Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1915-08-27

his barns, exclusive of this har-
vest for the present year, which
he is holding for a price of two
dollars. While this is doubtless
an exceptional case, it does raise
the question as to the wisdom of
holding ones crop for future high
prices. While it is undoubtedly
not wise to hold for the price this.
particular farmer seeks, and rec
ognizing fully that the price of
wheat during the ensuing ten
months rests upon large number
If uncertainties, it would appear
that the farmer who holds his
wheat until January, FEBRUARY, or
even later, will realize greater
profits than he who sells before
that time. There are, however, a
large number of facts to be borne
in mind. Practically every coun-
try of Importance in the world
has raised more wheat this year
than last. The Russian crops,
exclusive of Poland and Siberia.
are in the neighborhood of 100, 900
600 bushels more than last year;
Italy's crop is 10000, 900 bushels
larger; the United Kingdom has
5000, 900 bushels more. Reports
from Germany and Austria indi-
cate crop above normal (thanks
to the prisoners of war; and in
addition to this, these countries
have purchased practically the
entire Rumanian crop at the ve,y
time that the allies were dicker-
ing for it. South American
wheat is said to be of fair quail
ity, and our own crop is, Of
course, enormous and of high
grade.
Yet in spite of these factors, it
would seem as tho it would te
good policy to hold for some
months, if the farmer can afford
it, reckoning his interest and in
surance among his other consid-
erations. The Russian crop will
largely be locked within her own
borders as long as the Turks can
hold the Dardanelles, which will
still be for some time, in all prob
ability. The northern parts of
Russia will be closed to naviga-
ton because of the cold weather
within a month !. or so. This
means that the Russian supply
will scarcely be available for
general use until such time as
Constantinople is captured, when
the price of all cereals will doubt
less break sharply. In fact, it
may well be said that the price of
wheat is being determined right
now on the Gallipoli penintula.
The crop in the rest of Europe
has been harvested and is being
rapidly consumed. In fact,
England is already making ar
rangement for the purchase of
our surplus crop.
If he can afford it, therefore,
the wheat owner had best wait
before selling. The caution must
be not to hold for unduly high
price certainly not for So wheat
(as some farmers, unfortunately,
are still doing and it will not be
bad policy to sell without wait
ing for the price even to equal
the high point last year. The
market, too, must be closely
watched, for it will be far more
normal and less widely advertis-
ed than last winter, and decisive
actions in the war zone are pos
sible at any moment. July 1915
prices on the Chicago pit for No.
2 red averaged 40c a bushel more
than for the same period last
year, aud it is still selling around
$1.14. From February until MAY
of this year the same wheat new.
er fell below 81. 81 and the month.
ly average for May was 81. .63A
The shortening of the distance
and of the time of delivery thru
the opening of the canal route
should, moreover, enable the
seller to take better advantage
of current prices.
One may conclude, therefore
that while it is not likely tha,
prices will remain as high thi.