Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-07-31
how WILL PRICES BET
The Question Now Interesting Farm
ers With Regard to Crops The
Damage Recently Has Been
to Quality Than Quantity.

CoLUMBIA,July 21.-The main ques-
tion with the farmers just now is con-
corning the price Of farm products
during the remainder Of the season, es-
peclally corn and wheat. A very large
yield, as Is the case this year, frequent
" causes very low prices, owing TO
oyersupply, and considerable anxiety
Is naturally experienced at present
concerning this fact. A drop later In
the season has been predicted by
many, and the anxiety among the
rural classes upon this score has been
demonstrated by numerous letters
asking for information upon the sub
ject.
IL Is, Of course, too early % make a
definite statement on the subject and
the State authorities on scientific agri-
culture can only speak on indications.
SO far, the market prices Of farm
products, taken as a whole, have been
highly satisfactory to the producer.
The opinion Of authorities is 10 the eff
feet that such will continue TO be the
case. This, however, rs purely from
the agricultural point Of view; that is,
1t concerns the producer alone. Condi-
tions are now such that the unusual
ly large supply viii not cause a conse-
quent decline in prices. The general
scarcity Of all farm products last year
is responsible for this fact, and the
producers are now proiting by what
was considered a great agricultural
disaster last summer. The demand
this year, in consequence Of the drouth,
is unusually good and there is every
reason " believe that it will so con-
tinue.
The same rule applies to the grain
dealer, in some respects, and from the
present outlook the season viii be
profitable, not only to the producer,
but to the dealer as well. The farmer
is certainly getting his share of the
profits and will doubtless continue to
do so unless there comes an unexpect-
ed change in the market.
1t is a mistake to believe that re
cent heavy rains in Missouri and Iii
nois caused any very great damage a.
to quantity. The most serious injury
was to quality, which fact must b.
considered in calculating on market
prices.
UnQuestionably much damage was
done to corn and wheat, and thu
quality will be very poor in many sec
tions. This, however, refers 0 tt
Western Illinois than TO Missouri. II
is safe to say, however, that over th'
greater part Of both states the quail
~ will be above the average.
The condition Of fruit is somewhat
unusual, and the yield is hardly so in
ferior as was at first indicated. Whil'
there is a decrease in quantity, tn
quality OF fruit in most sections Is o
the very best. This is especially thI
case with peaches. The yield
small, but the fruit is large and Of ex
cellent quality, better, perhaps, thai
for many years.
Apples continue to decline and thI
crop Is a failure, or very nearly SC
The apple crop seems to have sutfere'
more directly from the drouth thai
any other product. tits the opinion
however, OF good authorities that th
outlook for apples next year is eS
ceptionally good.
Pastures are still reported favorabl,
as is also the case with cotton, whicl
is now in exceptionally line condition
Wheat, corn and oats are still favor
ably reported, and the corn crop es
~pecially is a bumper.
The importance OF the latter fac
viii be appreciated when IL is re
m%embered that the corn crop, meaning
that Of the entire country, is abou
three times as great as wheat, and, a
Missouri is one Of the greatest corn
producing states, it is well to Civ
this product the first consideration
when calculating on the profits thi
season.
The crops are 0 nearly safe from
! serious injury in case Of dr0uth, AMI
! the farmers can res. assured OF largl
profts. The present season has 50 ia
been remarkable for the fact that al
|, crops, with the exception Of fruit
have been satisfactory. Not 70
many years have general condition
been so excellent. With one excep
ton, all crops have %ilourished, as neye
before.