Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-04-08
FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL.
THE GRAIN TRADE, CROPS &C

The Cincinnati Price Ctvreat of April End,
says that more OR less excess Of moisture has
continued in nearly all portions of the West
the past week. In many districts the la;e
rains have been desirable bat as rule farm
ing operations have been retarded. and the
season is becoming back ward--not so much,
however, as to become a pronounced dis
coursgement but sufficiently so to awaken
apprehensiens. A few days of favorable wealth
er would make the outlook fairly encouraging.
So far as the autumn-sow wheat is concerned
the moisture has not been pref udicial. There
has been no deterioration in average condition
of the crop in the Western States during the
week. The plant is now beginning to make a
coed start IN development In most districts,
and with more settled and genial weather the
progress will be rapid, There has been less Of
winter killing of wheat than usual. The seed
Ing of oats win be late as rule, and in some
localities the ground intended for this crop
will be otherwise planted: The outlook for
spring pasturage is good, and meadows will
have an excellent start. In some regions,
notably in Illinois, the inclination TO enlarge
the area of corn leads to breaking up pasture
and meadow land. The fruit prospects in the
West are almost uniformly good.
In the spring wheat regions of the North
west, while the season is somewhat back ward
the outlook is regarded hopefully. the abund-
ance of snow being counted as an omen OF
good crops.
The receipts of wheat at primary markets
| we're reduced, partly due to bad condition Of
| wagon roads.
The wheat market maintains much of
strength, the support being largely drawn from
advices abroad and the temper of the foreign
trade. The Chicago market for May closes lie
higher than week ago, and 11zc decline from
| the highest point. on Tuesday.
The corn market is sustained under the prac-
| ticai exhaustion of supplies in commercial
channels and discouraging prospect for much
| of movement in the near future"
| In summarizing reports in regard to condi-
| tion OF crops abroad Beerbohm said, on March
10Th:
The weather during the past week, although
somewhat cool, has not been unreasonable.
| but favorable for sowing operations, which are
being actively pursued; nor has the cold been
sufficiently severe to be of detrime1t to the
young wheat plant, which continues to present
| a healthy appearance. This morning, how
ever, rather heavy snOwstorm took place in
| the IL idlands. From France comes no very
| important alteration in the previous accounts
regarding the damage done to the autumn
sown crops by the recent weather. One &C.
count says that some fields. which had been
given up for lost, show signs OF recovery; but
| the general outlook remains about the same as
described last week. Spring-sowing, however
| is rapidly progressing. Heavy rain fell yestex.
day over the greater part of France. which will
have been of benefit to the recent soxn seed
but the temperature is too cold IN Belgium
previous reports OF damage are mostly con-
firmed, although some fields show better thar
had been anticipated. In Germany rainy and
wintry weather has prevailed, and crop pros
| poets have not improved. In Holland more
favorable weather for fieldwork has been ex
perfenced, and a strong demand for different
Kinds of seed on tho part OF farmers for resow'
ing had obtained. From Hungary there come
some apprehcnsioIs of damage to the young
plant caused by the severe weather, but ther'
ia still nothing definite known as to the gen
ersI outlook III that country. From Russit
little fresh intelligence regarding the crops ha
been received this week.