River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-08-24
Z
HOPE FOR THE FARMER.
Tho American Agricultural Reviews the
Crop Situation-An Encouraging show
ing-Prices Should Go Up.

Tho American Agricultural Reviews the
Crop situation-An Encouraging show
ing-Prices Should Go Up
New YORK, Aug 22.-The following
Is a summary of the American Agri-
culturist's annual review of the crop
situation and of the agricultural year:
The harvest of 1898 in the United States is
IN many respects similar TO that OF three years
ago but with every prospect that home con-
sumption and increased foreign de-
mand will advance values TO yield
as large a net return TO farmers
on the average OF recent years. Indeed the re-
view makes a distinctly encouraging exhibit in
spite Of the prevalent drought. though admit
ting that the financial stringency may inter
fere with the early movement OF crops and
have a temporary restrictive influence on
prices.
The cotton crop win be harvested on fewer
acres than last year. AS large or a larger
breadth was planted TO this staple, but the
inability of many planters to borrow monay
enough to work the crop, together with
drought, floods and worms, and the still
greater difficulty OF getting money for picking,
combine TO seriously curtan production. Au-
gust indications point 10 a crop not exceeding
7,5o0.0O0 bales, with favorable weather, and very
much less than that il insects and climate con
tinue unfayorable.
The American AgriculturIst believes present
dizziness in American cotton manufacturing to
be only temporary, for there is scarcity rather
than a surplus of staple and desirable goods
and mills already starting up TO MI orders
with every prospect OF being crowded TO sup
ply the domestic demand for the ensuing six
months. English mills cleaned up their sur
plus during the great strike last year and are
now enjoying remarkable prosperity and are
unable 10 meet the export demand. This ex-
plains why cotton commands the prices cur
rent two years ago at this date though the
worlts visible supply Is some 100000 bales
more now than then With a short crop con-
sumption will require more than this excess,
with a consequent advance in values.
Present indications point to crop of 1,7a0-
100000 bushels OF corn, contrasted with 1850
100000 last year and over 1900, OO0,o00 bushels
in the immense yield OF two seasons previous
But unless abundant rains prevail throughout
the corn belt in August, followed by mild
weather production may shrink 10 600,0J0,-
900 bushels, and may even drop TO the size Of
the 1890 crop when we harvested less than any
year for decade, with single exception The
review points out that while the area OF corn is
some 2,OO0,0OO of acres greater than last year,
in the seven corn-supply states over 100000
less acres are devoted TO maize than was the
case two years ago
The wheat crop will not exceed 4i3,l00000
bushels, according TO the American Agrieult
urist's own reports and its interpretations OF
government returns, compared with 6l4000,000
@Oo,Oo00O0 bushels in 1890 Nearly 2,500OOJ
less acres were devoted TO wheat than last
year, and the bulk OF this decrease was in the
surplus states. which bid fair TO have IS, 100000
fewer bushels than last year and l25, 100000
bushels under the surplus states product of
is9L Available supplies OF old wheat 10000
600 bushels greater than twelve onth since,
but even allowing that farmers also hold IL 000,-
900 bushels more old wheat now than then,
the total supplies for the ensuing year are only
n alfaaI mn
average of the two previous crops. Our home
consumption has averaged 365, 600 bushels
annually leaving apparent export surplus
OF $4,000, 900 bushels, against exports last year
of 1g20o0,00O and the season before of 2s5.
100000
This years acreage of oats was never
ceeded except in 1859, when over 750,000.000
bushels were grown on "a 100000 acres com
pared with $4,000 600 bushels on a slightly
smaller acreage this season. This is within
100000 bushels Of last years outturn and
just about an average of the previous three
crops.
The usual quantity of rye, buekwheat and
barley will be garnered.
The supply of hay lover s5,O0OOo0 tons) and
other forage is abundant, though mill feed
and cotton seed meal may be higher than last
winter.
The serious reduction in the supply Of live
stock is reflected in reduced arrivals at our DO
nestle markets and decreased exports during
the last seven months, with very fair ten
dency TO values Much stock in Europe is be-
ing slaughtered because of drought, and later
on the export demand is likely TO be large.
Butter, cheese and milk have been in only or
binary supply owing TO the reduced number of
cows Stocks are light and dairy interests
were never in better shape for profitable
winter
The American Agriculturist rotes an in
creased domestic crop of sugar, but shortage
in the worlds production OF 100000 long tons of
sugar: but prices are more likely to be affect
ed by changes IN legislation than by changes in
production" A reduced yieia Of heavy leaf and
plug tobacco is assured and the cigar leaf crop
Of the Connecticut and Housa tonic valleys has
been curtailed by drought and hail An advance
in prices is predicted.
Hops will make a fair average yield in the
United states, but are only half to two-thirds
of a full crop in Germany, and with light
yield in England the export demand will take
at good prices every bale of American hops
that Uan be spared.
Potatoes have felt the drought and about
i65, 900 900 bushels are looked for-slightly more
than last year, compared with 100000 in
the boLutiful crop of two years ago
Reviewing the financial situation from the
farmers standpoint, the American Agricultur
list concl udes that "the prospect for prices in
the early future depends more upon the none
tary situation than upon natural conditions all
OF which point to causes that should result in
DiButT pflCtS
Stocks abroad are not materially larger than
q year ago. that the excess Of 5000 OJ0 bush
els in the United States stocks of old wheat
still leaves an indicated shortage in the bread
crop of tie world of 0J0.00J bushels of wheat
With 10 extra surplus OF the bread crops
and "a assured deficit of wheat the United
States is likely TO be called upon TO export as
much wi eat as last year, If not more Indeed
exports have been much heavier since July
Than last season. THE conclusion is justiiia
BILE that present prices OF all grains are abnor-
mally low as there Is little evidence OF our
ability to spare much wheat as Europe
wants. I'm .css a large under consumption pre-
walls Ia the United States"
The hay crop is believed to represent value
10 the farmers OF sl00O,000.0o0. Corn at -
cents bushel comes next with a total Of s725,
100000 followed by wheat valued at t30O,OeO,-
0OO, II worth 50 cents bushel, and by oats
worth sis5, 100000, If valued at 80 cents on the
farm. Potatoes pro mise to net average of
20 or Is certs bus hel total. of s125.ol0,0 900
This last IL about onehalf the prospective
value of tte eott0 On crop of 1898, reckoned at $50
o bale.