Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-08-04
GRAIN TRADE AND CROPS.


The Cincinnati ce-Current of las,
Thursday says y
While there have been rains the pas
week in many portions of the corn
growing districts of the West, afford.
ing more or less relief where lack of
moisture was seriously jeopardizing the
position of this crop, there is still much
of complaint and apprehension about
the situation. In Iowa, which had
until recently been in a decidedly
promising position with regard to this
crop, there has developed quite q
change, although it would appear thai
substantial rains shortly would largely
overcome the fears now entertained
In the Lower Missouri Valley region
Eastern Kansas, and to some extent in
Nebraska, rains have relieved the stu
alton, and east of the Mississippi river
there have been local rains affording
much benefit. But there remains a
great extent of area which seems t.
require ptompt relief or there will be
certainty of serious curtailment liz
yield. Taken as whole it appears
justifiable to regard the chances as still
about equal to what they were a week
ago, but with a narrower margin fol-
saving conditions.
In Ohio, q large part of the com crop
is still looking well, but in urgent need
of rain. In Indiana considerable dam
age has already become established
from the drought. In Illinois a good
portion of the crop is doing fairly well,
but in many sections is seriously in
need of moisture. In Iowa the situa.
ton is critical, but results would he
favorable generally if prompt, relief
should be had from eopious rains. In
Nebraska most of the crop is in fairly
good position, but getting into suffer
ing condition from lack Of rain. In
Kansas the crop is in doubtful or dis
couraging situation in western dis.
tricts, while recent rains have afforded
important relief in eastern sections. In
Missouri the crop is generally in fail
shape, but not uniformly SO, and late
corn especially is in need of more rain
The fuller evidences as to outcome Of
the oats crop disclose large extent OIL
light grain, and it appears most likely
that there will be decidedly larger
proportion than usual of this grain
falling short in this particular. The
effect will be to lessen the yield, an6
also to depress the market with offer
ings of undesirable stock. To what ex
tent the processes of manipulation o.
this grain under modern methods car
overcome these drawbacks can not be
reliably stated.
In regard to oats, in Ohio there is 6
fair to good crop, nearly all harvested
quality generally satisfactory. In In
diana, light crop, deficient in weight
and In Illinois poor in yield and weight
In Iowa somewhat irregular but fairly
good to a large extent, much of the
crop light IN weight, threshlng vel
progressed. In Missouri poor result
In Kansas quite generally poor or dis
appointing. In Nebraska much of the
crop is good in yield and quality, some
deficient.
In regard to wheat, there is little oc
caslon for new observation concerning
either the winter Or spring crop. In
the Northwest the ripening process ap
pears to have developed very rapidly
OF late. Harvesting operations are al
ready inaugurated in the southern por
tlons OF Minnesota, and appear likely
to overtake more northern districts
somewhat earlier than usual. The pre-.
vailing expectation is that good results
with regard to yield are in prospect
generally.
The inclination of farmers to stack
or to store wheat, under hope of better
prices continues to be reflected in the
correspondence to considerable ex
tent.
Drought conditions have curtailed
pasturage, and lowered the indications
OF yield of late potatoes.
The tendency of the wheat market
has been downward during the week.
there having been little of supporting
elements OF substantial nature. How
long the weakness may prevail is prob
lematical, but it would seem that while
the declining tendency may not have
eliminated the position of values is
such that milling interests should not
have much hesitation in placing con-
tracts literally on the basis of present
values for future months.
The drought conditions have given
strength to the corn market, and this
grain appears to have about as much
chance for maintenance of values as
for decline from the existing posi-
ton.
July wheat at Chicago closed
1O1c below the highest point of the
week, lie above the lowest point, and
Tic lower than a week ago.
Corn at Chicago for July clos
ed 18c below the highest point of the
week, 19c above the lowest point and
9c higher than a week ago.
Corn receipts were 2,23S, 900 bushels.
against 2, O45 900 the preceding week,
and 100000 last year.