Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-08-30

VUVU DuSneIS TOT 1000 ana SeeO.
MOST PROMISING OUTLOOK.
Ranking third in the cereal group is
Oats. Like corn 1t is food for human
beings and feed for the animals. The
acreage was slightly increased. and the
yield greatly increased. near record, IL
not a record crop is promised In the
reports of our correspondents, and as the
crop is practically made there is no
danger Of any impairment of the big
yield. The threshing returns have been
running above expectations. and our esti-
mate is nearly 10O0O0,0OO over the govern
ment which was made a month ago, and
may be increased on the final report.
The acreage increase in oats was gen.
eral, except in the southern states, where
the seeding Is done In the fall and winter.
The cold wet conditions of the latter part
of the winter caused the abandonment
of much Of the seeding, and the increase
the country over was limited to but four
per cent. The grain grows in every part
or the country, and conditions were ex-
cellent In the central states. running from
the Atlantic to the Missouri river, where
the acreage is the largest, comprising
about two-thirds of the total. In the
stretch Of country the yields reported
have been unusually large and this heavy
crop more than balances the poor results
In the south and the losses in the south
west and northwest where the dry areas
prevailed. The oats crop Is estimated at
1.527 100000 bushels. this is 276, 600 bus
hels or eleven per cent. more than last
year and 900 bushels over a ten year
average. The present indication is for a
crop second to the record of 1549, 000,0 900
bushels OF 1915, and possibly II may ex-
coed that figure. The new crop is already
in movement. and the weight of the big
yields has been reflected in a decline in
the price of nearly thirty cents a bushei.
The crop will be in great demand until
new crop is available, on account Of the
facility Of substitution in animal feed but
even with that unusual demand upon the
supply, there will be more than enough
oats for domestic needs and the export.
able requirement much greater than u.s.
ual, can be met from the abundance
Of the harvest
READILY SUBSTITUTED FOR WHEAT
Barley. the fourth of the important
domestic cereals was increased both in
acreage and yield over last season. the
promise being for 2Os.OoO,O0O or 27,OOOOOO
bushels over last year. This grain, is
more readily substituted for wheat than
any other Of the cereals, and If the food
administration exercises its authority it
can release an additional amount for
breadstuffs, as the grain is the principal
one used in manufacture of fermented Ii
quors, some 100000 bushels or nearly
one-third Of the average crop being used
for that purpose. With the exports for
mailing abroad, over one-third of the crop
has usually been used in this direction.
The N,OO0,O0O increase in the crop is an
addition to the food supply of the coun-
try. Counting the excess rye and barley
alone. the actual breadstuff production
of the country is increased 10000, 900 bus
hels over last year.
The total cereal crop of important
grains is increased $50 5000 bushels or
81 per cent over last year. This is the
second largest cereal crop produced in
the country. and is 2OO.CO0.0OO bushels or
only four per cent under the record OF
1915, and is 100000 or eighteen per cent.
over the average of the previous ten
years.
CONDITIONS APPARENTLY FAVOR.
ABLE.
Next to wheat the potato crop is the
principal food of the Western Nations,
and the distress caused by the partial
failure Of the crop last year stimulated an
increase of twenty-three per cent. in the
acreage. The growing conditions in tho
main were excellent. the early crop be-
ing unusually large. and the late crop
now ripening running above the average
yields in nearly every section of the coun-
try. The acreage and yield is responsible
for an indicated crop of 1876. 600 bushels.
which is 2l3, 5000 more than the esti-
mated crop last year, the increase being
seventy-four per cent in production. The
| big crop is now coming on the market,
and the unusual abundance of this inn
portant part of the table supply should
ay in hrtp li1rin 90
cost the country over.
When we measure the potato crop Of
the country with the grains. the total
yield of food and feed in bushels falls
just under the phenomenal crops of 1915.
Food production has been helped this
year by the town gardens, which never
| figure in the government estimates Of
crops. These gardens being devoted large
ly to the raising of vegeta bles have during
the summer taken a great deal off the
scarcity of breadstuffs, by supplying the
tables of the villages and towns. and in
some instances the outlying sections Of
the leading cities. They have contributed
their portion in reduction of the consump-
ton of marketable foods releasing more
for consumption in the congested sections,
and have had an influence in the scaling
down of prices.
MINOR CROPS.
The minor crops-that is the grains and
vegetables of comparatively small acre.
age-have had large yields. Rice is one
of the exceptions, the increase in acreage
bringing the total yield up to last year 8
| figures, prevailed up to the midsummer
period. The acreage of sweet potatoes
was materially increased and the yield
is estimated to be equal to that of the
white potatoes in increased quantity per
acre. Ordinary garden truck has turned
out well: the canning business reports
usual trade with large supplemental
household conservation of food.
| The fruit crop has been of the usual
spotted character, but on the whole pro-
misses to break even with last year. Sugar
beet acreage has been increased and as
much OF the crop is irrigated. the dry
weather in the far west has not made
great impairment. the yield promising
to be above last years Cane sugar was
anectei, by the dry weather early in
the season, but good crop is expected.
The tobacco crop suffered slight loss
in acreage and the promise is up to last
season. Flax acreage was increased, but
the yield will be only an average on ac-
count of the dry season in the northwest.
| Forage as represented by hay Is less
than last year. the tame varieties having
suffered loss in acreage by the freezing
out OF clovers and timothy fields, and
the spring being late. The indication Is
for $4,000 900 tons versus 90, 900 900 tons last
year. The wild hay Is reduced in volume
by the droughty conditions in the north
west and southwest, and will be 1900. =
600 tons versus 20.0O000O tons last season.