The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1893-09-09
Crop Review.

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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 consump-
tion and an increased foreign de
mand will so advance values as to
yield as large a net return to far
mers as on the average of recent
years. The exhibit, given in the
September issue. IS an encouraging
one in spite of the prevalent drought
though admitting that the financial
stringency may interfere with the
early movement of crops and have
a temporarily restrictive influence
on prices.
Present indications point to a crop
of |, $50, 100000 bushels of corn, con
trasted with 630,000,000 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 to 1000, 900,
900 bushels and may even drop to
the size of the 1890 crop, when we
harvested less than in any year for a
decade, with single exception. 1t
is pointed out that while the breadth
of corn is some two millions acres
greater than last year in the seven
corn surplus States, over million
less acres are devoted 10 maize than
was the case two years ago
The wheat turn out will not ex
ceed 143,000,000 bushels as shown
by the report and the interpretations
of Government returns, compared to
140, 0,000 bushels as the average
for the two past seasons, and 400
000,0 in 1890. Nearly 100000
less across were devoted to wheat
than last year, and The bulk of this
decrease was in the surplus States,
which bid fair to have 100000
fewer bushels than last year, and
121, 100000 bushels under the sur
plus States product of 1891.
Available supplies of old wheat
are 100000 bushels greater than
twelve month since, but even al
lowing that farmers also hold H.
900, 900 bushels more old wheat now
than then, the total supplies for the
ensuing year are only 500,000000
bushels, or 100000 less than the
average of the two previous crops.
Our home consumption has averaged
365, 000,0 900 bushels annually leaving
an apparent export surplus Of l35,
600, 900 bushels, against exports last
years of 102.000,0O0 and the season
before 225, 100000.
This years acreage OF oats was
never exceeded, except in 1889, when
over 750, 600, 900, bushels were grown
on 81, 100000 acres, compared with
100000, 900, bushels on slightly
smaller acreage this season. This is
within 100000 bushels of last
years out turn, and just about an
average of the previous three crops.
The usual quantity of rye, buck
wheat and barley will be garnered.
Reviewing the financial situation
from the farmers standpoint it is con
cluded that the prospect for prices
in the early future depends more up
on the monetary situation than up
ON natural conditions, all of which
point to causes that should result
in higher prices.
But the wheat crop is conceded to
be over l50, 100000 bushels less than
last year in the leading importing
countries. Stocks abroad are not
materially larger than year ago,
so that the excess of 50,000,000
bushels in the United States stocks
of old still leaves an indicated short
age in the crop of the world of 100,-
600, 900 bushels of wheat. This al
lows Russia as good a crop as last
year.
The European rye crop is hardly
fair average, and potatoes are in
jured 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 to
export as much wheat as last year,
if not more. Indeed, exports have
been much heavier since July first
than last season. The conclusion
is justifable that present prices of
all grains abnormally low, as there
is little evidence of our ability to
spare as much wheat as Europe
wants, unless large under consump-
tion prevails in the United Statest,
The hay crop is believed to repre-
sent value to the farmers of a
thousand million dollars. Corn, at
As cents bushel, comes next, with
total of 1925, 100000, followed by
wheat valued at 100000, 600, ifworth
60 cents bushel, and by oats worth
$1S5, 100000, if valued at 80 cents
on the farm. Potatoes promise to
net an average of 70 or rs cents per
bushel, or a total of $125,000, 600.
This last is about one half the pros
pective value of the cotton crop of
1898, reckoned at $35 per bale.
A Woman's Apt Reply to Mr.. Cleveland.
1t was during Cleveland's first in
cumbency. The daughter of lawyer
prominent In neighboring Kansas
town had married an officer who a
| few months after the ceremony had
| been detailed to remote post. The
young wife who had enjoyed a sort of
belleship in the semi-metroplitan
community in which she had been
reared, felt as if she were about to be
buried alive. Encouraged by her hus-
band and father, she repaired to Wash