Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1896-12-30
GRAIN TRADE AND CROPS.

uo OluCiuudtl IIlCe-OuIISuU VI IAoo
Thursday says
The weather has continued mild 10
the Central West, with something of
freezing, and little of snow or rain.
The warmth which has been expert
enced since the recent period of rather
hard freezing has brought discolora-
ton to the wheat plant in many local.
ties. and the previously green appear
ance he's been changed but it is not
made apparent by current correspond
ence that damage to the roots of the
wheat plant has resulted in any con-
siderable degree, otherwise than with
in limited areas to a brown hue, sug-
gestive of injury to the plant, locally,
here and there, where conditions ad-
mitted of such effects. While there is
altogether considerable talk of damage
to the crop, from freezing and from fly,
| the fact remains that decidedly favor
able reports largely predominate.
! While it is to be conceded that some
lowering of the average condition is
probable, the extent of such decline is
not to be regarded as important. Re
ports of damage to the crop from fly
are not uncommon at this season of the
year. when mild weather prevails.
The current marketing of wheat m
! tinues restricted in volume, and there
is lacking any evidence of probable
| change in the naar future. While
there is unquestioned scarcity in a
large portion Of the crop area il Is be
liey ed that in many sections there are
| fair supplies, but held for later market
| ing, whatever the market condition,
aud SO far as being in sight or availa5
BILE to consumers at this time the situa-
tion is practically the same as if such
reserves we're not in existence.
| In this market finely ground corn
meal. having the general appearance
of wheat flour in high decree, is being
sold in car load lots, for purposes of
mixture or blending with wheat flour.
With five to ten per cent of this corn
product the ordinary tests fail to dis
cover its presence in flour, and the
great disparity in cost offers d strong
| inducement to make such a blend and
to market it as flour. This is not an
altogether new industry, although lit
| tie has been said about it. Various
milling concerns, notably in tho south,
equipped themselves last year for the
| production of corn -four" for blending
grades And now the inducement is
! AANl Cdo@A, ito cAlC uIO0uCUAOA VI lAO
corn product is enlarged, and manifest
| ~ increasing.
The Influence of the corn blend -four
| is being felt in the -four trade, especial
| lv in the curtailment of demand from
southern localities, the product of mills
in that region. being offered at relative
| ly lower prices than strictly wheat -four
can complete with.
Justhow much this introduction of
corn iuto the bread making material
OF the country may affect calculations
as to the reg ,irements of wheat and
the marketable supply of corn can not
easily be calculated. But that econo
mics are prevailing which will to con-
siderable extent reduce the call for
wheat III comparison with other sea-
sons il practically certain. Ii 25, 600 900
b ashelS of wheat should be displaced
by such uuu sual Introduction of corn
| the result would be as if the crop of
wheat had been to this extent larger
than t was At the same time the
quantity of corn thus represented is
an inarpreeitble portion of the total
supply Of ti.is grain this season.
The cure ut offerings of corn in the
Interior while not particularly large or
excessive are ample for all demand.
/ tiC tliuAt 5S vi +WCdGu0I COuu1ClOUS
has favored economy in stock feeding
operations. The Chicago market for
this grain has been easy, and at the
close is somewhat lower than a week
ago for May, and unchanged for the
current month delivery.
Wheat at Chicago has had com
paratively featureless market, closing
with some firmness, at an advance of
&c for current month d livery and 18c
for May, compared with a week ago.
May wheat at Chicago closed sc be
low the highest point of the week q c |
above the lowest point, aud 1sc higher !
than we Elk ago.
Corn at Chicago for May closed &c
below the highest point Of the week, |
&c above the lowest point of the week,
and sc lower than week ago.
Wheat rec ipts at primary markets
were 2,77S000 bushels for the week |
against 3 767, 600 the preceding week,
and 5.9a2 900 last year.
Corn receipts were 1915. 900 bushels.
against 2 aa3 600 the preceding week,
and {, S29 900 last year.