Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-09
AMERICAN FARMERS GREAT YEAR
Gain of 10000, 900 in Value Of Agri-
cultural Products over Previous Year.

Gain of 100000, 900 in Value OF Agri-
cultural Products over Previous Year.
That the year 1901 has been the most
prosperous in history for the American
farmer is shown in the subjoined sum-
mary of farm products and the review OF
cotton and grain, furnished by the Amer
lean Agriculturalist:
The wheat crop Is worth moro than last
year by $3.50 100000.
Live stock represents a value Of nearly
$3.50, 900. 900 more than that of last year.
Other grains than wheat represent as
large a total value this year as last the
shortage in yield of corn being made up
by advance in price.
Potatoes are so high that the short crop
probably will return more money to the
farmer than ever before.
Apples and other fruits are extraord-
narly high.
The farm products Of the United states
this year are doubtless worth $500, 0CO0 900
more than last year outcome
The cereals-wheat, corn. oats, rye and
barley-raised In the United States during
the past five years represent value to
the farmer of IS. ,0CN,Q00 or an increase
of nearly $1,000 900 900 over the preceding
five years.
Cotton growers have netted 100000 900
more for the last five crops G901 crop esti-
mated than for the previous five.
LIVE STOCK SHOWS BILLION DOL
LAR INCREASE.
Taking 1896 as a fair basis of values dur
ing the late agricultural depression, nine
staple crops for this year represent an in
crease in value Of more than 500, 0oo 600
Live stock is worth 81 O00, 600, 900 more than
then.
During the last rye years agricultural
exports have been $685. 0oO, 900 greater thar
for the preceding five years a gain of 81
per cent, while Exports of manufacture
have almost doubled in value.
he grain trade for 1901 has furnished
many surprises and unexpected develop
ments. They were a little slow at first
but of steady pace later. Speculation has
run the gamut Of extremes-of dizziness
activity and shorter periods of excitement
no year opened auspiciously. The
worlds grain crops were of average prom
Use. Then little clouds of forcbodings be-
gan to appear. The Argentine wheat cror
wa reliably reported overestimateI, which
later events proved to be a fact. Early
estimates of 10 1000, 900 bushels had to be
reduced to 10000 600, against 10000, 00t
bushels in 1900 and 100 100000 in 1890
Then disturbing intimatons concerning
developments of unfavorable conditions OF
the French and German wheat crops at
tracted attention and later, being con-
frmed enforced recognition.
81 ECULATION IN WHEAT OVER
REACHED ITSELFF.
These were the preludes to subsequent
exaggerated reports and a Wild Speculation
in wheat, led by Continental market trad
ers and others in close sympathy. Tn,
oVerspecula ton. however, was ruined b.
its own violence and overreaChing pro
pensity.
quite as disastrous losses were also in
Cured in cuincident peculating IL
ocean grain freight. When the anticipated
large demand for corn was disappointed
rates declined from 3 to . cents a bIshel
or "A loss of $1,000 to $4,000 on an avera z
cargo of 100000 bushels. and in one in
stance 1000 was said to have been pai'
to cancel an engagement.
Reactions have been very feeble At til
close of the year the lowest rates ar
mostly nominal. Loadings have bee
taken at ballast rates in many instanC, :
This decentralization has induced consign
ments of wheat, -four, etc, only to &
further and fare worse in meeting lowe
markets abroad.
SHORT CORN CROP THE YEARS DIS
ASTER.
| The event of the year was the disaste
to the American corn crop, loss of 700,
100000 bushels from the early promise am
average crop production. About this tim
the oats crQp was also determined short
G60, ,570 600 bushels. against 500, 600 900 bush
els in 1900, and 1856 900, 600 bushels in 1899
AS the conditions developed pri es tool
wings. Market relations were deranged
and ultimately combined speculative hold
inGs of trader and farmer arbitrarily con
trolled product and price
Crop estimates are always to be accept
cd as approximations, and usually as un
dcrestimates. Estimated consumption re
nj Il q he
more allowance than crop estimates Low
prices and free use high prices and e. on
omy or substitution Of other cheape
products, are the normal relations of de
mand.
This is in evidence this year as neve
before in the lesseued demand for cor
and oats for strictly feed purposes. b.
sides the enormous substitution of tiou
milling offal for feed, there has been
misery saving of any old product tina
could be utilized.
GREAT ECONOMY IN UTILIZINC
CORN.
| Everything appcrtaining to corn-the co
and the stalk, corn stalk shreddings, etc
heretofore considered Wastage, even IN
mill sweepings that formerly fed the fur
Inace-is now being used as Conglunerd,
feedstun. More recently experimental
feeding of hogs on alfalfa shows create
financial gain than was ever realized i
feeding corn.
On the theory that a penny saved is
penny earned, the restricted consumpuo
lof corn and oats the last six months ow
ling to high price, Is already reaSOnabl
lestimated al 300 100000 or more GOO, 100 Ot
bushels domestic consumption and 10000
600 bushels lessened eXports) II this Is
lcontinue it Will materially offset the Gro
deficiencies, and it needs no prophet I
nj al ali n Itrie