Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-09-01
CROPS AND PRICES.
Farmers Likely TO Obtain the Average
Return Of Recent Years.

The American Agriculturist's annual re-
view OF the crop situation shows that the
harvest of 1898 in the United States is in
mary respects similar TO that OF three years
ago. but with every prospect that home con-
sumption and an increased foreign demand
will so advance values as to yield as large
ret return to farmers as on the average OF
recent years.
August indications point to cotton crop
not exceeding 1900, 900 bales, with favorable
weather. and very much less than that II IN
sects and climate remain unfavorable. Ihere
is a scarcity rather than q surplus OF staple
and desirable goods, and mills are already
Starting up to ill orders, with every prospect
OF being crowded to supply the domestic de-
mand for the ensuing Blk months.
Present indications point to crop OF $780,
600, 600 bushels of corn, contrasted with
/ 1880, 100000 last year.
The wheat out turn will not exceed 433, OOO,'
0CO bushels, compared to l4,00O, 600 bushels
as the average for the past two seasons.
Available supplies OF old wheat are AZ, ooo,'
900 bushels greater than twelve months since,
but even allowing that farmers also nold
II. 0J0. 900 bushels more old wheat now tpan
then. the total supplies for the ensuing year
are only 500 900 bushels or II, 900, 600 less
than the average Of the two previous crops
This years acreage OF oats was never ex'
ceeied except in 1889, when over 76O,OOO,oOo
bushels were grown on q, ,46J, 900 acres, COM
pared with 60, ,COO 900 bushels on slightly
smaller acreage this season.
The usual quantity of rye, buckwheat and
barley will be garneted.
The supply Of hay (over S),OOO,OOo tons)
and other forage is abundant, though mill
feed and cottonseed meal may be higher
than last winter.
The wool clip is somewhat HEAVIER than
last year.
Butter, cheese and milk have been in only
ordinary supply owing to the reduced num-
Der of COWS, stocks are light and dairy inter-
ests were never in better shape for profit
able winter.
There is an increased domestic crop OF
sugar, but shortage in the worlds produc-
ton OF 3OO,0 900 long tons of sugar.
A reduced yield OF heavy leaf and plug to-
bacco is assured, and the cigar leaf crop OIL
the Connecticut and Housatonic Valleys has
been curtaied by drought and hail.
Hops will make fair average yield in the
United States, but are only half to two-thirds
of q full crop in Germany and with light
yield in England.
Potatoes have felt the drought, and about
165. 900 900 bushels are looked for-slightly
more than last year-compared to 245, lCO,OI0
in the bouniful crop Of two years ago.
Winter apples promise to be in very scant
supply at high prices.
Reviewing the financial situation from the
farmers standpoint, the Agriculturist con-
cludes 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 re-
suit in higher prices"
The European rye crop is hardly a falr
average Oats are under average and pota-
toes are injured by drought. With no extra
surplus OF the bread crops and an assured
deficit OF wheat, the United States is likely
to be called upon 10 export as much whea:
as last year, if not more. Indeed, exports
have been much heavier since July than
last season. "The conclusion is ius'ilablt
that present prices of all grains are abnorm'
ally low, as there is little evidence OF our
ability to spare as much wheat as Europe
wants unless large under-consdmption pre-
walls in the United States"
The hay crop is believed to represent g.
value to the farmers Of II, N00,0J0,0OO. Corn
at As cents per bushel, comes next, with
total OF s75,OOO OCO, followed by wheat valued
at $50, coz, 900, if worth 60 cents bushel,
and by oats worth $lS5,0JO,0O) if valued at
| 30 cents on the farm. Potatoes promise to
net an average of 10 or IS cents per bushel, OF
total OF $125, 1000. This last is about
one-half the prospective value Of the cotton
crop of 1893. reckoned at $95 per bale.