The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-08-26
THE CROPS.
Annual Review OF the Agricultural Sit
uailOn-This Years Harvest like
that of 1890.

The harvest oil 1880 III the Oniteu ottttcs Is
in many respects similar to that of three years
ago, but with every prospect that home con.
sumption and an increased foreign demand
will so advance valaes 10 yield as large Il
net return to farmers as ON the average of
recent years. Indeed, the annual review of
the agricultural year, makes distinctly en-
colraging exhibit, in spite of the prevalent
drought, though admitting that the financial
stringency may interfere with the early move
ment of crops and have a temporarily restric.
tive influence on prices.
THE COTTON CROP
will 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 money enough to
work the crop, the great drought, floods and
worms, and the still greater difficulty of get
ting money for picking, combine to seriously
curLall production. August indications point
to crop not exceeding |, 500, 900 bales, with
favorable weather, and very much less than
that il insects and climate continue uniaYor
able. This means AN average crop of about
the same us last year and nearly 1000, 600
bales less than the crop of 1891.
The present dullness in American cotton
manufacturing To be only temporary, for
there is - scarcity, rather than IL surplus OF
staple aud desirable goods, aud mills are al
ready starting up To ill orders, with every
prospect of being crowded 10 supply the do
nestle demand for the ensuing six months.
English mills cleaned up their surplus during
the great strike last year, and are now enjoy
ing remarkable prosperity, and are unable to
meet the export demand. This plains why
cotton commands the prices current two
years ago at this date, though the world 5
visible supply is some 5000 bales more
4 81 Al
sumption will require more than this excess,
with consequent advance in values.
THE CORN CROP.
Present indications point to Il crop of l.,
$50 600 900 bushels of corn, conirasted with
500, 900, 900 last year and over 1000, 900, 900
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
! 600, 200, 900 bushels and may even drop to
the size of the 1890 crop, when We harvested
less than in any year for u decade, with Il
single exception.
While the breadth of corn is some two
millions of acres greater than last year in the
seven corn surplus States, over million less
acres are devoted to maize than was the case
two years ago.
The corn crop mas been greatly injured so
far during August, the first two weeks of the
month having wrought ten times as much
damage as the whole month of July. Kansas
will not raise more than half "A crop. having
but very little, except the eastern quarter,
and Nebraska's crop has been seriously cur
tailed. Early planted corn in Sedgwick
county, Kansas, has been destroyed by super
heated air, and late planted will require one
good rain before August 18th TO make fair
Ill
Kansas between August 9Th and 18th are
erroneous. as in four of the largest corn
growing counties not a drop fell in that time,
and only little patches have had enough to
Law the dust in four weeks.
WHEAT.
The wheat ont turn will not exceed ABB
0OO, 600 bushels, according to that papers
own reports, and its interpretations of Gov
eminent returns, compared TO Ga, 200
bushels as the average for the two past sea-
sons, and 400, 900, 900 bushels in 1890. Near
ly $500. 900 less acres we're devoted TO wheat
than last year, and the bulk of this decrease
was IL the surplus States, which bid fair TO
have $4,000, 900 fewer bushels than last year,
and la, 900, 900 bushels under the surplus
States product of 1891.
Available supplies of old wheat are 40
600, 600 bushels greater than twelvemonth
since, but even allowing that farmers also
hold II 900, 900 bushels more old wheat now
than then, the total supplies for the ensuing
year are only 500, zoo, 900 bushels, or III,
600, 900 less than the average of the two previ
Gus crops. Our home home consumption has
averaged 800, 900. 900 bushels annually, leav-
ing an apparent export surplus OF $4,000,
600 bushels, against exports last year of 1922,
OO0, 900 and the season before 225,000,000.
This years acreage of oats was never ex.
ceeded, except in 1889, when over $50, 000,-
600 bushels were grown on q 100000 acres,
compared with G20,000,000 bushels on a
slightly smaller acreage this season. This is
within 10, 900, 900 bushels Of last years out
turn, and just about an average of the pre-
vious three crops.
The usual quantity oil rye, hIckwheat and
barley will he garnered.
OTHER CROPS.
The supply of hay lover lG,000,000 tonsl
and other forage is abundant, though mill
feed and cotton seed meal may be higher than
last winter.
The wool clip is somewhat heavier than
last year. Australa's new clip is reduced
owing To large losses the past year from
drought. Imports into the United States are
decreasing, but domestic trade is fiat, with u
prospect for an upward turn when buying
begins.
The serious reduction in the supply of live
stock Is reflected in reduced arrivals at our
domestic markets and decreased exports dur
ing the past seven months, with u very fair
tendency to values. Much stock in Europe
is being slaughtered because Of drought, and
later on the export demand Is likely to he
large.
Butter, cheese and milk have been in only
ordinary supply, owing to the reduced num-
Der of cows. Stocks are light, and dairy in
terest were never in better shape for profit
able winter.
The same paper notes an increased dounes-
tic crop of sugar, but shortage in the world $
production of $780, 900 long tons of sugar.
Bnt prices are more likely to be affected by
changes in legislation than by changes in
production.
A reduced yield of heavy leaf and plug to-
bacco is assured and the cigar leaf crop OF
the Connecticut and Housatonic Valleys has
been cnriaiIed by drought and hail. An adj
vance in prices is predicted.
Hops will make fair average yield in the
United States. but are only one half to two
thirds of full crop in Germany, and, with q
light yield in England, the export demand
will take, at good prices, every bale of Amer
lean hops that can be spared.
Potatoes have felt the drought, and about
1856, O00, 900 bushels are looked for-slightly
more than last year, compared to 245, O00, 900
in the bountiful crop of two years ago. Win.
ter apples promise to be in very scant supply
at high prices, but grapes are everywhere
abundant.
Reviewing the financial situation from the
farmers standpoint, it concludes that the
prospect for prices in the early future depends
more upon the monetary situation than upon
natural conditions, all of which point to
causes that should result in higher prices.
But the wheat crop is conceded to be OYER
100, OO0, 900 bushels less than last year in the
leading importing countries. Stocks abroad
are not materially larger than year ago. so
that the excess Of 50,0OO,000 bushels in the
United States stocks of old still leaves an in
dicated shortage in the bread crop Of the
world of 100, 000, 900 bushels of wheat. This
allows Russia as good a crop as last year.
The European rye crop is hardly a fair
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