The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1914-08-21

Prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agricultural
The level OF prices paid producers of
the United States for the principal
crops increased about 1.3 per cent dur
Ing April; in the past six years the
price level has increased during April
3D. 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 year
ago the advance was 5.3 per cent, and
the average for the past six years has
been an advance of Ill per cent
On May l the index figure Of crop
prices was about II per cent higher
than year ago. but 1873 per cent low
er than two years ago and 1.3 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 0.4 per cent during the
| month from March Is to April IS,
which compares with an increase OF
W per cent in the same period year
| ago, an increase of 1917 per cent two
| FEARS ago, a decrease of Al per cent
hree years ago, and an increase of 40
| per cent four years ago.
From December Is to April Is the
advance in prices for meat animals
has been 8 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 a decline in price of sc
Der cent during this period.
On April Is the average (weighted)
Price of meat administrators, cattle,
jheep and chickens-was $7.40 per 100
pounds, which is OF per cent higher
han the prevailing price a year ago,
| l75 per cent higher than two years
Ago, 27.6 per cent higher than three
years ago, and "A per cent lower than
eour years ago on April Is.
The number Of colonies OF bees In
the United States this year appears to
be 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 a majority of the
| other states named was due to q 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 re-
ported to be about SO per cent of
normal. taking the United States as
whole. The condition is about per
cent above normal, however, in the
Rocky mountain and Pacific coast
states. The condition Of colonies COM
pared with last spring Is about 4 per
cent better, being reported as inferior
only In Maine, Massachusetts,, Connect
lieut., Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Ken
lucky and Mississippi. 1t is generally
better THAI last spring in the North
central states and very much better In
he Rocky mountain and Pacific coast
states.
The condition of nectar bearing
plants averages about SO per cent of
normal for the United States as
whole, ranging in the neighborhood of
30 in all the country east of the Rock
les, excepting Texas, where it is lis,
and about los per cent in the Rocky
mountain. and Pacific coast states, be-
Ing highest. 100 per cent, in Califor-
nia. Compared with last year the con-
dition of notwithstanding plants aver
ages 3 per cent higher fQr the United
States, being generally slightly below
last year east Of the Rockies, except in
Texas. where it is so per cent better,
and decidedly better in the Rocky
mountain and Pacific coast states,
reaching the very high figure of IT'S
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, lis and
81. and compared with last year of 112,
1870 and SO per cent, respectively; colo
ny conditions compared with normal
of lis, 107 and 100, as compared with
last year. or $50. 107 and LIS per cent
respectively.
The number Of colonies In the white
clover belt of the North central states