Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-04-30
WHEAT.
The Foil y Of DiscOuraging Production BE
cause the Price Is Low.

cause the Price Is Low.
In certain parts of the West it is re-.
ported that the winter wheat has been
killed by the cold weather, and while it
is not possible to discover what extent
of the wheat area has been affected,
enough is known to warrant the belief
that the deficiency in produce in the
new crop, as compared with last years
crop, will be large. This may lead to
important results, for it is only one Of
the causes, and not one of the most act
i've. that are tending to short wheat
crop this year. The great fall in the
price of wheat can not but be factor in
the situation, for it will discourage the
breaking in of new wheat lands, and
will also lead to the devoting of area
hitherto under whca to other crops.
The season is not sufficiently far add
vanced to determine to how great an
extent this movement has occurred. 1t
is reasonably safe to say that its results
will be very marked.
For the world is always within one
year of starvation; each years produce
being only little more than is neces.
sary to support the population. The
United States has for fifteen years been
very favorably situated. In no year
since 1870 has the export of wheat been
less than seventeen per cent. of the
total crop. and it once reached as high
as forty per cent, though the conditions
under which this occurred were pecu-
liar. But in the period 1S7O-1SS0 the
area under wheat increased in every
year save one, 1877. and then the fall.
off was only about $4,000 acres. while
the actual yield was 100000 bushels
greater than that of 1876. In 1882, as
compared with 1880. the wheat area had
decreased by 100000 acres. and the
Weld was about 5, ZOO, 600 bushels larger.
Since 1882 the market price of wheat
has fallen almost to the cost of produce
ton under the most favorable c:rcum-
stances. so that it is very likely that this
alone would cause an absolute decrease
in the yield. apart from the damages
arising from natural causes, like cold.
In the meantime the demand for wheat
is continually increasing. England i'm
ports more than one-half of her needs;
France, Germany and Austria have
within recent years become importers
and not exporters of wheat. These
countries have largely looked to the
United States for their wants, and in
the event of a dearth here they would
be obliged to depend upon the already
known fields of Russia and India and
the possible granaries of South America.
1t is not probable that the United States
would have to 60 into foreign markets
for wheat. The crop of last year was
large. and much of it is still held. A
loss of one-third even of the new crop
would leave enough for our own wants.
1t is very likely that the price of whea:
will rise, and this will not be local
movement. In that event the popula-
tons of France. Germany and Austria
will have brought home to them the de-
lights of increased taxes on the necessa-
ries of life, and it would not be strange
to have this result in renewed activity
in socialistic movements. And in this
country the folly of advising the farmer
to go out of wheat because the price
happens to be low may be demonstrated.
There can never be too much food pro-
duced. for population keeps up with the
supply. ~ y. Herald.