Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-07-24

prepared by the United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture.l
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 HIS increased during April
80 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 l the index figure of crop
I 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 l.
The level of prices paid to producers
Of the United States for meat animals
increased GA per cent during the
month from March Is to April Is,
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, a decrease Of At 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 s per cent; whereas during
the same period a 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 &C
per cent during this period.
On April Is the average (weighted)
price of meat animals-hogs, cattle,
sheep and chickens-was $40 per 100
pounds, which is or per cent higher
than the prevailing price year ago,
17.5 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 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
ent above normal, however, in the
rocky mountain and Pacific coast
tates. The condition of colonies COM
JARED with last spring is about per
ent better, being reported as inferior
(nly in Maine, Massachusetts, Connect
cut, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia,
PHO, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Ken
ucky and Mississippi. 1t is generally
etter than last spring in the North
entral states and very much better in
be Rocky mountain and Pacific coast
tates.
The condition of nectar-bearing
ants averages about SO per cent of
normal for the United States as a
hole, ranging in the neighborhood OF
in all the country east of the Rock
IS, excepting Texas, where it is u.s.
nd about los per cent in the Rocky
ountain and Pacific coast states, be.
(g highest, 100 per cent, in Califor.
ia. Compared with last year the con
ton of nectar-bearing plants aver
yes per cent higher for the United
ates, being generally slightly below
st year east of the Rockies, except in
exas, where it is so per cent better
pd decidedly better in the Rocky
ountain and Pacific coast states
aching the very high figure of III
cent compared with last year il
lifornia, where moisture conditions
the white sage country presage {
untiful nectar flow.
I'm the important honey-producinl
Ptes of Texas, Colorado and Califor
the outlook is very promising
owing numbers of colonies com
red with recent years of lis, 115 ant
and compared with last year of 112
and SO per cent, respectively; colo
conditions compared with norma
115, 107 and 100, as compared will
year, or $50, 107 and IT'S per cent
Epectively.
The number of colonies in the whit
yer belt Of the North central state