Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-21
A RECORD BREAKER
This Years Crop Promises an I'm
mense Yield.
WAPELLO COUNTY HAS TALL CORN
Early Frost Would Do Much DAMAGE
Farmers Are contented and the
Kicker Is the epton-Price Has
Lowered Some.

Farmers Are Contented and the
Kicker Is the Exception-Price Has
Lowered Some.
THAT old and we'll worn yarn about
the farmer using ladder to gather
his corn won't be so far from the
truth this year up in our section of
the country" said Highland town
ship farmer today. Now | have
farmed for about twenty years and
there is taller corn on my place this
year than | have ever seen before"
he continued ~ don't expect to use
ladder to gather my corn crop this
year but it is fact that part of it is
SO high that will be unable to reach
some of the ears without bending
down the stalk. 1t isn't all that high,
of course, but there is now and then
stalk that is sumner The season
the corn crop Wet weather has
tendency to make the corn stretch out
as any one can observe this year.
Now when the old farmers hear any
body talking about tall corn We usual
ly decide one of two things Either
that the man Is liar or that he may
have some tall corn but it is poorly
eared-all gone to stalk, as it were
AS rule the tall corn does not have
the big ears but this year Is an excep-
ton. Why I never saw such corn as
there is in our neighborhood. The
crop there will be something for the
farmers to talk about for years; that
is. of course, if nothing happens TO it.
The great danger and the one which
Is causing the farmer little uneasi-
ness is the fear of an early frost
Much of the crop is late this year and
an early frost would raise all kinds
of trouble with the late planting"
The Corn Price.
When asked his opinion as to the
future, the Highland township man
said: well now that's something
that | don't know anything about and
neither does anybody else. Why if |
knew that | would be able to buy half
of Highland township by this time
next year. However, | am of the
opinion that the coming crop is going
to sell for a pretty good price even
though the present indications point
to record breaking crop. There is
no old corn in the country which is a
condition the like of which have not
seen for years. Oats will be used
some, of course, but if the rains don't
give us a chance to get them threshed
pretty soon they will be worthless.
The price of corn is regulated largely
by supply and demand. The demand
is greater every year and as l have
already explained the supply is COM
p7ratively short Hence | believe
that prices will be pretty good next
year
Say: A real early frost wouldn't
do much to prices would it? A man
wcnld have to buy his corn by the
ounce"
Wasn't Satisfied.
Speaking of big crops" continued
the farmer, That reminds me of a
neighbor of mine. Now you know
there is an old adage that farmer is
never happy unless he is miserable.
Now | am right here TO refute that
statement as far as the great majority
of them are concerned but there Is
one up my way that belongs to that
class without doubt While talking
with him the other day said Well,
the indications point to a big corn
crop this year. was looking at my
corn the other day and noticed that
a great number of the stalks have two
ears Now what do you suppose that
fellow said? Agree with me? Well |
should say he didn't He said: Yes,
have noticed that and all we will
have to gather this fall will be lot
of nubbins for there are so many ears
that the corn can't fill as it should
Why that man would kick if he were
going to be hanged.
Corn isn't as high as it was l
held on to few loads waiting for
higher prices but they didn't come
and sold the other day for 81 cents.
Guess l couldn't get but 55 cents for
it in the market today"
Vegetables.
Tomatoes are a scarce article in
some places but not so in Ottumwa.
In Chicago it is hard to supply the
trade but the local market has been
full of good tomatoes at all times. We
sell three pounds of them for 10 cents"
said "Our Grocer" this morning.
"Those radishes,'' he said. ARE the
best have ever seen for this time of
the year. They usually are strong at
this season but those are fine and are
selling for cents per bunch All veg
etables have been unusually good this
year"
LESLIE M. SHAW FAVoRS RE.