Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-30
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
Trade Notes-CrOp Reports.

WESTERN CRoPs.-The grain and hay-pl o.
dgcsrs of the Valley of Virginia have a con-
stanty continuing interest In all the intorma
ton, the world over, in relation to the cereals
and are 10 less concerned in the hay crops OF
the Mississippi Valley States, from which
there are exports to the Southern Atlantic
and Gulf States where our producers are
realizing permanent and good markets for
their surplus hay. There, this growing prod
uct of the Valley of virginia as well as from
Illinois and other OF the Incorporating States
of the west, meet upon common ground. The
longitudinal railroad COZ nections are extend
ing and improving, and every advancing
means OF conducting close. rapid, and cheap
carrying traffic between our section of country
and our Southern markets for hay are also o.
continuing and highly-valued importance.
Che following report OF the Western crop
corr espondent of the New York Journal O
Commerce comes within the purview as we
took at these important interests. OF The ex-
tent of Information, and reliability OF the cor
| respondent from whom we quote 1t is I'M
necessary 10 repeat for tue hundredth time the
entire confidence which can be attached TO all
he has, from time to time, to communicate
The following is dated January 22nd:--
ave have just had TIE first taste of real
winter in Illinois. and vet OF character not
severe enough to be extremely tryiag. althou 81
| the meTcuIp indicated On Monday morning a
| f degrees below zero. The country was well
| prepared Tor it, particularly that portion
| known the winter-wheat belt A light
snow fell an sunday without any wind, and
itft the wheat in good protected condition.
| The weather has been phenomenal all over
the country; even Texas reports the mildest
winter ever known. and reports from the
| Joaquin Valley say that during Decemoer and
January the frost was not of sufficient strength
| TO freeze standing water. The leaves of the
| fiuftr haN sl.tt "a Ip AMI ia
and geraniums are Towering in the MERGED
| Garden, This blooming situation is still
| further confirmed by reports that ali the sum
iner- fallowed whea' ana barley Is from twelve
| to eighteen inches high, aud that frost is
needed TO cneck the growth. with abundance
| OF rain from the middle Of February to the
middle of April, The grain crop of California
promises now to be very fn!l one. The pros
| poets of the winter wheat In southern Ohio are
very good. There has not been any hard or
unfavoraole weather thus far. The general
| opinion is that there Is less old wheat in the
| 4nds of farmers in southern Ohio than for
| several years past. A similar situation exists
| IL southern Indiana with regard to the winter
| wheab and elevators aud The large mills at
present seem well stocked with wheat. The
| weather has been so fine and the prices for
good wheat so Satisfactory that farmers have
| been selling very freely. For some reason OF
other farmers have not, we think, during the
| last sixty days held back their reserves In
anticipation of high price. Hence 1t IL
| thought that when we begin to get nearer to
| the close OF the present crop year-that i
| before harry st-that gord wheat for milling
| purposes will command much higher prices
| than exists at the present lime. While the
convention held OF the miliers at Milwaukee
| was by no means in the form of a trust, and
| oul' suggestive ana nothing of binding
| character, 1T is remarkable 10 find how very
| g nerslly the mills III The winter wheat belt
have shut down on ha time during the pres
| INT month. Jhey were not forced To do 1t with
| the sauction Of any conve tion for the reason
| that they bad su h large stocks of flour them
| selves. and the consumers were also Lhoruugn-
~ fitled, not on'y fer their present wants. bot
| for some time 10 come. There is no question
but that these stocks are now beginning 10 be
| reduced, and while the trade is generally duli
| yet the OUTLOOK is much better for n fevtvai Of
| trade than H. was thirty days ago. There IL 8
| good deal of corn moving, al the weather has
| been such that farmers could shell and nov
| IL easily aud there is nothing In the future OF
| corn to encourage the farmers to hold until
| next summer for better prices"