The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-07-13
FARM NOTES
(The Southern Planter.)

| beens our custom to review the progress
of the crops throughout the country, and
endeavor to form some idea of what is
likely to be the result of the labors of
the farmers in the way of production
and what return they are likely to get
for these products. and also to indicate
in what crops deficiency exists which
can yet be made good by substitutes to
be at once planted. Following this
practice we take, first, the wheat crop.
The winter wheat yield is distinctly un-
promising. The cold dry winter caused
widespread destruction of the plant, and
the area left to be harvested is no
greater, if as large, as that harvested
a year ago. The continuance of the
cold, dry weather until late in May, i'm
paired the condition of the plant and
left it on the 1st June at only about rs
per cent. of normal as compared with
S7.S on June LIST. 1901. and 1913 the mean
of the June average for the last ten
years. This means that there will be a
much reduced yield from this portion of
the wheat crop, even though conditions
from now on to harvest should be as
spring wheat crop there has been, as
we Indicated would be the case in our
last issue, heavy reduction in the area
seeded. Peturns so far would seem to
make this reduction about 2,5OO,OOO
acres The condition of the crop was
on June 1st somewhat better than at the
corresponding period year ago-it being
now 95.4 as compared with 80 then, and
average for the crop. Taking the two
crops together, there would seem to be
every indication of a reduction from last
years yield of from 1OO.000,00O to $780,
100000 bushels. The Cincinnati Price
Current puts the reduction at 1OO,O00,00O
bushels. which we think is not as much
as will be. Even with this reduction
in yield, it would seem that we are like
ly to harvest about an average wheat
crop-the last one having been much in
excess of the average. The indications
so far point to disappointing crop in
Europe. The weather, both in England
and on the continent of Europe. has
been distinctly adverse to the crop all
winter and spring. Up to the, end of
May, frost and snow was common even
in South Europe, and the reports from
exporting wheat countries of Europe
were very pessimistic as to the yield
CT the crop. In England and France, the
,ield is not expected to be equal to the
average. and both countries are likely
tc be largo Buyers. 1t would seem \
fair inference to draw from these facts
tha' DER wheac is likely to be in demand
at prices in excess of those ruling on
tod 40
that Southern farmers are not likely to
receive much benefit from this, as South
ern wheat crops are almost universally
Gisa ppointing. We have seen and talked
with many large farmers, and have
beard from scores of others in different
sections of this all other Southern At
lantic States, and in very few cases in
Iced have we had satisfactory replies to
our inquiries as to the crop.
The oat crop of the country promises
to be about the same as that of last
year. The area is practically. the same
ard the condition about the ten year
average, which is somewhat above that
of lest YEAR. The Southern crop is dis
appointing, bots as to area and condi-
tion, and we expect that much of it will
be cut fIr hay.
An immense corr crop is beng planted
PROBABLY The largest ever put nto the
ground. Whilst it is too early yet to
say much about it. yet the indications
are that in the South it promises we'll.
Whilst a little late on account of cold
dry weather, yet it is looking healthy,
and the recent warm rains we have
oI-I
cultivation Drouth is likely somewhat
to iniure the yield in Texas, but in he
other t;rif States the crop is practically
made and is likely to be good.
The cotton crop promises to be about
as large in acreage as that of last year.
The condition, however, is greatly in
advance C. the average, and the iGdica-
tons are fer heavy crop. Whether the
world will want this great crop so much
as to give even the price at which it is
now buying cotton, is, in our opinion,
doubtful. II business conditions continue
coed and labor is kept fully employed,
the price of cotton may not fall much,
even with a very heavy crop, but should
trade fatten. the price. in our opinion,
will go lower.
The lorg-continued cold, dry spring
has seriously interfered with the pros
poets for the tobacco crop. The indica-
tions on the 1st May were for the set
ting out of a large crop, but this has
not been realized. Up to the end OF the
first week in June there were large sec
tioRs of this State in which few plants
had been set out. and those planted
were doing badly, whilst the plants in
the plant beds were spelling every day
The welcome rains of the 18th and 18th
of June enabled planting to be resumed,
and no doubt much leeway has been
made IN; but we think that the result
VIII show that the crop planted will not
&c any larger than that of year ago,
AMI materially later in starting. The
Bright crop in the more Southern States
is likely to be larger one than that Of
last year. and so far is showing UP we'll.
The hay and clover crop is distinctly