Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-10-09
HIGH PRICES HIT
BY 1920 BIG CROP
Record Breaking Yields Are In
dicatcd by Department of
Agriculture Forecast.

Washington, Oct. 9.Anothcr blow
at high prices and the high cost of living
is struck by She Department of Agficui-.
ture's report that the miracle crop OF
1920" is an accomplished fact.
The crop estimates for October ] as
made public by the department showed
that the corn crop is a record-breaker
In every particular, with yield OF 1916
1872, 900 bushels, an excess over the best
year of history of about93, 600, 900 bushels.
The kahr crop may also be a record
breaker; the potato crop is far above the
average, and the entire series OF crops is
one which is classed as phenomenal
"Only now and then do we run into
year such as this, said one of the ex-
perts at the Department. "A somewhat
similar year was bad in 1912, when every
thing seemed to break right and assist
IN wonderful productions.
The estimates made today, with the
exception of wheat and one or two other
crops, may be considered virtually as the
final production figures The department
stated there might be some changes. for
example IN the corn crop, as some States
report all the com is not yet matured,
but the changes will be immaterial, Il
was added.
The wheat crop for the year is some
what disappointing. Last December it
was estimated the production would be
$40 9S7 900 bushels. but the figures rs
of October showed only 75064S, 900
bushels of winter and spring wheat.
During the last two or three months
there has been a steady decline in the
wheat conditions, due principally to rust
~. Il 4 e. l.
tributed to this decline. During Septemr
Der the wheat production dropped off
1856, 900 bushels.
During September the corn production
was increased by 2,523 bushels and po-
tatoes by 2,053, 900 bushels and sweet
potatoes by 100000 bushels. Apples
increased by 4,737 900 bushels while to-
bacco dropped off by 5,0i2, 900 pounds
and barley by 3,472,0 900 bushels.
The reports to the Department show
also how the increased production as
we'll as the general economic condition
has hit the price condition. With the
exception of wheat, peaches, rye and
sweet potatoes, the prices being obtain
ed by the farmer on October | We're much
less than last year. And since that date,
though the Department docs not note
it, there has been decline in the prices Of
some of these commodities.
Some of the price declines arc as fol-
lows: Corn, this year, s1.2l a bushel,
as compared with Sl.53; white potatoes,
81 "a bushel as compared with 81 ia;
all apples, Sl.32 as compared with $l.7l,
and beans, S3.7i as compared with 81 .26
a b,ishel The wheat price Il shown as
81 Ia as compared with 500 last year.
Forecasts of production this year of
the country's principal crops, estimated
from their condition October | or at
time OF harvest, were announced as fol-
lows:
Spring wheat 21s,oo7, 900 bushels;
al wheat, 75o,64s, 900 bushels.
Corn, 3,216, r92soo0 bushels, condition
SOL. :.
Apples "a, ,2sV, 900 barrels: peaches,
"a ,523 900 bushels; kaffirs. l39, sos, 900
bushels; peanuts, 80, ,2I7 900 bushels; beans
lsix States, e.364,000 bushels.
= Oats, i Al, ,362y 900 bushels.
Barley, 1l9, $50, 900 bushels
Buckwehat 1852, 900 bushels; con-
iition $50.
White potatoes, 414,ss6,oO bushels;
S2.7.
Sweet potatoes. lo3, ,77e,ooo bushels;
Tobacco, ATS, 7ss,Oo0 pounds; condi-
lion S3.3.
Flax, III, ,7o4, 900 bushels: condition 62.S.
Rice, 50 ,29S 900 bushels; condition Ss.1. |
Sugar beets, S,970, 900 tons; condition |
a3.4.
Production figures on agricultural crops |
Of the world outside OF the United States, |
assembled by the international Institute |
1f Agriculture at Rome and given out |
soday by the United States Department |
,f Agriculture, show greatly increased |
yields for 1920 in almost every division.
The 1920 wheat crop in countries OF the /
lorthern hemisphere including Bulgaria,
Spain, British India, Finland, Sweden, |
Algeria, Egypt and Tunis, the institute |
eports, is ,046 670, 900 bushels or 101 g /
,er cent of a fve-year average produc-
ion for the same countries and 1874 per /
,ent OF 1919 production.
Area now planted for the 1920-2I |
wheat crop in the southern hemisphere,
n Argentina, Australia and South Africa,
5 2S,3S4,00O acres, which is 1884 |
Ter cent of the crop area for last year and
o. per cent of a fve-year average
Rye production in 1920 in the north
I'D countries named amounted to 212,-
$4,000 bushels, 1898 per cent of the
ve-Year average and 1922 per cent of
he. 19I9scrop Oats production was
II ,o7S, $50 bushels, 1922 per cent of
he ffxe-year average and 1868 per cent
{ 1919.
Potatoes and sugar beets were smaller
rops in 1920 than In 1919, the institute
eported, for part of the same area, but