The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-05-19

New York. May 1s.-(Special.) )-Al- though from Minneapolis came a report a few days ago that standard flour had declined 50 cents a barrel, neverthe- less this is not regarded here as an in dcation of any considerable reduction in the Price Of wheat flour. In fact, all ready the prediction is made that in the fall and winter wheat flour may be found a luxury somewhat as it was in the exacting days of the war Our own wheat crop is likely to prove the small est garaered at any time within the past ten years. There is a decrease of acre. ages, lack of labor, serious embarrass- ment in transportation and high wages demanded by such labor as can be ob- tained. The present outlook is that wheat may command a price that will justify speaking of it as a luxury
 The Australian wheat crop is reported to be, relatively speaking, in like condi- tion with the probable harvest of wheat in the United States But if wheat is found to be luxury for the next twelve months it will not stand alone in that respect. The prediction is made that po- tatoes will command as high as S5 a bushel. This is due partly to the fact that it has been impossible to obtain good seed. partly to the falling off in acreage devoted to potato cultivation and also to decrease in farm labor and partly to the difficulties of transportation.
 The eastern part of the United States, of which the Appalachian range is the western boundary, is likely to be found to some extent, at least, in condition similar to that which prevailed in Bel Gium during war days. For the most part the eastern section of the country is dependent upon the Mississippi valley, that great agricultural area which stretches from the gulf to the head waters of the Mississippi and from the Aileghanys almost westward to the Rocky Mountains, for its food supplies These are now tied up in the great ware houses of the Mississippi valley because inadequate or only partial transporta- tion can be secured.
 THE FARMERS ANXIETY { The farmers of the United States are now in scme anxiety, and the situation may lead hereafter to a cooperative movement in which the American farmers as whole will participate. This may re- suit in as great benefit as agricultural cooperation has secured for Ireland The eastern farmers are especially anxious since the cost of cultivating the farms has increased greatly within the past year. The wages paid to labor are very high, and yet not sufficient labor can be secured. The farmers are gradually selling their herds of cattle to the pack CTS because the cost of feed is so great and the payment which they receive for the milk is so small that dairy farming is being carried on in parts of New Eng land at loss.
 There will be some attempt in New Eng land to cultivate larger oat crops than was done last year. but many of the farmers are almost in despair because of their inability to cultivate protatoes or if they do cultivate them to get trans portation for them.
 FOOD GOING TO DECAY
 There came from Florida this morning ntmation that many of the citrus food growers Of that state are in great anx- iety experimenting serious loss. If this were occasioned by heavy frost, which sometimes impairs the orange and grape fruit c.rouns then a "a lanitY of that Kind