New-York tribune., 1886-07-09
not WEA Their AND WHEAT.

HOT WEATHER AND WHEAT.
The terribly hot weather in the Northwest
of which people in NewYork have been getting
faint echo. 80 to speak, has sent into bankruptcy
a number OF spectators in ST. Louis and Chicago
who have sold largely of property that did not
belong to them. They deserve nothing better
and it would be well for the country If the
whole generation of grain gamblers could be
made to suffer in like manner But 1t is a
matter Of general interest to determine now mr
the extraordinary heat and drought have actually
affected the yield OF wheat, for, while the wlld
cxaggeiatiOns that are heard among the gamblers
should be discredited there is no doubt that con-
siderable injury has been DONE The annual
statement by The Rural Ncc- Yorker, quoted
Yesterday, was based Oh information prior to
the advent of the hot wave in the Northwest
and though entitled to much confidence as to
the yield of winter wheat, and as to the condl-
ton in the spring wheat region before the slrocco
came, ii does not for the latter region represent
the present condition. The report, industlously
sent out by Chicago speculatOrs on the other
hand are entitled to little confidence, and the
St. Paul report of which dispatches yesterday
gave part is also apt to be ungcd by similar
influences.
All accounts appear to agree that the winter
wheat yield Is excellent, and III quantity subsan-
TALLY as 1t was represented by the last report
o7 the Agricultural Burcau, about 3OO,O0O,OOO
bushels. Ihe Hmai N,w- YORKER estimates 1t
at 295, 100000 bushels, and other reports that
are entitled to some confidence are even more
favorable. The drought during the latter half
ol jane had Halle effect upon this part OF the
int. Ia. hot fiiat
appears to have been mainly confined to the
spring wheat region and Affected only part
of ihat. Unless there /, serious error III all the
accounts thai are usually entitled to confidence,
therefore, yield OF at least 30, 600, 900 bushels
may be set down safe, even II no spllng
wheat should be harvested.
The condition reported by the Bureau
June in the spring wheat region was
81 in Wisconsin and Nebraska, 80 in
Minnesota and Dakota. and 100 in
Iowa and Washington. 1t Is necessary, then,
to dismiss lis unreliable the reports that the
wheat WIS III generally bad condition plor to
The drought; the best evidence goes to prove
that it was unusually well prepared to meet any
mishap. The drought extended through thee
weeks OF June in some lOcali;ies, and through
two weeks In Others, while one Ol the least lav-
olglblc accounts, that Of the 81. Pant Pioneer
Press, being published in a region where gross
departure from the ruth would be disc edited,
states that I" the sections not Affected by drought
care the Red River Valley, from Wahpeton to
"Grand Forks ana the Northern Pacific country
from Baincrd, MIMI to Bismarck, Oak
1ho.e VINO are Dut :nodci iat, ly familiar with
crop return, will recognize that these exceptions
..lu he.
most productive wheat-gIowing regions i'll the
Northwest. Bat the account also says South
"of the 10Th parallel the weather has been
"Nc'y diy, the drought being seyeIest i'll the
"eXtene southern counties Oi Minne~ota and
" Dakota, extending wen down into Northern
Iowa" The account confines III IN cxtraya-
eint tone to describe the injury done III that
Sc, ton, and adds The rains of Saturday
"nigi.texiendcd only over those sections where
il was least needed. Not II drop OF run
tell south OF the Minnesota Rivet." The region
south of the Minnesota River is not the whole OF
the State by amy means, nor nearly the hall OF It,
Injury III part ol Minnesota, part and not the
most rapidly increasing part OF Dakota, the
n0l them part OF Iowa and part of Wisconsin,
ii it mad been sufficient to destroy all the wheat,
would have leNScned the yield OF spring wheat
about 5O,O00,OO0 bushels. Until further iniOr-
enaion is received, the, ef0re, it seems queS-
tion whether the spling wheat yield will fall to
lOOOOOOOO bushels, instead Of 15O,000,OO0 |
ioic hddowcd by the Bureau report OF June |
Dispatches from reliable sources will be awaited |
with interest, in order TO determine how great
the injury has been within the area indicated, |
whether il has extended beyond that area, and |
whether the weather continues mlayOrable. |
NothIng yet appears to warrant apprehension |
that the calamity to many farmers III pa o. |
h.ee Northern States nndDdkoth has 70 extended |
ils to become calamity TO the Nation.