New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-12
GOOD CROP PROSPECTS.

The outlook for the future Is much dependent
upon the coming crops. At this date, even III
an ordinarily forward season, 1t Is not possible
to speak with certainty regarding any OF the
great crops, and the belated and cold spring mas
made both wheat and cotton somewhat Iater
than usual In large sections Of the country, 50
that they have little more danger to face than
Is usual at this date. Yet 1t must be SAID thht
the prospect Is extremely encouraging. NOR
does the course OF the markets fall to show that
this Is the general understanding OF all accounts
received Wheat refuses to advance because
present supplies are running low, and cotton
has made no gain, although reports Of injury by
food and cold have been numerous. or corn
in belated season 1t is too early to form dell
mite opinion, and, moreover the enormous STOCK
carried over from last years unprecedented crop
makes accounts of injury comparatively uniii-
pOrtant.
The annual statement of cotton acreage by
THE Financial Chronicle'-which was long the
best authority, and since the failure of Govern
ment reports may be called the only authority
is to most people q surprise. Though 1t was
pointed out weeks ago by The Tribune that
planting would not be prevented in large pro-
portion Of the cotton area, even In the States
most devastated by food, 1t is surprising to
find that in every one CT those States the
acreage appears to have increased This is in
part because everywhere outside the fields actu-
ally flooded there was general tendency to
increase acreage owing to the impression that
the decrease in consequence Of the disaster
would be great But the net result, according
to 1.-THE Financial Chronicle" Is a decrease Of
not more than a tenth within the district actu-
ally flooded and In the aggregate an Increase
of per cent, from which no better weather than
was realized last year n crop OF over 100000
bales might be expected. The prospect thus
far Is therefore highly encouraging, since In
jurles to which the crop is yet exposed must
needs be extraordinary with so large an acre
age, to prevent yield as large as the general
prosperity Of cotton growers requires.
The wheat prospect has been the subject of
numerous and widely varying reports of late.
and, as usual many have apparent speculative
objects. But when even the Kansas State
Board predicts an extraordinary yield for that
State, and the Texas report is relatively as
good, when even Mr.. Pillsbury considers the
outlook almost perfect except for three weeks
lateness, which, he argues, may spoil everything.
it may be fairly inferred that the promise Is
brighter than usual. Perhaps the most trust
worthy Of the trade reports is that Of "The Or
ange Judd Farmer" which estimates from pres
ent indications a yield Of 515,OO0,0O0 bushels,
and 1t is only just to add that its estimate was
last year nearer the truth as now known than
that of any other trade Journal usually consid-
cred an authority.
Excessive crops Of the great staples not in
frequently depress prices beyond reason, and
thus result in grave disappointment to the farm
ers, and yet no one ever seriously regards a
bountiful harvest as an injury to the country as
whole. This year the prospects described,
to wheat and cotton, do not raise that question,
for neither 515,OOO,OOO bushels Of wheat nor
100000 bales Of cotton would 60 so far be-
yond the probable demand as to involve to pro-
ducers disastrous depression Of prices. But
either would be large enough to promote in n
marked degree the prosperity Of the great agri-
cultural States, and their prosperity enables
them to purchase more literally the products
of the mines and the mills.