Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-25
PROMISING WHEAT CROP
Reports at Department of Agriculture Indi-
cate Large Yield.
Secretary Wilson Discusses Prob.blc
Hyde's Figures ON Crop of -gs.

AccoruHg 10 reports on HE at the Depart
ment of Agriculture the wheat crop OF ISIS
Is promising and will surpass that of las;
year. if adverse weather conditions do not
affect it between now and harvesting tIm,.
during the summer and early autumn.
There is every indication that there will be
an abundance of the cereal for home con-
sumption, while the exports will probably
be higher than for several years past.
In the Mississippi valley" said the Sec.
rotary of Agriculture this afternoon when
seen by reporter for The Star "the wheat
crop may BE- said to be good. On the Pa.
CHIC coast il is not good, however az
droughts have badly blighted the growth
there
What effect will the abundant crop have
on the present high prices?" repeated the
SECRETARY. We'll that depends entirely
upon the output of wheat of the whole
world Transportation facilities today are
SO efficient that a surplus anywhere
throughout the globe can be shipped to an
available market in little or no time. Means
Oh communication and general knowledge Is
so great also that when dearth occurs a
enc place IT is quickly known at another
where there is an abundance, and a supply
is shipped to market.
Il see no reason on earth why wheat
should &c higher 1t can be considerably
lower and still be profitable. The war will
nave no effect on the wheat crop reaching
Its destination. 1t is not contIaband of war
and, at any rate, about ~ per cent of our
carrying is done by British ships and Great
Britain will not allow any Interference with
wheat. for they need II to make their bread
In England.
Resort TO Cheaper Cereals.
Another reason why wheat should not
go higher continued Secretary Wilson
lis that with wheat at top figures a great
many persons resort to cheaper cereals
Corn is a cheaper cereal, and We all know
1t is wholesome. Compared with other
grams wheat is very dear at present Corn
is coming more and more in demand. and
with this great competitor wheat should
not climb any higher.
We cannot just yet estimate on the
wheat crop with any precision. We mus;
wait until the crop gets beyond the harm
OF weather conditions. In most of the
wheat-producing states we have had typi-
cal wheat weather-a cool and wet spring
Now. If we have a spell of dry weather at
harvesting time. SO as TO prevent any rust,
the crop should be excellent. The present
outlook should lead us to expect a much
larger crop of wheat than the 5Jo.0a0oo0
Bushels gathered in 1897"
Some interesting; Figures.
Statistician John Hyde OF the Department
of Agriculture has collected some interest
ing figures in connection with the lS9s
wheat crop. Mr.. Hyde declared that re-
turns received up to May 1 showed an in
creased acreage of winter wheat of 80
per cent as compared with last year In
Kansas there is an increase of Is per cent
There mas been a more or less marked in
crease IN every eastern and every southern
state, and some increase on .he Pacific
coast Inc large expansion thus indicated
is TO some extent offset by a decrease Of
per cent in Indiana, per cent in Ohio
ID per cent in Missouri. Ii per cent in IL
lirois, and some reductions in less Import
ant states.
linois and Missouri are due to the fact
that while the fall of 1896 was one of the
hnest sowing seasons ever known, that OF
1857 was one Of the most unfavorable
Even the prospective high prices of wheat
failed to have the effect that might nat
urally have been expected. In the thirty
states in which winter wheat is raised
TO greater or less extent il is found that
In twenty-five of them the area devoted
to wheat is increased by 2H91.5 acres;
that in eight other states the aggregate
decrease is 6S5.S21 acres, the net increase
being 1,4l1, 1892 acres.
The Extreme West.
The crop in California has suffered Sc
verely from droughts, and will be the
smallest ever put out from that state so
that it is doubtful IL there will be any
surplus Whatever from that state for ex-
portauon. Kansas promises to make up
for this condition of affairs, however. and
the crop there gives every indication of
being the largest on record. The average
condition of winter wheat at the begin
ming of May was s6.5 against S0.2 on
May 1 CT last year. In the nine states
having 1.OO0.O00 acres or upward in wheat
the averages are: Kansas, los; Pennsyl-
wanna, 80; Michigan and Tennessee each.
80; Missouri. So; Indiana, ST. Illinois, So;
Ohio, 81; California 20.
Mr.. Hyde declares that the outlook for
April and May wheat. compared with last
year, is better, but ii is not so remarkable
as compared with 1889 and 1881. The gen.
eral average for the former year was "a
and 80. for April and May. and in 1891 it
was 800 and $40, respectively.