Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-08-30
SURVEY OF 1917 CROPS
Food Production Increases % Per
Cent. Over 1916.
More Than Enough Vegetables and
Fruits for Domestic Needs
Also Surplus for Our
Allies Abroad.
ESTIMATED YIELDS.

w n0aL OUUVUUsVUV OfU,UU,UVU
Corn .......... 3, 200, 900 900 2,583, 900, 900
Oats ...............l,5N,UO 1.2l,WO.OOO
Barley ............. f6,UUUU lSl,WW.OOO
Rye ......,......... '67,000,000 47,0Oo, 900
All Cereals IS, 652, 900. 900 4.702, 000 900
Potatoes ............ 4SS,UU,VU N5.OOOOOO
Hay (tame.) TONS. 100000 100000
Cotton, Bales u,UO.WW u,4O0,0OO
Food production in the United States this
year IL unusually large. In the aggregate
Of the principal crops there is an increase
Of twenty-three per cent over last years
small general harvest The increase is
not alone in the larger acreage stimulated
by the necessities Of war, but in the actual
yield. The abundance Of vegetables and
fruits adds to the storehouse Of the coun-
try and assures more than enough for
domestic needs. and suf1cient surplus to
aid our allies abroad. says the report of
the Continental and Commercial National
Bank Of Chicago.
While breadstuffs-wheat and rye-are in
excess Of last year. the total Of the crops
is under an average, and the excess for
feeding Europe Is smaller than had been
hoped; smaller than last year. by reason
OF the less carry-over from the previous
season. The yield of wheat was consider
ably increased over the disastrous harvests
Of last season. but the loss In the acreage
of the winter. or fall-seeded variety, cut
down the crop. The loss in acreage of
this. the most important Of the wheat
seeding. last spring was thirty-one per
cent. There was good increase in the
spring wheat acreage. but the conditions
for growth were exceedingly poor; dur
ing the entire season dry area persisted
from the Red river valley to the Pacific
coast. a region in which two-thirds of
the spring wheat acreage obtains. The
yield Of this section was above last
years but far below the average for a
period OF years. The loss in winter wheat
acreage resulted In a crop Of 100000, 900
bushels or 100000 under last season.
when the acreage was thirty per cent
greater. Spring wheat production was
23O,0O0,000 bushels or 720O0,0O0 over last
season. Tho total wheat crop with thir.
teen per cent. more acreage appears to
be about 6eo.00000o or ao,oo 900 bushels
larger than last year.
Tho necessity Of economizing in the use
Of wheat. the elimination Of waste, the
curtailment Of feeding the grain to the
lower animals worked a reduction in the
consumption Of the grain Of practically
100000 bushels. On the same basis as
last season. the country should show a
fairly large amount available for export
abroad. Under the stimulation Of patriot
ism the curtailment Of the domestice use
OF wheat may be forced below the phe-
nomenally small volume Of the season
which ended with July I.
The rye crop Is always a small one in
this country: the acreage was largely
Increased on a percentage basis. but the
yield was unchanged. and the increase of
100000 bushels represents the added
acreage alone: the total crop being esti-
mated at 100000 bushels. In the dis
tillation OF WHISTLES a small amount of
rye has been utilized. and the effect of
the inhibition of this use adds to the
breadstuffs an increased supply the COM
ing year Of 100000 bushels; not an ex-
tremely large amount. but helpful to
the amount which may be spared for ex-
port
LARGEST CROP IN HISTORY.
Corn promises the largest crop in the
country's history. but the average per acre
will not be a record. on account of the
dry area over the southwest during the
late spring and summer. which cut
heavily into the yield. and practically
destroyed the crop in the western parts
OF Kansas. Oklahoma and Texas The
heavy loss In the winter wheat acreage
In the great corn growing section. added
greatly to the unprecedented area planted
to this grain total Of 121. 900. 900 the coun-
try over. being an increase Of 1000, OOC
acres over the previous year. Last sea-
sons corn crop was reduced below the
average by reason of the extensive dry
area prevailing over the west. With the
exception of the southwest. the soil con-
ditions have been unusually good; the CROP
had late start the country over on &C
count Of the cold and late spring, but
on the advent of warm weather in July
Improvement became marked, and at the
present time much Of the lateness has
been overcome. but on the whole the
crop Is trihe behind. The worst period
of the year for the growing of corn is
August, and that now having well passed
with ample moisture. the finishing of the
crop depends upon the character of the
fall months. The condition Of the plant
and the reserve Of moisture are excellent,
and the only impairment may be from
delay In ripening. The crop promise will
not be materially reduced and may be
very materially increased by the harvest
time. The yield in the central states,
where the acreage is the largest. will be
Of the best; in the eastern and southern
states average yields are anticipated.
The present outlook is for a crop Of g.
zoo. 900 900 bushels and this would make
a record yield. the largest in the past
being 1914, 900, 900 in 1912. when the yield
was very large per acre. The increase in
the corn crop is 617.O0O.0OO bushels over
last year. The average corn crop in the
past ten years was 2,70O 000.0 900 bushels. so
that the present season promises half
a billion bushels or IS per cent. over the
average. With respect to this crop there
is an over abundance. The export demand
at the outside will not exceed 225, 900 900
bushels. The short crop of wheat for the
worlds needs Is not a matter of great
concern. considering the huge amount of
corn available. In recent years the use
of corn for breadstuffs in this country has
been declining. and the relative cheapness
of this grain promised by the large crop.
should turn the American people again
to the use Of corn, and bring about the
chea pening Of all food stuffs. and provide
additional wheat for use of the allied
ermies. The food qualities of corn are
of exceptional value, and a period of
high prices for wheat may again develop
a greater use Of the more abundant grain.
The high cost Of meats In the past sea-
son has been due to great extent to
the scarcity and high price Of corn, and
the big crop seems to be an assurance
for a cheapening in the cost of meats,
and a substantial contribution to the re-
duction In the cost Of living. The new
corn crop does not start into movement
until the harvest In the northern States
which is late In the fall. and it's utiliza-
ton cannot be exected until near the
close of the year. when the movement
to the market should be very large. The
scarcity of the old crop Is apt to keep the
price rather strong. but usually the APP