Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-13
Plenty oil Old Hay in Sight.

The amount of hay on farms and in
the hands of shippers in states outside
of New England is considerable and
this competition will be felt in our own
markets the next few months. These
facts are Enthusiastically brought out in
special investigation just completed
by The Homestead. In our special re-
port of the 1896 hay crop, published last
September, we showed that while there
was shortage in portions of New
York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, etc, the
great hay sections Of tine central ard
northwestern states secured a good
crop: furthermore. that shortages here
and there would be compensated large
ly by increased acreages in forage
crops, these going far to supplement an
enormous yield Of corn and oats. and
pointing to a good surplus for winter
and spring markets. This summary Of
the situation has been verified in every
detail by the Investigations we have
just completed. In addition TO liberal
feeding of other foliage and cheap
cereals. the winter weather was not
severe enough as a rule to call for eX
tra0rdinary consumption of hay. ana
there will be enough of the latter to 80
around. The reserve still on farms ana
in the hands of country shippers at
present is not burdensome, however
and stocks will probably be practically
exhausted by the time the new crop
appears in earnest.
In parts of New York. notably the
southern counties, in Pennsylvania and
in Ohio and Indiana, important inroads
have been made into the supply of good
to strictly choice hay. but liberal
quantities of NO and No. 3. are yet
to come out. The under grades from
the elder middle and eastern states.
including more or less from New Eng
land, have been selling in New York
and Boston at figures which appear
very low considering the reported
shortage in aggregate yield.
There is a healthy demand at most
points for good to choice grades, and
the opinion prevails among some of the
foremost dealers that the present level
of prices may reasonably be expected
to continue with possibly a hardening
at the close Of the season. AS to this,
however. there is always more or less
pressure of offerings at that time and
also something of an influx as soon as
navigation and low canal freights be-
come a matter Of fact.
New England markets. including
Boston and other large points, have
been burdened with a surplus OF
medium and low grades of hay while
strictly choice is readily salable.
Canadian farmers still hold compare
lively liberal quantities Of hay and
should it become apparent that the
duty will be raised from 81 to 81 per
ton. this will serve TO stimulate ship
ments into this county.
Farmers will devote a full area to
hay the coming season. Many Of our
returns from the middle and western
states point to an increase Of 10 to &c
Per cent. over last year, occasionally
more than this, While others an acreage
about equal to last year. and some to a
decrease In the western states, where
the crop is nearly all prairie hay, the
amount cut will depend to some extent
upon prices in July. In many of tile
older central and eastern states, given
over largely TO timothy and clover
hays. there will he an increase, owing
t. the cheapnoss Of potatoes and Srain.
N. T. Homestead.