Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-07-10
GREATEST CROPS OF CEREALS


The wheat crop being now matured and much of it al
ready harvested the estimate sent cut by the department
of agriculture Tuesday be considered reliable That
is there nothing happen that will materially
change the yield. The figures given out show slight
falling off from the estimate of june but crop approach
ing 90000000O bushels In round numbers there will be
about 250000O0O bushels more wheat than in 1917 OF
this crop it is estimated winter wheat will produce 55
100000 or several million bushels above the ten year aver
age while spring wheat will yield 3340O0000 against
five year average of 257O0O0O0 bushels. The total is
about 8000OOO bushels above the ten year average This
is indeed encouraging and top of it the oat crop
is estimated at 43 100000 almost equal to the banner
year for all cereals 1915 The barley crop is estimated
at 2500000O0 bushels the largest previous yield being
27000000 in 1915 Rye is estimated to produce 81 600
600 bushels against 49, 100000 the largest crop be-
fore grown in America AS to corn it is too early yet for
dependable estimate for is long time yet until it is
out of all danger At the same time the yield is estimated
from the acreage and the per centage of condition
pared to other years. and this gives the record yield
surprising that of 1916 the figures being 316O0O0000
bushels or 108000000 bushels above the banner crop.
1t will be seen from this that we have of wheat about
324000000 bushels than last year, of oats have
337OOO0OO bushels in excess of 1917 of barley about
35OO00OO bushels and OF rye more than bushels
OF wheatrand its substitutes havefa grand total ex
cess of 786000000 bushels Should the crop prove
equal to the estimates there will be excess over last
year of 4400O00OO. This would give in all kinds of
cereals an increase 1917 of 225 900 bushels or
nearly twelve bushels for every person in the United
States. On top of this word from England that
more than 100000 of ground have been plant
ed and that that country will raise than three
fouhs of her bread supply instead Of about onefourth
AS compared to this showing of the granary Of the
world it is stated the crops in Germany, Austria and Hun
gary are below normal AS comparison the worlds
almanac gives the production of wheat in these countries
in 1915 as Germany 16OOOOOOOOOO bushels Hungary 1872
$4,000 bushels and Austria 600O0000 Bulgaria cred
tied with 46212000 bushels. The grand total of wheat
for the central powers in 1915 about 43O0OOOOO
bushels and the population to be fed about 121O0O00O
The allies with population, counting only France Eng
land Belgium Italy and the United States, and not tax
ing into consideration India and other colonies of 232
100000 and cereal crops of 5S2600O000 with which tc
feed them Of course there so-caled neutral
tions which we have been feeding and which will con-
tnue to draw on us with populations aggregatng 550OO
0OO But counting these it will be that the outlook
is cheerful from foodsuff viewpoint If armies march
their somachs those of the allies should travel several
round trips further than those of the central powers
The American farmer has been no Stacker and deserves
all he is getting in the way of higher prices for his
products. He has fought splendid fight, and has
his part of it.