Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1914-07-23

prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.D
The level OF prices paid producers of
the United States for the principal
crops increased about Is per cent dur
ing April; in the past six years the
price level has increased during April
81 per cent; thus. the Increase this
year is less than usual
Since December /, the index figure
OF crop prices has advanced "a per
cent: during the same period a year
ago the advance was So per cent, and
the average for the past six years has
been an advance OF Ill per cent
On May ! the index figure OF crop
prices was about IL per cent higher
than a year ago. but 1873 per cent low
or than two years ago and 1.S per cent
higher than the average OF the past
six years on May /.
The level of prices paid TO producers
OF the United States for meat animals
Increased o. per cent during tho
month from March 10 to April 10.
which compares with an increase OF
81 per cent in the same period a year
ago, an increase of 1917 per cent two
years ago, n decrease of ~ per cent
three years ago. and an increase of as
per cent four years ago.
From December Is to April Is the
advance in prices for meat animals
has been per cent: whereas during
the same period year ago the ad-
vance was 14.5 per cent, and two years
ago 17.3 per cent. while three years
ago there was decline in price of &C
per cent during this period.
On April Is the average (weighted)
price of meat administrators, cattle.
sheep and chickens-was $40 per 100
pounds. which Is OF per cent higher
than the prevailing price n year ago,
17.5 per cent higher than two years
ago. PTS per cent higher than three
yenrs ago. and "A per cent lower than
four years ago on April Is.
The number of colonies of bees In
the United States this year appears to
DO about four per cent above the num-
Der last year. and per cent above
recent years. Decreases compared
both with last year and recent years
are reported in the New England
states, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Mis-
souri,. Nebraska, Kansas, Mississippi,
Louisiana and California. The loss in
California and In n majority of the
other states named was due to a Sc
we're epidemic of foul-brood disease
Increases are particularly marked in
the North Central. Rocky mountains
and Pacific coast states. except as al
ready noted.
The condition of the colonies is ~
ported to be about 9S per cent of a
normal, taking the United States as n
whole. The condition Is about per
cent above normal. however. i'm the
Rocky mountain and Pacific. coast
states. The condition OF colonies com
pared with last spring is about per
cent better. being reported as inferior
only in Maine, Massachusetts, Connect
lieut., Virginia. West Virginia, Georgia.
Ohio, Indiana. Illinois. Kansas, Ken
lucky ard Mississippi. II is generally
better than last spring in the North
central states and very much better in
the Rocky mountain and Pacific coast
states.
The condition OF bearing
plantsssayerages about 90 per cent OF
n normal for the United States as a
whole, ranging in the ncighborhood of
DO in all the country east of the Rock
les. excepting Texas, where il is 1l5.
and about 105 per cent in the Rocky
mountain and Pacific coast states. be.
Ing highest. 100 per cent, i'm Califor
MIA. Compared with last year the con
dition OF nectar-bearing plants aver
ages per cent higher for the United
States, being generally slightly below
last year east of the Rockies, except in
Texas, where il is 30 per cent better,
and decidedly better in the Rocky
mountain and Pacific coast states
reaching the very high figure of ia
per cent compared with last year in
California, where moisture conditions
In the white sage country presage a
bOuntiful nectar flow
In the important honey-producing
states of Texas. Colorado and Califor
MIA the outlook is very promising,
showing numbers of colonies com
pared with recent years OF lis. 1I5 and
SO. and compared with last year of 1I2,
l2O and 80 per cent, respectively: colo.
ny conditions compared with normal
OF lis, l07 and 100. as compared with
last year, or $50. lo7 and IT'S per cent
respectively.
The number of splonies in the Write
clover belt Of tho North c~utral s,r:cs