Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-12-26
The Valley Wheat Crop of 1890.
Shendun NeYs.


1t is very evident that the farmers Of
these two great wheat growing counties,
Augusta aud Rockingham. are holding on
to the wheat crop of 1890, anticipating
better prices. While the wheat crop was
not large, still it is never 8 failure in
this region, and large quantity was no
doubt harvested. In proof of this state
ment mention may be made of the fact
that at ShenduD station, of the Shenan-
doah Valley road, from July 1st, 1889, to
July lst, 1890, 5000 bushels OF wheat
were shipped to market over the Shenan-
doah Valley Railroad, and that very little
has been shipped since the first of July of
this year. At Cave Station of the Balti-
more and OHIO road, the other near Shen-
dun Station, which is but four miles dis
tant, there were shipped during the same
period Is, 7S2 bushels of wheat, and none
has been shipped from there since July
LIST, 1890. The writer knows of quite a
large number of farmers in this vicinity
who still have on hand, not only their
crop of 1890, but also their crop of 1SS9.-
This shows two things: First, that our
farmers are IN very independent cIrcum-
stances, being able to hold their crops for
better prices for one or two years. 1t
shows also that they have faith in the
future of agricultural products. well as
sured that in general activity that marks
this entire region, and in the increase of
values for everything else, farming pro-
ducts must necessarily participate very
soon.
The acreage sown in wheat in these
counties this year is qnlte considerable,
but not at all what it would have been
if the autumn had not been so dry, but
the crop looks we'll, and, as matters gener-
ally 90, there will probably be a large
crop of wheat in this region the coming
year.
I'VE are looking with considerable in
tcrest for the census returns of crop pro-
duction in this region that we may have
the figures for comparison with those of
the census of 1850, because there is a
growing impression among the farmers
that it does not pay to raise wheat, and
they are turning their attention to other
directions. We think it would be a very
great blunder for the farmers in this
wide limestone valley to quit the cultiya
ton of this best of cereals to any great
extent, because there IS no portion OF the
country that can raise as fine wheat as
that which in the dry climate OF this
great valley-llke- plateau. Wherever the
flour made from the Valley grown wheat
Is used, it has q reputation which is Sec
ond to none that is made anywhere IN the
United States. This fact is not known
and appreciated as it formerly was. Pre-
vious to loG0 the Virginia Hour, made
large from Valley-grOwn wheat, com
manded the highest price in any OF the
markets of the country; especially was
this the case with -four intended for ship
ment to warm countries. The flour made
from this thoroughly dried wheat kept
sweet IN those countries, while that made
from wheat grown in moster climates
soured and was soon spoiled. There is
no reason why this old reputation should
not be regained, nor why the Valley
brand should not stand at the head OF
all the brands sold in the United States.
1t is a well known fact that some OF the
enterprising millers of this region, those
that have in the past few years built new
mills OF repaired old ones and put into
them the best modern machinery, have
found il an easy matter to make good and
constant sales of their four not only IN
this but IN other countries. One of the
large roller process mills, not far from
this locality, has for a long time shipped
its products direct to Belfast; others are
finding steady buyers in the great cities
of the Atlantic coast. These things should
not only lead our farmers to renewed ef-
forts, not only for an increased acreage of
wheat, but for the production Of larger
crops, and these Efforts should be second
ed not only by the construction of new
mills with the most approved machinery,
at the most favorable points for tho col
lection of wheat, bnt also by the erection
of elevators, where the farmers can at
any time and at all times find a market
for their wheat, and where it can he stor-
ed in sufficient quantities to meet large
demands. In other words, what we want
is tho adoption here of the methods Of the
West to enable us, not only to regain our
former position, but to take a Lew and
advanced one in these important indus
tries, the growing Of wheat and the man
ufacture of flour.