Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-04-08
100000 2.42s, 393, ,OOC
Smallest in six Years.


1t will thus be seen that the crop for
1896 is the smallest for six years. The
figures given by the Agricultural Depart
ment in these tables are official, either
preliminary or final, wherever available.
In some important wheat-growing couD-
tries, however. official returns of wheat
production are not made; in such cases
commercial estimates have been used.
A table is given showing the disposal
of the wheat crop of the United States
for 1896. After some explanation re-
garding the reports of supply and distri-
button of wheat received by the depart
ment the following figures are given:
Reserve in March, 1897 Bushels.
In farmers hands March. 1891. $4,000, 900
In mills, etc, March, 1897 .... Al 100000
Visible stock, March, lS9I.... 44,OOO,OoO
Aggregate reserve, March. '97. liz. 600. 900
Spring and winter seeding, 1896. 50,000,O00
Food consumption, 1861 ...... .3l0, ,000, 600
Exports, 1S9O-9I ................14 14o ,OOO,OOO
In this computation the amount needed
for seed is calculated at one and two
tifths bushels per acre and the food con-
sumption of Il GOO. 900 inhabitants at four
and onethird bushels per annum per
capita.
The supply of 113,0O0.0OO bushels will
have to meet. before the crop of 1897
comes to re-enforce it about the beginning
of July, demands of about 100000
bushels for spring seeding and 104, 100000
bushels for four months food consump-
ton. at the rates above used. 1t is quite
likely. owing to the increase in the cost
of wheat and the further decrease in that
of corn, that the rate of wheat consump-
ton per capita may be still further re-
duced this season. but, taking these
amounts as they stand. the country Is left
with n supply of 52.0000O0 bushels for
export and for balance to be carried over.
The exports for March to June, inc]u-
sive, were last year less than 36000,000
bushels and they were for the first nine
weeks of the present year, notwithstand-
ing the higher price. 500, 1000 bushels per
week less than for the corresponding
weeks of last year. If the same difference
holds till July the exports for the four
months will be ~ 900 900, and the stocks
remaining on farms. in mills and ''visi-
BILE" will be but 25,O00,OO0 bushels, an
exceptionally slender balance.
Enormous Production of Corn.
The corn crop of 1896 in the United
States according to this report, exceeded
by more than q per cent that of 1895, the
largest ever before obtained, in spite of
generally reduced acreage and of par
tial failure of the crop in the South, where
scarcely State raised more than enough
corn for its own consumption, Texas be-
ing the sorest sufferer. The great in
creases were in the great corn States. The
quality of this crop, however, does not
correspond to its quantity, for but S4.S per
cent is this year merchantable, against
SS.1 per cent last year.
The farm value is unprecedentedly low.
The average price of the 1,936, 100000
bushels of merchantable corn is but Dos
cents, against 25.6 cents last year the
lowest previous fgures), giving q total
value of S402, ,0S6,O00, while the unmer-
chantable, 341 100000 bushels at price
of 1873 cents, against 15.4 cents for 255,-
433 900 bushels last year, is worth in all
SAG, 100000. The entire crop comes to
$449, 9,2I6,000, figure less by $41, T31 900
than that reported in December
Regarding oats the report says that the
crop of 1896 was generally poor, both in
quantity and quality, and the weight per
bushel t2S.6 pounds on the average) was
low. Only three or four States, mostly
northwestern, report a good crop.