Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-07-06
MARKETS..
VINpIcAToR OFFICE,

STAUNToN. Va, July 5th.
The weather this week has been all that
farmers could have wished, and as result the
wheat crop has been to a large extent already
harvested. Wheat harvest now is not the for
midable thing it once was, thanks to the Won
derful Self-Binder. 1t is astonishing the
amount of work man and boy will do in a
day with an improved Harvester. The old
time terror and trouble of the harvest time is
now largely thing of the past.
The crop now gathering is the best of many
years: 1t has been good the whole season
through. Last Fall was favorable for seeding,
and large acreage was put out. 1t started
spring finely. The weather in June was just
suited: for filling. The cool, backward Spring
while bad on the growing hay, was just the
thing for wheat. 1t is the first year that we
remember hearing nobody complain of his
crop. All that is now needed is a continuance
of good weather another week, in order that
the standing shocks may be securely ricked,
or stored in barns.
After wheat comes the general hay harvest.
Glover has been cut already. Nest of it was
ruined by the rains last week. These same
rains. however, helped on the growth of
timothy. Unlike wheat, the hay crop this
year is comparatively poor. 1t is below the
average. A fair judgment would put it at, say,
two-thirds of last years crop. This may be
made up in the enormous crop of fodder, of
which we have the promise, and an economic
al use of which may enable our farmers to sell
the usual quantity of hay.
The present outlook for the corn crop is
most fattering. But more about this, later.
The first new wheat of the season received
at Alexandria, arrived there Saturday from
Westmoreland. 1t had some ''smut' in it,
and sold at IS cents bushel. The first new
wheat of the season received at Richmond,
arrived there from Henrico, Monday. 1t was
Fultz and was bought by the Gallego Mills at
80 cents bushel.
The weekly report Of the trade of the coun-
try, put out by Dun & Co.. of N. Y, last Sat-
urday, says prices have declined very little
during the week. Wheat has declined but a
&c, and corn 1c, while oats have advanced 1c.
The report adds:
1.-The general average of prices of commod-
tiles is but small fraction lower than a week
ago, and if crop prospects should prove less
favorable, some advance might at any time
begin. The crop prospects, excepting as to
winter wheat, continue generally encouraging
in every respect save this: The lateness of
the season makes all crops peculiarly liable to
injury, if the weather for the next two months
should prove exceptionally hot or dry But
our reports from nearly all points show that
with favorable weather an excellent yield may
be expected. AS to winter wheat. however.
the reports do not warrant reduced estimates
of the loss, and on account of this shortage
the weather in spring wheat regions will now
be watched with the greater anxiety. Ae-
counts from cattle growing regions are favor
able, but low prices are seriously felt by the
growers. The clip of wool does not appear to
have diminished materially but there is less
readiness tolmarket than usual, because of
general belief that prices may improve after
Congress has adjourned"
The report says the volume of business in
the country for the week is generally disap-
pointing and is about ten per cent. smaller
than at the same date last year. The supply
of money is everywhere sufficient for all de-
mands. For the six months ending June 30th,
the failures in the United Statee were 5 199 for
$6S, 1 IA, 159; against, in 1887, 4,S12 with liza
bilities of $55, 1873, O92.