The Penn's Grove record., 1914-07-17

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
30 per cent; thus, the increase this
year is less than usual.
Since December 1, 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 1 the index figure Of crop
prices was about II per cent higher
than a 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 1.
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 1877 per cent two
years ago, a decrease of AT 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 8 per cent; whereas during
tho Same nnrind q uoor ona %ha oI
n vas 14.5 per cent, and two ears
ago 17.3 per cent, while three years
ago there was a 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 $40 per 100
pounds, which is OF per cent higher
than the prevailing price a year ago,
17.5 per cent higher than two years
ago. 27.6 per cent higher than three
years ago, and IA per cent lower than
four years ago on April Is.
Number of Honey Bees in the Country.
The number of colonies of bees in
the United States this year appears to
~ OO0 AOoA Pei NOAI oOONO ZIG Au1u-
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 a 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 cen of a
normal, taking the United States as a
whole. The condition is about 5 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
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 nectar-bearing
plants averages about SO per cent of
a normal for the United States as a
whole, ranging in the neighborhood of
50 in all the country east of the Rock
les, excepting Texas, where it is lis,
and about los per cen in the Rocky
mountain and Pacific coast states, be-
ing highest, 120 per cent, in Califor-
mia. Compared with last year the con-
dition Of nectar-bearing plants aver
ages 3 per cent higher for the United
States, being generally slightly below
last year east of the Rockies, except in
Texas, where it is so per zen 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-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
So, and compared with last year of 112,
100 and SO per cent, respectively; colo
ny conditions compared with normal
of lis, 107 and 120, as compared with
last year, or $50, 107 and It's per cent,
respectively.
The number of colonies in the white
clover belt of the North central states
is at least 5 per cent above the num-
Der last year, and, taken as a whole,
the condition of the colonies is equal
to that of last year; but the condition