The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-07-26
Monthly Report Of the Bureau Of
Agriculture, Horticulture, and
Statistics.

Monthly Report OF the Bureau OF
Agricultvre, Horticulture, and
Statistics.
The problem that at this time ex-
cites the most universal interest
throughout the world, is the wheat
crop; wha, is its amount? how Is q
shortage OF the crop in this or that
locality to affect the general market
prices How Is it to affect the price
in Kentucky? Are we to have cheap
or dear bread? Those who arc famll-
lar with the bread riots of London
aud Paris, and in our own country,
know how much the peace and good
order OF society depend on cheap
bread. An advance of Two cents a
Loaf In the metropolis of the old
world, may In day excite a riot that
It would take small army to quell.
We hayc ayailed ourself of every pos
sible source Of information, that we
might arrive at something like relia-
BILE and just conclusions. So far as
Kentucky is concerned (and her crop
Is mere bagatele compared with the
wheat crop OF the United Statets,
much less when 1t is compared with
the wheat crop of those prrts Of the
world that come In competition with
II In the markets), taking II 100000
rs the largest crop ever produced In
the State, and the present crop, short
aye in acreage taken into account,
cannot reach more than 10 per cent
1t. AS confirmatory of this our
correspondents from different parts
of the Slate vary IN their eeiimates
from half a crop TO so per cent Of a
crop. II Is in addition being daily
demonstrated ut the tbresher, and
this Is the crucial test that wheat is
turning out IN most instances below
the estimates held little while back.
II Is too late now to enter into the
reasons that brought about these re-
suits. This much has at least been
demonstrated: that II pays to put
ground In thorough preparation be-
fore sowing. This has been shown
by the product OF fields side by side Of
equal quality-the one being put In
properly and the other sloucled In.
lf we were permitted to express our
Individual opinion, independent Of
the one to which we are guided by
the estimates Of correspondents, II
would be that the Kentucky crop will
suniup in thb end below the estimate
given. AS affecting tho general mar
kct, and the price of bread, the Ken
lucky crop would have but little
bearing except for the reason that the
wheat. growing States OF tho West
being similarly conditioned. From
estimates before us, embracing all
the wheat growing States, we are
forced to the conclusion, that the de-
ficit will he large as compared with
last years crop. OF course there can
not be even an approximate estimate
made OF the extent of the deficiency.
The widc range of guessing places II
from 100 to la, 100000 bushels. And
yet with this deficit there will be a
large surplus for expectation after
supplying home demands. The
question rccurs, how is this to affect
the price in kcntuckyp In answer
this must Of necessity depend TO a
large extent on the foreign demand.
What will be the foreign demand is
| impossible at this time to determine.
Nature has It's laws OF compensation.
| Up to this time the information il
that In oil Of the whcat.growing
countries of the continent there Is
promise of good crops. These EN-.
brace Great Britain France, Australia,
Hungary, Russia, &c. Whether
the crops in these countries will come
up to promised expectations depend
on weather and other conditions. II
there is full crop, the demand for
American wheat cannot DO SO great
rs to put the price, il any above
what II is now selling at. II, on the
contrary, any disaster should over.
take the continental crops, it would
of necessity materially advance the
price here. We have letters before
us Of the 22d and 23d of June, from
Liverpool aud Glasgow, respectively
sustaining the views expressed as ia
the then promise of foreign crops
From the views above expressed all
will exercise their own Judgment as
whether TO hold or sell at the present
prices. That there is great uneasi-
ness IN the wheat markets both al
home and abroad is evident, and
when In a few weeks better estimates
can be had Of both tho home aud for.
eign crops, the markets will become
steady, and the prices settle on some
fair basis and tree from speculative
\ influences.
Before dismissing the wheat sub.
! ject we wish TO state that our annual
| wheat show will como oil at our OF.
| fec somewhere about the 18th aud
| 10th OF August. Under and By vift.
| ue Of a law passed by the last Legis.
| lature for the encouragement OF The
agricultural interests of the State
| $500 were placed at the disposal oI
the office, 10 bo given in premium,
for the best samples of Kentucky y
products. and for other purposes. We
will give premiums OF $l5 aud $40 fol
the first and second best samples o.
white wheat, and the same for tht
| fret and second best samples OF red
wheat, aud q premium of SIS for Tho
best samples OF wheat suitable fol
low or fiat lands. The samples car
be sent to our care by express and al
the charge OF the Office. Each pack
age must be neatly and SUBSTANTIAL,
put up, and must contain at least /
half bushel. The Office will claim
each sample put on exhibition fol
purposes Of distribution. AS The oh
jcct Of this exhibition Is to ascertain
aud publish where the best seed cal
be had for seeding purposes, 1t Il
hoped that samples will be found OF
exhibition from all parts Of the coun
try. Competent and imperial judgel
will determine the premiums.
BARLEy-The barley crop from
many causes has fallen far below es
timates and expectations. In th,
barley districts It was. more or lesl
damaged by storms. II was great,
tangled up, and ripened irregularly
II proves TO be of light weight, weigh
ing as far as tested about 46 lbs 10 III,