The Washington herald., 1909-06-27
From the Kan.as CTR Line.

fron me Kansas City Times.
wheat harvest has begun in Texas. -
Is a message that reaches the central
grain markets every year IN the last
week Of May or about the first OF June.
The announcement came a little late
this year. and It is OF more signifcance
than usual. because OF the exhaustion Of
old wheat supplies and the extraordi-
narily high prices prevailing in most OF
the winter wheat area
Texas is not an important wheat State
II raised 100000 bushels IN 1908 and
100000 bushels in 1905 This year its
crop is not expected to be over 100000
bushels, owing TO a prolonged drought
that has been experienced there.
But the beginning OF harvest in Texas
means that the mills OF that State will be
able to supply their demands from their
home crop at least for time. and It is
the forerunner OF the gradual spread OF
the harvest over the entire 45.OOO.O0O acres
Of wheat now growing in the United
States.
oklahoma Crop Ready.
Within three weeks the earliest wheat
OF Oklahoma win be ready to cut. In the
latter part OF June the soft wheat of
Southern Missouri and Southern Kansas
and Kentucky and Tennessee VIII begin
20 fall before the machines About July
! the great Kansas crop. constituting
nearly a fifth OF the entire winter wheat
production Of the United States. viii be
ready to garner. A little later the clatter
Of the binders and headers win be heard
in Nebraska, and in August the spring
wheat Of the DakOtas and Minnesota VIII
be ripe.
Never since the grain trade has been
organized as at present has this country
come so near 20 exhausting its supply OF
wheat as this year. In Kansas. Oklaho-
ma, Texas. Missouri, Indiana. Illinois,
and Ohio farmers granaries are swept
clean and many mills have not enough
wheat TO keep them going until new
grain IS available. Except IN Chicago
minneapolis, and Duluth. there is little
wheat at any market center The oc-
casional car Of good soft wheat that
reaches Kansas City and St Louis sells
at over $50 a bushel, nearly double a
normal price for wheat
Because OF this exhaustion OF old wheat
supplies, the ccming OF harvest is
interest
year and there viii be more competition
for the first cars or new wheat that
come 10 market than ever before
Production and Consumption.
The production Of wheat in the United
States last year was 664.OO0.0O0 bushels.
including 4S7,00OOOO bushels OF spring
wheat The requirements for bread and
seed are about 55O.OOO.OOO bushels. Owing
TO the dry weather last fall a deficiency
OF 100000 acres in the area, and damage
this spring in Texas. Oklahoma, and
Kansas by dry weather. the winter wheat
crop is not expected TO exceed 3g0. 900
bushels this year. or 100000 bushels less
than last year. If there should be even
e moderate deficiency IN the spring wheat
crop. the country would come nearer 10
being on short rations than ever before
IN recent years. But fortunately the
conditions are favorable for a much
larger spring wheat crop than last year.
and the probabilities are that the United
States viii have at least a moderate sup
ply OF wheat IN excess OF homo needs.
At the present time. owing to the I
scarcity Of old wheat. prices are higher /
In the United States than in Liverpool /
condition that has existed only two or 4
three times In a generation or more
The wheat crop in Kansas and Nebras- /
ka IS about ten days 10 two weeks be- 4
hind q normal growth for this season OF Z
the year fact which has caused some /
eXcitable spectators 10 doubt whether
much wheat VIII be available 10 nj July
contracts. But experienced wheat raisers
say that normal weather in June viii
bring on the harvest at about the usual
time
Wheat May BE Scarce.
Stocks Of wheat in Europe are expected
to be reduced TO small proportions before
a new crop is raised. The worlds pro-
duction Of wheat for two years has been
below the worlds requirements. The de-
hciency has been made up out Of the sur
plus from preceding crops. Last year the
worlds crop was S.1T2, 600 bushels: two
years ago. 3,142, 10000 bushels. In 1905
:. .432, 100000 bushels were raised and in
1905 the crop was $3.50 900 bushels
There VIII be little surplus to carry over
this year anywhere, 50 that millers, grain
dealers and spectators are watching
with acute interest the growth OF the
crops in all parts OF the world. Europe
like the United States, has had a late
spring. and IN Germany there In an IN
promising outlook for fall-sown grain.
The Argentine crop Was less than last
years, but those OF India and Australia
were larger. In most other important