The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-04-02
Outlook for Crops in the West.

The New \ DIRK papers give an account
of the review Of the crop situation in the
West, given by VIM. +. Baker, Of Chiea.
90, to the agent of the National Associated
Press. Mr.. Bakers prediction about sud,
den thaw with disastrous results were yer,
flied the first of this week.
He said at should be borne in mind
that the season is now very far advanced
and the whole northwestern country, taken
from the latitude of Chicago, the west and
north still is frost bound. Not only this,
but the ground is covered with snow aud
ice, where a year ago the fields were green
with new growth. Not only this, but what
is a more important fact, although you peo-
pie in the east may not appreciate its I'M
portance. there was but little fall blowing
done because of the early frost Now the
result is, the farmers must do great deal
of extra tilling this spring, and yet they
are already several weeks behind and can
not begin to prepare the ground for crops
which should have had fair start ten or
fifteen days ago. This makes seed time
late, aud it is generally considered by ives
tern farmers that spring blowing is not ia
vorablc to the large growth Of spring wheat.
The usual custom is to pillow in the fall and
to harrow in the spring. This permits
meIlowing Of ground by the frosts, and
there is little tillage in the spring, so that
the seed can be sown early; and further,
seed eau be planted in this mellow ground
before the frost is fairly out of the ground
below. | am only speaking of spring
wheat, which is the principal crop Of the
northwest winter wheat being grown in
the more southern ATTITUDES.
Continuiug-In answer to remarks Mr..
Baker said: 1T is not probable that peo-
pie in the East, even interested parties, re-
aIiza the extreme severity of the Winter,
ia the West and far West. Why the
people there in whole sections have been
completely snow bound for weeks, and have
burned hundreds Of tbouSa nds bushels of
corn for fuel, aud the extremely cold
weather largely increased the consumption
OF breadstufs other than corn. Ii must
be added that literally thousands Of acres
Of corndelds are buried in snow. The
early coming Of winter prevented the har-
ycsting OF corn, and the SHOWS kept crops
covered for months OF course il viii rot
Frost does not hurt corn. but long soaking
Of SNOW in various stages of transformation
to water will be very injurious. Take
either horn Of the dilemma you please aud
what is the result Why if the snow is
removed by a sudden ,haw and rain there
will be floods etc, disastrous 10 their ef-
fleets aud if the snow Is slowly melted BY
the progress Of the season the result IS the
same Is far a. injury TO the crop is cou-
eerued. The use OF corn for fuel has been
By lack Of coal, aud because
Of the impossibi.igy to get auy from the
East There has been 4 veriIable coal
famine SO much for corn
Returning 10 the sahject offspring wheat,
Nr Baker said The estimates Of the
decrease Of acreage Of spring wheat must
be necessarily only approximate, because
there i a very large Increase on account
tf new ground. The closest calculation
places the decrease in acreage from this
cause at a very high hgurc, and as new
grouad yields much larger than old soil
sometimes doublc-lhe result IS apparent.
Old ground or WclltiIled farms can be
quickly handed in spring because farmers
are better prepared aud have more perfect
machinery but lack Of fall sowing will
tell wiih them as we'll as with new ground
Their crops should already be well advauc
Cd At this time but the ground IS covered
with snow aud frozen to more or less
depth
Another important poiui he alluded TO
ia reference e. corn vas one which IS OF
general interest 10 all parts Of the country,
viE Gha; during The past year or two the
I nitsd States have been serving corn TO all
parts Of EarDpe and in enormous quaint
ties There Is scarcely port 10 EarOpe
that has not received shipments Of Amer
lean corn, aud A. The merchants there aud
the people appreciate the product, the de-
maai increased. aad the consequence is
sc nccd cou,inued increase ia acreage in
order that The supply may be equal to the
jsmand myself have sent during the
past two years shipments Of corn to nearly
every pert from Trieste through the Adri-
attic aud Mediterranean ports and around
the continent as far as Stock holm