The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1922-04-15

and other seasons, at the tail end of
crops, when the supply should shrink
consistent with consumption, until the
new crop grain begins its flow to
market.
In review of last weeks visible
we find that we had grain In sight as
follows: Wheat, 34,163,00O; corn. 49,
3o5.000; oats. 63,6O6, 900; rye, S,70O, 90;
barley, 1.667,00O bushels. A compari-
son with stocks in sight one year ago
shows that we now have about 49,
100000 more wheat; 12,600,OO0 more
corn; 30,000,000 more oats; and g..
100000 bushels more of rye, or a to-
tai of 65.936.OOO bushels over stocks
in sight on the same date in 1921 OF
the grains tabulated regularly in the
visible, barley is the only one show
ing a falling off compared with last
year, the shrink being 100000 BUSH
els.
Crop Report Service
Our national crop reporting service
is the best and most comprehensive
SO far devised by any country on
earth. Thousands of men are engag-
ed in this service, notably in the
field, and many of the latter are vol
unteers who take pride in their stock
and who cheerfully cover their town.
ships according to a system which OBJ
tains results. The crop experts at
Washington assemble these reports,
check them by districts and states.
and finally at the given hour send
out the figures which are flashed
across the continent.
That any farm organization whatso-
in
render It in any way more complete
and correct, or get its conclusions
| earlier to even a small part Of the
public, would be an absurd claim The
unlimited money of the government,
with the cooperation of the best
trained minds and all the machinery
needed, backed by years Of experience
and aided in distribution by the vari-
Gus commercial bodies and the entire
press of the country, comes as near
| to FILLING the bill" as could be hoped
for. The best that any or all farm
organizations can do is to voluntarily
cooperate in this government service.
conducted for public information and
| the general good.
Sales of 1922 Wheat
Between one and two million bushels
l
Itracted for export shipment, mostly
, for late August and early September
delivery on Thursday Of this week.
That's right, and we admit that this
wheat has not yet been grown, but we
are counting that it will be and that
the English and Continental buyers
] will receive it in due course, and at
the prices already set and agreed on
How can they set prices on and made
sales of wheat which is not yet grown
and in the case of spring wheat not
yet planted, you want to know? ASK
the grain houses at Chicago and Win.
nipeg, the members of the Chicago
Board of Trade, also the various heads
Of the grain exporting concerns which
hold memberships in the important
exchanges, both east and west, also in
many instances in the principal Euro
pean grain exchanges as we'll. The
supplying of the world with bread is q
great business business that is or
ganized to the last detail also, it is
widely claimed, it is organized on the
most economical basis. AS we sit and
write we are reminded that at this
particular hour there are more thar
65, 100000 bushels of wheat alone 'or
| passage" that is, afioat at sea, bound
for various ports of consumption, some
on consignment and subject to sale
orders on arrival, but mostly sold al
agreed figures before the ships left
their home ports. Some of this grair
it was loaded at some Australian port
was bought in the Argentines, much oi
a lot of it was grown in the United
States or Canada, while other vesse
loads were grown in India, Manchuria
etc. Surely the wheat market is al
international affair, gentlemen, be
lcause bread is an article of universe
demand and consumption Throughout
civilization.