The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-22
Agricultural Prospects.

history of the country. We have had
within the last twenty years some cX-
Coptionally prosperous harvests, the
bountiful produce of some particular
year exceeding the average returns Of
the preceding years i'm its exceptional
abundance. sometimes it happens that
one special crop. whether Of fruit, GER
erals, cor dietary tuhcrs, reaches a
phenomenal yield. When this occurs
there is a disturbance of the average
price, and while the public in general
gains hv prolihcness, the farmer does
not But these inequalities upon the
whole arc few. and we have risen to
our present exclusive position in the
agricultural world mainly through nat
ural uniformity and abundance Of
yield
Locally we are happy To say that
the harvest promises to he one of mag
niflcent returns. Everywhere around
and about these indications meet the
eye, Berries have never been known
To be ripper, more abundant. or cheaper
at this season Of the year. Indeed,
they are more plentiful than profitable.
New potatoes are now in the market,
and are within the reach Of the gem
eral consumer. They are not perhaps
SO ripe as they should he this far in
the season. The heavy rains of May
retarded their normal growth. and the
high temperature of the past few
weeks forced them. But the potato
crou will be far heavier than it was
last year when the yield was a COM
parativc failure, and high prices for
watery and unsatisfactory table pota-
toes was the rule. Early vegetables and
leguminous crops promise exceedingly
well. Beans and peas are sensitive to
climatic changes, requiring a medium,
equable temperature for their success
full propagation. Fodder crops also
promise well. Turnips, mangolds and
bcets are thriving. Meadows are lux
uriant in their verdure, Indicating a
heavy hay or enslage return.
Turning now from local conditions
To the broader survey of the national
outlook, the prospect is no less cheer
ing Winter wheat is now far enough
advanced in growth to make an APP
proXimate estimate. The agricultural
returns of the government give an es-
timated area of $4,000, 600 acres as com
pared with 80, 465,OOO acres last harvest
"a 6lS 900 acres in 1896, and as against
39,9l600O acres sown in the year 1891
which were regarded as the largest
returns in the history of the country
The larger area under wheat would
naturally tend to Counterbalancc a de-
ticicncy in the yield if there were any
| indications in that direction but for.
tunately there are none. The returns
giving an estimate of the percentage
Of the condition of the winter wheat
crop place it at II per cent. higher
than that of last year, and that was
the highest since 1891. The larger area
| of land under wheat was naturally tC
| be expected. following the prevailing
price received and the conditions oh,
| tanning in the wheat market owing tC
| the exceptional shortage in Europe. 4
splendid wheat crop is, however, the
natural precursor Of prosperity, and II
we feed the greater part of Europe al
| less cost than we did a year ago, We
| spring wheat prospects as computed
| by the government returns are better
| than i'm any other June estimate OI
which we have record, and better by /,
per cent, than last year. This is won,
| derful magnificent. Pessimists a hom,
| and abroad sometimes give alarming
accounts of the progress of the defertil
| ization Of the western arabic lands
| owing to the continual wheat growing
| wheat being naturally an exhaustive
| crop Our farmers are not one croJ
| hushandmen. They know the value o
| artificial fertilizers, of periodicity anC
| rotation or crops; in a word, they ar,
| scientific farmers. This years whea
| crop is estimated to yield G&7, 800 OOl
| bushels The agricultural commission
ers' estimate for last year was $50, ,OOO
| 900 bushels. This estimate fell shor'
OF the actual yield by lOO, ,OOO,O 900 bushels
the actual produce being ESQ, 600 900. S,
| that we may believe the actual yielC
for 1898 will probably reach the aston
ishing quantity of nearly 500 900, ,OO
bushels rather than fail below the 700
! 100000 bushels limit.
| 1t Is too early to prOgnosticate wha
the effect of this enormous supply o
wheat will have on the prices ruling il
the market Young Letters nnancia
collapse will not he forgotten. Ther,
are no doubt other men who would run
the risk If they could command tn,
confidence with which he started on
on his career, No doubt there will b.
ringing and rigging and speculation
and cornering as of old. Human ma
turc does not change in a day. Blu
after all, the price which the farmc
will receive for his produce will res
on the ultimate law Of averages, will
the price Of the supply expressed fl
the figures Of the demand
The Organization Of the first regi
meOt Of United states Volunteer En-
ginccrs has heen completed; and amont
the officers about une-half have ha,