Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-15
GRAIN REVIEW OF
THE PAST WEEK

I ,
Foreign crop news this week indicat-
ed no material change In the agricul-
tural change in the agricultural out.
look. Climatic conditions In the unitea
Kingdom were mainly favorable ana
the new sowings advancing well. He-
ports from France showed more wintry
conditions prevalent and acreage pre-
pared larger than thought possible
while back. Weather continues coiu,
none too favorable in Germany ana
acreage in Austria and Hungary much
reduced owing to lack of labor. RUS
sian crop conditions are mainly salts
factory, with a good part OF the SOW
ings under snow cover. Better weather
prevailed in India but exports OF old
crop wheat practically prohibited.
Conditions unchanged In Australia
where there is an unusual shortage IN
all cereals. Advices from Argentina told
OF return of cold, unseasonaple
weather and same damage to wheat
considered probable. Crop prospects IN
italy are favorable and area seeded to
wheat was large.
Weather conditions In this country
during the week just closed were on
the whole, more wintry. temperature
ranging lower. Rain or snow fell over
a good part of the grain belt and sleet
storms prevailed through the eastern
portions. Conditions in the northwest
were much improved and outlook for
fall sown grain more favorable in the
southwest, though advices from Kansas
were mixed, as rain is much needed.
Temperature fell to below the last
of the week and not much snow pro-
lection reported, Scattered complaints
OF the presence Of Hessian fly were
forwarded from Ohio, Indiana and Sec
tons Of Illinois Conditions were hard
ly as favorable for corn, and cold, dry
weather much desired.
The movement Of grain FROM the
farms and interior elevators during the
past weektwere fairly liberal in the ag-
gregate. Wet, unsettled weather check
ed marketing to considerable extent
over part of the area. In th9 northwest
and across the line In Canada the de-
lveries keep up fairly well, but largely
at the expense of grain held In line
houses. Marketings Of wheat in the
southwest We're on a more moderate
scale, while deliveries of corn were just
fair. Receipts Of coarse grains not as
large in the west and locally the arriv-
ais were fair Of wheat, while the re-
ceipts of oats were moderate. Corn re-
ceipts were heavy. all new, and OF ex-
cellent quality. Shipments OF grain
eastward quite heavy, and now all rail,
oats still going forward freely. Arr1v-
ais at the seaboard continue quite free.
Exports of breadstuffs were enormous,
with liberal bookings Of all grains for
forward loading. Tonnage still scarce.
Corn clearances were larger. Fair book
ings Of new for export.
The leading speculative markets on
change were only moderately active
this week and trading in the aggregate
was Of smaller volume than recently
noted. Wheat was nervous and sensl-
tive but prices changes at the same
time were confined within compare
lively narrow limits. Early in the week
the tone was fairly firm, the market
being helped by the. enormous clear
ances, decrease in tie visible publish"
foreign advices and additional sales for
export Speculation, however, was rath-
er light and the wire service was poor.
Still investors appeared to manifest
more interest in the market and some
buying Of futures for foreign account
was reported. Western marketings were
quite heavy; rains We're reported in
southwest and the breaking of the
southwest drouth was calculated to
loosen up county offerings. Selling on
the bulge by warehouse interests led
locals to liquidate and the market
weakened, but rallied some at the last
The corn market was weak, especially
the December, although at the outset
there was fair buying, with little
higher range Of prices. Wet weather
and smaller sales by country were sup
porting factors, while increasing stocks
and slow merchandising conditions act
eel as bear" helps. Market finished
was narrow and prices were draggy,
following the lead Of corn. Trading was
moderate, with hedging sales feature
Cash demand little slow and car lots
ranged lower.
A good general trade was witnessed
in cash grain during the week just
past. Consignments We're fairly liberal,
and purchases to arrive moderate. De-
mand satisfactory for all descriptions
Wheat was iii good request on milling
and shipping account, and the export
call continues brisk. Quite a large bust
ness was booked, the same now going
all rail. Prices changed with those Of
futures. Corn was in fair request the
eastern demand slackening to some ex-
tent and sales generally for moderate
quantities. Larger export sales the
opening days of the week. Oats fair
sale and bookings to eastern export
ers smaller than recently i.oted Rye
active and steady in price. Fair de-
mands Tor export. Barley trade moder-
ate in mailing sorts, while feed and
screenings We're slow and easy. Prices
weaker all around. Demand for hay
fair and more particularly for timothy,
and market steady. Offerings small.
WHEAT-In winter wheat the mar
ket started in buoyant, and prices were
advanced 1Ac. and then ruled easier.
losing 2@2Ac Of the advance, followed
by steadier feeling again. Transac-
tons were based on the May delivery,
and the discounts inclined to be mar
rowing some, but generally held steady.
Hard wheat again held about A@Ac
better than red. Trading has been
quite active again, but transactions
perhaps not as heavy as last week. All
grades were In demand by one or other
class Of buyers. Millers bought only
moderately, but shipping and export
business heavy. Cash lots taken freely.
Millers did not purchase heavily, as
they We're able to- buy nearer home in
many instances, while exporters again
took liberal quantities almost daily
mostly of No. 3 hard. Not alone were
the export purchases large in the Chi
cage market and the gulf ports, and all
the leading markets were favored with
an unusually active business. The in
terror sold only moderately and not as