The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-09-04

It will be noticed that breadstuffs, for the
first time in the history of the country, sup
plant cotton as the leading article of export.
Compared with the preceding eleven months,
there was an increase in the value of bread
stuffs exported of $24,60l,113, and a de-
crease in cotton of $l6,l04,,1S5. The
statement recently published in some news
papers to the effect that the exports of bread.
stuffs exceed in value the combined exports
of cotton and tobacco, the leading staples of
the Southern States, is not correct. Cotton
and tobacco combined reached $196, 74l ,209,
or about 100000 in excess of breadstuffs.
1t is singular fact, however, that while there
was an increase in value OF breadstuffs export
ed of 1924, COL, 1l3, there was decrease in cot
ton and tobacco combined of an almost identi-
cal amount, the exact figures being $24, $780,
1852. The increase in the expectation of
breadstuffs was mainly owing to the in
crease in wheat, of which there was shipped
during the eleven months 113 511, 1922 BUSH
els valued at s12l, 1872, GAG, against 67, 245, TAG
bushels, valued at 800, 700, 59S, during the
corresponding eleven months of 1878. The
decrease in provisions in explained by the
falling off ST, 000 600, 900 in the value of lard
exported. In distilled spirits and living an
finals the increase was over one hundred per
cent.
The prospects for an increased demand
for the coming year OF our cereals is predi-
Gated upon the now we'll established fact
that most of the continental countries OF
Europe. as we'll as Great Britain, will have
short crops of these productions, and the
supply OF this deficiency must come from
this country. But under ordinary circum-
stances, such are the increased facilities
which we now enjoy for the production and
transportation Of our products, that we will
hereafter be enabled to supply any demand
for food on cheaper terms than can be at
fOrded by any othe: nation, as will be seen
by another article on this subject which we
give elsewhere. Our object here is, however,
to advise farmers not to rush into the grow
ing OF wheat without making the necessary
preparations for securing success. AS re-
marked by Western contemporary, while it
is an undoubted fact that Europe will re-
quire year by year large drafts of wheat
from the United States, yet we may not ex-
pect that succeeding years will show sue
cessive failures there nor extraordinary
yields here. That the present crop,
large as it is, will be taken at good
prices there is no doubt; the Wheat pro-
ducing countries have not giveE anything
like their normal yield, and in some OF them
the shortage has become very serious mat
by year 10 getting large or even fair crops OF
wheat by slack cultivation, and especially
where the crop is sown wheat after wheat,
except in those localaties where the soil il
not only virgin but especially adapted to the
crop. A great deal has been said first and
last as to the depth at which to sow wheat.
Experiments have shown that upon ordina-
rily compact soil and moist, wheat germi-
mates most promptly and produces the
strongest plant when sown at depth not
exceeding one inch; from thence up to six
inches it came more and more feebly. So
experiments would seem to show that very
early sowings were not productive of good
results, and many incidents are cited where
wheat sown in October had productd better
crops than that sown in September. In the
prairie region, however; and especially upon
light and fluffy soil, wheat sown IN early
September at depth of two and half inches,
drilled, has as rule given the best results
In fact, well north it may profitably be sown
the last of Aug. upon such soils. On soils re.
claimed from timbered districts and on stiff
clays, the grain should not be covered more
than one iEch deep, and the sowing may be
delayed until the middle of September Oh
even later if the fly is feared. Upon al
soils liable to heave in winter the grain
should be sown early and deep Baltic. Sun