as
80 per cent. decreased area planted to
barley, due, as then stated, to unpro-
ductive prices realized for the past two
years; the uncertainty of crop, and the
fact, that at seeding time the wrangle
over the treaty of St. Stefano was going
on, and both England and Russia had
seemingly assumed a stand from which
neither could back down without loss
of honor, and not to do SO was to deluge
Europe with war, thus closing Russian
wheat ports, and assuring for this
country high wheat prices in such case,
and farmers generally realizing this,
forsook barley and put their land into
wheat. 1t is now generally admitted
that the spring wheat crop through the
west is almost a failure, having been
struck at its critical period by excessive
heat, and this atmospheric cause had
also it's effect on barley, reducing the
yield on the largely decreased area sown
very materially, and to add to the mis-
fortune was, almost over the entire west,
followed by great damage caused by
drenching rains and wind storms lodging
the crop, thus again lessening the pro-
duct. Under these collection of
misfortunes we would naturally
look for movement, at centres
like Chicago, Milwaukee and St.
Louis of character in keeping with
the diminishing production, but are
surprised to find, more especially at
Chicago and Milwaukee, the crop re-
ceipts so far, instead of being light are
really ahead of last year, the largest
bailey year we ever had. 1t is true that
the inspection reports of both places show
the damage above commented upon, in
the shape of light arrivals of the market
grade No. 2, and this is shown by the
wide difference it commands over the in
ferior kinds, but the question is how to
account for the comparatively large re-
ceipts under the circumstances. We
have spoken to many well posted and
they tell us that barley isalways market.
ed early and that this year the incentive
to do SO is strong, for it is the only
cereal the farmers hold which brings
fair price, the loss of their spring wheat
being offset by the increased production
of winter, or at all events, for the time
being by the large deliveries of winter
wheat states. In looking over statistics
of barley we find some interesting fig.
ures which we give below and the
official authority from which the same
are derived. We find by the Milwaukee
chamber of commerce report fol
1873 that the average price of No.
barley there for ten years past is $1.O2
or only three cents per bushel below the
current value now. The official New
York produce exchange circular com
piled from the agricultural department
Of the United States gives barley crops
for several years as follows: 1873, 49,.
4,4Sl; 1874, 32,552,5 500; 1875, $685..
900; 1876, SO, 10000; there is no official
estimate yet for 1877, but another
authority places it at 100000, the
deficiency on the year previous being
due to shortage in Pacific states. Oul
great competitor in barley production il
the Dominion of Canada, but our tariff
laws tax her shipments fifteen cents pei
bushel in gold; but even with this
obstacle she plays an important part in
our supply. The same causes which
gave us a decreased area had the same
effect in Canada, as did also the atmos.
pheric influences which hurt our crop.
The decrease in area in Canada is put
at 80 to 40 per cent, and the yield at
five bushels per acre below that of last
year, to say nothing of amount rendered
unfit for mailing. The crop of 1877
was estimated at 100000 bushels
accepting the theory Of decreased area
the product would be for 1878, all
kinds, 100000 bushels, making q de-
ficiency for the crop of $500, 900 bush.
els. According to the department OF
agriculture, the c1op through the states
of Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota
Nebraska, Kansas and Nevada, was TO
the year 1877 equal to II, 200, 900 bush
els. Assuming the decreased area and
damage done is equal to so per cent.
| which does not seem an over estimate
we have deficiency representing $500,
600 bushels. East of the Pacific coast
the state of New York ranks highest q
barley producer. The agricultural
department reports put the crop fol
1876 at $500, 900 bushels; that of 1877
was larger, it is estimated, by 1,400, OOC
bushels, giving net product for 1877 O.
5000, 900 bushels. The area planted il
1873 is estimated at 80 to 40 per cent
below 1877, or deficiency for New
York of $500, 900 bushels.
Apart from Pacific coast states and
those given above, the quantity of Bar
ley raised is too small to materially af
feet figures of production.
We will, therefore, look at the de
ficiency as collected above, and it shows
as follows:
..,s Bushels
Canada ......... $4,000
Seven northwestern states deficient S,60O,00l
State Of New York deficient........ $500, 00(
Total NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. , 00l
Against this deficiency, however, Their
were last year exported to Europe anG
surplus of stock on August LIST, 1878, .
surplus of altogether say 900, 900 bush
els, 90 that the net deficiency is equal *
10, 900, 900 bushels Now on the assump
ton that the crop OF 1877 was equal K
81, SOC, 900 bushels, and take this year.
shortage of 10,500, 900 bushels, it WOULD
show q crop of q, 100, 900 bushels, OF
al ,481 bushels below any year since
1873, and that year (ls7s) No. 2 barley
sold in Milwaukee at 81 cents in July,
$1.06 In August $1.20 in September