Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1914-07-30

| prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture)
| 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
3.2 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 the index figure Of crop
prices was about IL per cent higher
than year ago, but 1873 per cent low
sr 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 "a per cent during the
month from March 15 to April Is,
which compares. with an increase of
81 per cent in the same period year
ago, an increase Of 10.7 per cent two
years ago, a decrease of Al per cent
three years ago, and an increase of 4.8
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 adj
vance was 14.5 per cent, and two years
ago 1913 per cent. while three years
ago there was decline in price of Sc
per cent during this period.
On April is the average (weighted)
price of meat animals-hogs. cattle.
sheep and chickens-was $7.40 per 100
pounds, which Is OF per cent higher
than the prevailing price year ago,
IT'S per cent higher than two years
ago, 27.6 per cent higher than three
years 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
be about four per cent above the num-
Der last year, and 2 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 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 re-
ported to be about SO per cent of a
normal, taking the United States as a
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 per
cent better, being reported as inferior
only in Maine, Massachusetts. Connect
icut, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia,
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Ken
lucky and Mississippi. 1t 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 notwithstanding
| plants averages about SO per cent of
normal for the United States as a
whole, ranging in the neighborhood of
95 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-
MIA. Compared with last year the con-
dition of nectar-bearing plants aver
ages 8 per cent higher for the United
States. being generally slightly below
last year east of the Rockies. except in
Texas, where 1t is so per cent better,
and decidedly better In the Rocky
mountain and Pacific coast states,
reaching the very high figure of Its
| 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-producine
states of Texas, Colorado and Califor-
MIA tho outlook is very promising
showing numbers of colonies com
pared with recent years of Els, lis and
IS. and compared with last year of 112
100 and SO per cent, respectively; colo
ny conditions compared with normal
of liz, 107 and 100, as compared with
last year or $50, 107 and It's per cent
respectively.
The number of colonies in the white
clovor bel. of the North central states