Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-06-19
Staunt on Markets.
SPECTATOR OFFICE,
IQl

STAUNToN. VA, June 18th, 1889.
This is the season of the year when the local
commerce based upon our agricultural staples
is comparatively inactive for the reasons re.
ferred to last week.
The shipment of hay is about over, but an
occasional load of wheat is offered. In that
cereal. we are inclined to believe there will be
fair demand to supply millers before the
time for shutting down" for repairs and
cleaning up arrives. This reaarE. Is made
more with reference TO other points engaged
in merchant milling than in the Valley
Moreover, old wheat is always wanted to mix
with the first receipts of O new crop. The diff
ficulty just now in cur market is to obtain
readily carload lots for shipping. Scarcely
any Que producer has that much on hand. The
delay in making up carloads of equal grade is
very difficult at this time, and mixing differ
ent grades for the purpose is Objectionable and
unsatisfactory. We think, in view of the Ge-
mand. full loads OF good quality would COM
mand s. cents in our market, though IL VIII
not bear that figure In small lots.
We have abundance Of material at hand to
make an interesting review Of crop-prospects
which are promising for very full yield both
of winter and sp1ing wheat, but the interest to
learn more of shat MISTER at an early day in
said now. With good yields throughout all
the wheat belts. the fact that California is sx-
peeted to enter the field of supply with the
enormous production of 100000 bushels is q
factor in the future which never before camo
into the question from that State of demand
and supply as the United States and Canada
were called to participate in the drama.
As a matter partly of convenience and not
much removed either from comments on
commercial interests we note that the wheat
harvest of our section of the Valley COM
menced on the 18th instant. A few fields in
Augusta and northern portion of Rockbridge
were cut that day. Farther south the binders
were at their work few days earlier. The
storms and winds have not lodged the stalks
to the extent supposed, but there is more than
the usual damage by broken stalks. but the
heads OF such have fairly matured. The binder
will save most of them: The rain of to-day
brings rather heavy heart to wheat-growers
with ripened fields, but 1t is more depressing
perhaps, to those endeavoring ito make clover
hay. We long to see clear, dry weather. not
only for the great work in hand for the
mower, the binder, and the cradle, but for the
corn, which is yet not generally well worked
for the second time-in some instances not
once. owing to the prevailing wet weather,
which has prevented 1t.
AS anticipated in our review last week, we
note to-day another advance in sugars.
The total stocks of sugars in all the principal
countries are now estimated to be s66 tons,
against LOG, 1863 tons at the same time last
year. There was deficiency then and from
what source the greater deficiency this year IL
to be made up Is the puZzling question:
when the fact Is stated that the consumption
of sugar in the United States for five months
from January 1st to June LIST was $50 ,097 tons,
only 102.769 tons less than the apparently
available supply for the seven remaining
moaths for all countries, presents an unwel-
come picture to contemplate.
Recently American ref1ners of sugar drew
from 40 to 100000 tons of sugar from Europe
This fact has startled dealers there, and an
other advance quickly followed.
The glass fruit-jar is an Institution in the
domestic economy of American families The
abundance of sugar and at low prices in past
years greatly increased its use, and 1t is not
comforting to think that IL Is te be curtailed in
this way, or that canned fruits are to be cut
short in their allowance of sugar is only one
view of The situation of necessity, for sugar
has long ceased to be regarded as luxury
AS the season Is at hand in that department
of trade, we include glass fruit-jars in our
price current.
We have weekly, for nearly five years, noted
our markets for the small as well as the large
products of cur farms ahd never In that time
have we quoted country butter as low as to-
day when it is selling for only cents per
pound, and it is very plentiful.
1.-THE quotations are. a0heJeSale. not retail
Country Produce.