Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-09-15
General Crop Outlook.
Especially reported for Maine Farmer)

Especially reported for MAINE farmerJ
Harvesting is progressing steadily
throughout the West, under favorable
weather conditions. Returns from
spring wheat show a lighter yield than
was anticipated. In some sections OF
Minnesota it is claimed that spring
wheat is threshing out only eight to ten
bushels to the acre. This Is exceptional,
however, more farmers reporting 10 to
Is bushels, while in some localities the
yield is about up to the average. Farm
ers in the northwest are planting more
durum wheat each year, about third
of the total crop being this variety, to
which practically no damage has been
done. 1t seems certain that the wheat
crop will be materially smaller than the
governments figures August l, indicat.
ed. The winter wheat crop is estimated
at less than 400, ,000, 900 bushels, and the
spring wheat crop at about 25,OoO,OOO
bushels.
Receipts of wheat have been light at
the market recently chiefly because
farmers have been busy. A heavy move
ment of spring wheat is expected to
begin this week. Some Canadian wheat
has come to market from Northern
Manitoba. The first car graded No. !
northern, and the grain was plump and
of excellent quality. The yield in Man
itoba is good, averaging close to 70
bushels per acre. Exporters of wheat
have held of, hoping for lower prices
when the spring wheat movement starts.
Farmers are not disposed to sell, how
ever, at any recession from the present
price.
Supplies of oats are scant. The crop
was badly damaged, but will total about
as year ago, averaging probably below
80 pounds to the bushel, which is rather
poor. Farmers are reluctant to market
their oats, at least until the corn crop is
assured. The supply of oats will be no
more than sufficient for a normal de-
mand, so that farmers are justified in
their position of waiting.
Barley and rye crops are generous,
and the scarcity of other grains will
make a steady market for these. New
mailing barley has sold at IS cents in
Buffalo, and good feeding barley for
mixing with oats has sold at 10 cents a
bushel in New York.
The weather has been favorable for
corn, and excellent progress has been
made recently. The drouth has been
relieved in all sections, and the early
corn is practically beyond danger, while
late corn is looking we'll. If there is no
early severe frost the corn crop will be
considerably greater than that of 1907.
This danger is experienced every year,
but killing frost early enough to hurt
the corn crop over any wide area is un-
usual. While some sales of new corn
have been reported at 6S cents in New
York, for export, this is not considered
fair market price. Our corn has to
compete with heavy crop in Argentina,
which is being offered at low prices.
The hay crop promises about l,OOO,OOO
tons in excess of last years figures.
Conditions were very favorable in the
west, but the crop in New England was
much below the average.
Apples on the whole will show
larger yield than last year, but the crop
is irregular. With Maine so per cent
below last year and New England 35 per
cent below, other sections will furnish
larger amounts. Nova Scotia, which
supplies a large percentage of the ap-
Piles consumed in this section, will show
only a small loss. Western New York
will supply as much as last year, but
Eastern New York will be short. The
middle west and the extreme west will
harvest enormous crops. On the Pacific
coast crop double that of last year is
expected, and the quality is said to be
unusually good, the fruit being large
and free from worms. In Kansas,
Missouri. Illinois, Ohio, and adjoining
states, from 25 to 40 per cent more will
be harvested than were harvested last
year.
Potatoes in some sections of the West
have suffered from drouth, but the dam
age is thought not to be large.