The sun., 1918-09-20
FROST NIPS CORN
IN NORTHWEST BELT
Damage Believed to Be Slight
and Confined to Small
Section.
CROP GENERALLY SAFE
Grain Well Matured and Low
Temperatures Are Not
Greatly Feared.

The possibility OF frost damage was
brought forcibly before the trade by a
drop in temperature in the American
Northwest TO as low as 20 degrees in
parts OF North Dakota. The question of
the average time Of killing frost and the
amount OF corn which would be exposed
to damage 10 the serious point immedi-
ately before the corn market Prices
advanced only slightly on the weather
conditions. due to a belief that the great
portion of the crop Is now safe.
The average date Of killing frost in
the upper Northwest Is September Is.
The percentage OF corn which Is usually
matured at the time Of killing frost is
from rs to 80 per cent. in central and
northern North Dakota, but this Is of
no particular Importance as very little
corn is raised there. The line Of killing
frost for October 1 runs through south
ern Nebraska, northwestern Iowa and
the central and upper lake region. The
amount OF corn usually matured In South
Dakota at the time of killing frosts
varies from rs per cent. in the northern
part OF the State to full maturity In the
southern part A rather curious line OF
climatic conditions carries the line Of 90
per cent maturity at the average date
OF killing frost practically north and
south into central Nebraska, well up
into South Dakota and then we'll down
into central Iowa
Iowa. which with Illinois Is the great
est corn State of the country. does not
get on as well on the question Of frost
or possibility Of frost damage as Illinois
Last year the corn crop in Iowa was
Ho.700.000 bushels, and In Illinois 49,
100000 bushels. The amount OF corn
matured in Iowa at the time of killing
frost last year varied from per cent in
the north to SO per cent. in the SOUTH
and in northern. Illinois from 10 to rs
per cent. This year the crop Ia much
ahead of last year. and in Iowa the
State crop report this week. made up on
conditions prevailing the early part OF
the week, estimated the amount Of ma
tured corn at so per cent. throughout the
State. The several days which have
elapsed since the time Of the report have
added to the amount OF safe corn. While
frost was predicted in Iowa, II is not
thought that it would be heavy. except
in localities, and probably not killing
frost in any section.
CHICAGO, Sept. 19.-Frost predictions
to-day made the corn market average
higher. Prices closed unsettled, NC. off
to sc. advance, with October S152&
to $1.52I. and November 3149h to
s1.49A. Oats finished &c. to " q L5c.
up and provisions varying from 42c.
decline to a rise OF 55e.
Likelihood that frost would extend over
a wider area than heretofore. especially
in Iowa. Missouri and Kansas. gave the
bulls in corn decidedly the advantage
until the last hour. Then German talk
Of an armistice before winter led to
something OF a reaction. Belief that
corn in cars on tracks here would be
declared available for delivery on Sep
market after midday. Nervousness re-
garding possible serious damage by frost
remained in evidence, however as the
Iowa State report said 40 per cent OF
the crop was not yet out of danger. Be
sides. temperatures continued unseason-
ably low all the way from the Rockies
to the Alleghenies.
Oats were strengthened by signs OF
activity on the part OF export interests.
Advances. though. brought about an in
crease Of country offerings to arrive.
WHEAT - Railroad embargoes against
shipments OF wheat were lifted at MIN
neapolis and St. Paul yesterday. and It was
said that wheat would be allowed to move
to those points until the big elevator ca
pacity there has been filled. 1t Is APP
parently the policy OF the Administration
to create reserve stocks at all the big
terminals and TO draw on the smaller
country points for requirements for do
nestle use and for export while weather
conditions are favorable for railroad OPP
erations. Shipments OF grain from Argen-
tina are falling on steadily while tonnage
in America is increasing. This confirms
recent reports that tonnage will be d.
yerted from the Argentine trade to Amer
leo owing to the shorter haul which very
materially increases the efficiency OF
steamers.
CORN-Markef was feverish. and after
an early advance of about a cent a
bushel prices reacted and at the close
were Nc. net lower to isc. net higher. In
the local cash market No 2 yellow corn
was quoted at sls3x; No. yellow. at
Sl.T6h, C. Z. New York.
OATs-The recent export demand for
nearby oats at the seabosrd has caused
pronounced strength On the local cash
market. where prices advanced to ave.
Standard oats were quoted at SIS TO S5hc.;
No. white. SIS to size; No. white. 81
to Sic; No. white. S3h to S4hc.; or
binary clipped white, ssh to s6he., all
elevator.
RYE-Market steady: No. : Western.
tl.73 c. T. New York.
BARLEY-Market Arm; feeding. si1s;
mailing. sl.l7, C. e. New York.
HAY-Market Arm: No. /, $3.50; No. ..
$3.50 to Sl,s5; No. 5, $l,65 TO Si.75.