Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-08-16
Estimates In Chicago.
WHEAT CROP HAS BEEn DAMAGED
CORN DOING REMARKABLY WELL.

traders and the pu0llc In the outcome OF
the wheat harvest, the only lame spot
in the producing list. How much the
winter wheat states of the Southwest
were crippled by the incessant rains OF
the last week of June and the first half
of July is now more clearly known.
Harvests stood half in the shock and
half uncut in the field for two rainy
weeks. The experts figured $4,000, ,OOO
bushels loss in volume of harvests in
Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. They
now concede they were wrong, that 30,
900. 900 bushels shortage in volume and
a heavy shriukage in quality more near
" express the situation. This week
has brought fresh danger. Spring
wheat over the Northwest is threatened
with serious damage from rust. From a
few points in South Dakota, beginning
ten days ago, the rust complaints have
spread to Iowa, parts of North Dakota
and Southern Minnesota; each day has
widened the territory complaining oi
rust. Attempts have been made to de-
clare it is only red rust, and not the
killing "black" dust. 1t is blight at
best. How much it will take from the
wheat total for the year no man knows.
Ii. V. Jones, recognized as the best
Northwest authority, made the declara-
ton, when Southwest harvests were
worst, that the total wheat yield of the
year would be cut to $50, 900, 900 bushels.
Some sensational estimates with some
basis for the belief are as low as $50,
OOO. 900. President James j. Hill of the
Great Northern Railroad says the coun-
try will raise 100,000,000 bushels less
than last year.
These estimates were made before any
thing more serious than floods and late
crops were complained of in the Red
River country. Allowing for any ma.
terial lowering of the spring wheat yield
from rust, from hot August winds which
wither it while in the milk, from early
frosts which seem sure to work injury
in North Dakota, where the crop is
three weeks late and will not be cut un-
til September, the years total must be
considered conservatively under 6GO,-
900. 900 bushels. st. Louis and Kansas
City advices daily are filled with COM
plants of large proportion of new wheat
receipts of light weight and low grade.
From a traders point of view it looks
this way: This country needs for home
uses all told easily 500.000,000 bushels.
1t looks like from 100000 to lOO,-
OOO, 900 bushels at the outside for ex-
port. Europe, by concession of the
very best judges. needs from 10000, 900
to sc, ,OOO, 900 bushels more from this side
than was expected from the 1908 crop.
Theoretically, we can spare half of what
the importing countries are counting on
from our ports. 1t is this more than
all other circumstances which has added
10 cents to contract prices to September
and December wheat the last thirty
days.
The great corn crop, covering when
planted nearly 100,00O,00O acres, has
moved so vigorously forward for July
that scarcely a chirp OF complaint is
heard. Thirty days ago every authority
said the crop was backward, two weeks
late, etc. To-day forcing weather turns
the great acreage into August in fine
shape, except, perhaps, in Missouri and
few adjoining sections.
The greatest corn yield recorded was
in 1902, at n little over $500, ,0OO, 900
bushels. Last year the yield was next
to the bumper year, at 1850, 900, 900
bushels. The outlook is as follows:
Possible yields with most perfect con-
ditions, thirty bushels an acre; average
total, 5000, ,OOO,0 600 bushels. Probable
Weld with fair weather and no accidents,
as great as ever produced, $500, 600, 900.
Allowing for possible hot wind damage
in August and early frost injury in Sep
tember. the reasonable expectation is
.. 400, 900, 900 bushels of corn. Timely
rains in the last thirty days over states
where complaints came of short straw
and too short heading of the plant have
greatly improved the oats estimates.
1t now looks like yield of 100000, ,OOC
bushels and the chances in favor of fine
quality.
The barley and rye harvests are in
full blast, and the yields are in no way
remarkable.
Viewing farm producing conditions
as a whole it is many ayear since such
uniofrmly abundant crops were so well
assured at this season.