The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-17
The wheat Crop Of 1850 and the For
eign Demand.

|
the yield OF q particular season before the
grain is marketed Is far more difficult than
| the same work in England or other Eu-
ropean countries. IL has, however, been
possible, owing TO The adaptability and ef-
| ficiency Of the machinery at our service, 10
obtain results which must be regarded as
substantially accurate. One or the main
difficulties encountered in making, for the
first time, the reporting OF the cOuntry's
crops matter OF private enterprise was the
| lack of absolutely trustworthy estimates
Of preyious years crops for purposes OF
comparison. Thus, the wheat yield OF
California and Oregon for 1879 was re-
ported by the Washington Agricultural
bureau to have been 43, ,lSS 800. That
this was an oyer-estimate by as much
as l1,171, 800 is clearly proved from the eX-
port returns for the crop year. The eX'
ports OF wheat from the Pacific coast during
the wear 1S79-'S0 were, in round numbers,
$500, 600 bushels. Taking this known
quantity as q basis, and adding an allow
ance during the year OF 4,0O0,000 bushels
for food and 4,5l7 900 bushels for seed, we
have q, OF 200 bushels as the outside yleid
OF the two States, thus revealing an excess
| i'm the estimate of 11,17l,800 bushels. 1t
should be added that the estimate OF the
Bureau did net include the returns for
Washington Territory, as the yield for that
region presumably appears nnder the esti-
mate for the Territories, whereas the crop
of Washington Territory necessarily goes
10 swell the exports from San Francisco ana
Portland.
Unto September 25th the reports to Brad
streets indicated total yield for the entire
wheat.growing regions Of the United States
of 4G5 691, 900 bushels. II was stated On Oc-
tober 9th that in all likelihood the later re-
norts giving the full results of threshings
would not reveal total actual yield much,
| IL any. beyond 400, 600, 900 bushels. Fairly
complete returns received during The month
OF October from all parts OF the country
warrant the presentation Of final summary,
the accuracy Of which we believe VIII be
established when the marketlngs OF the
wear come TO he summed up. These returns
show total yield OF wheat for 1880 OF 455,-
Gao 600 bushels. We nave seen no reason
| TO change the summaries for the New Eng
land. the Middle, and the southern States.
| The returns for the flrst-named region re-
main at |. 100, 900 bushels; for the Middle
States at &c, ,595, 900, and for the southern
States at Al, ,929, 900 bushels. cur returns
from the southern States concluslyely show
that the cultivation of wheat In those re-
eions is gradually lessenins, and tnat the
summary given Of the yield OF those STATES
is ample. Later returns do not warrant any
change In the yield OF Ohio, Indiana, Mn
nesota, and Nebraska, from the estimates
given October 9Th. The yield OF these States
as then given, was as follows ONO, 80 ooo'-
600 bushels; Indiana, 43,OOO,00o Dushels !;
Minnesota. 42,620, 900 bushels Nebraska,
q. 130. 900 bushels. Returns from the re-
naming States OF Michigan, Illinois. Wis
consin, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas show a
falling off from the earlier estimates made
before the threshng was at all complete,
| with the exception Of Wisconsin, whose
Weld. we have reason to believe, was slightly
underestimated in the preliminary report
az October 9th. Wisconsin's yield is now
placed at 13, 450, ,000-a short crop. The final
retnrns of the other States are as follows
| Michigan, SO 375, 600; Illinois, 52,500.OOO (;
Iowa. 45.6O0, ,OO0--a considerable reduction
from the preliminary estimate; Missouri,
%. .750. 900; and Kansas, 19, 100000. Total
for all the western States, 323,675,0OO
bushels.
The wheat crop of Washington Territory
is included under the head OF the Paclnc
coast. Later returns lead TO the conclusion
that the Weld OF the entire Pacific coast is
40. 900. .000-an excess Of 800, 600 over our
first estimate of October 8. In San Fran
cisco Journals and elsewhere these figures
may be regarded as too low, but returns as
to the increase OF acreage and yield. taking
as basis OF calculation the knolon product
for 1870 as indicated above, do not war
rant q larger figure than 39,500,000 BUSH
els. This result, after deducting for
food and seed, will permit an expectation
OF about 81, ZOO, 900 bushels. The exports
OF -four and wheat from San Francisco to
lall foreign countries since July !. 1880,
comprise 179. 967 barrels OF flour and 2,l55,.
455 cefitas OF wheat. For the same period
last year the exports OF flour amounted 10
I12S,392 barrels and 4,274,247 bushels oi
wheat, marked falling of. 1t Is, OF course,
true that the wheat-growers are holding
back for higher prices; but II the yield
were as large as some authorities make out
Lii would seem that the grain must seek an
outlet through sheer superabundance.
Great difficulty has been experienced in
getting trustworthy returns regarding the
wheat crop OF Dakota. The quality Of the
Dakota wheat is, as In other years, excep.
tionally good. Final returns warrant the
conclusion that the yield Of Colorado and
the Territories excluding Washington Ter.
ritory, as indicated above) will aggregate
1850, 900 bushels, nearly oil OF which Is tC
the credit OF Dakota. Our final summary
OF the wheat yield OF 1880 for the entire
wheat-growing regions OF the United States
is as follows:
Bushels.
Western States. ..,........ ......."...323,676,OO
Pacific coast uncludlng Washington
1erritoryl...' oS'onV'VV,,
Southern States.. aa'yzy,NU,
| Middle States.... SosDSo,Vut
Colorado and Territories. lZ.SoU'0U,
1 o.. Il.
Grand total. '..4oo,oa9'Uu'
On the whole, we are led 10 place tn,
needs OF the country for food, seed, ETC., q
265, ,000, 900 bushels. On this basis ther,
{ will be left margin OF 100, ,724 900 bushels
. for exportto supply the demands OF foreign
countries. The paramount question bott
to producers aud dealers, when once /
knowledge OF the home yield has beer
tgained, relates. Of course, 10 the foreign
needs, Early In the season, when exagge
!, rated estimates OF the wheat crop gained
!, wide acceptance, belief was entertainet
that the surplus q wheat would be yer.
largely In excess OF any demand likely 4
larise. From the present outlook there !
no good reason TO apprehend that the Amer
lean farmer win not be a5le TO realize fai
, price. w
Ill The latest and most trustworthy return
D vaoo rdinx q t6o eurpit,sas and deGciencios 4,