Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-21
CROPS IN GENERAL LOOK
GOOD DESPITE WET SOIL
California Cutting Alfalfa and
Grapes Promise Heavy
Yield.
FLORIDA ONLY DRi STATE
Citrus Fruit Mny lie Affected by
Drynesn-Wintrr Wheat show.
General Improvement General
business Review.
FLORIDA ONLY pay STATE

Dryness-Wintrr Wheat shows
General Improvement General
business Review.
CHICAGO. May e0.-Crop experts of
tie American steel and Wire Com
pany find tine agricultural outlook
very encouraging, although most OF
the Southern half Of tho country is
still too wet. less than half its corn
acreage being not yet planted"
Florida alone is passing through ono
Of the dricst springs in years. injuri-
GUS 10 citrus fruit. Pastures and hay
lands, az a whole. arc better than
usual. California is cutting some al
falfa and Oklahoma ~ almost ready.
There is "a good crop Of strawberries
IN .trkansas and Louisiana. and tho
grape crop in Fresno. Cal, distri:;
promises "A heavy yield.
Wheat shows Improvement.
Modern Miller sees general i'm
prOvcmcnt in winter wheat. Growth
has been rapid in all but Western
sections, although In some parts
rank Losses in food areas will not
affect the total yield Importantly.
There are complaints Of red rust in
southern portions Of soft-whcat ter
ritory. Spring wheat growing con-
ditions are favorable.
Cheaper priced milk 10 the Chicago
retail dealer and more equitable di-
vision OF tho proceeds from the sale
OF dairy farm products are the aims
Of delegates from the American Farm
Bureau Federations. two warning
producers associations and
representatives Of county oTEJniza-
;ions In twenty Illinois and In
diana counties. who met today.
Armour Company report "a great
plenty" Of beef on the market. wc:k-
ching prices somewhat. although de-
mand has been fairly good. Cured
and smoked meats have been active
and stronger. All old stocks have
been liGuida,ed and supply is light.
There is no more uncertainty "a TO
values. There is good demand for
fresh pork at steady prices. with sup
ply light The dry sausage season
is opening UP with unusual promise.
Fresh and smoked sausage business
- likewise much Better than year
ago. Expor, trade is very quiet.
Marshall Field & Co.'S wholesale
distribution OF dry goods is not as
large last year. although road or
dcrs were larger and substantially
more than last week. There are more
customers IN market than 4 year ago
and collections showed Improvement
and were satisfactory. Visiting re-
tail merchants report improved BUSH
ness
Dun's weekly review shows signs
of improvement continuing 10 appear.
but mostly in manufacturing" In
nearly all industrial centers OF the
Central West there is more activity
than for months. Increased use of
the telegraph comes principally from
this source. There is more call for
labor and more energy in plans for
disposing OF products. Good demand
FOR building supplies and household
furnishings is accelerate by the
threa, OF new strike complications.
Retail md Wholesale.
Retail and wholesale business is
rather quiet and the continued case
in money does not reflect any expan-
sion OF borrowing demand, although
warmer weather has stimulated re-
failing OF seasonable lines. Whole
sale business is affected by the cX-
recitation Of reduction in freight
rates soon. hut more interest in com
nitments for fall delivery is encour-
aged BY narrowing margin OF
stocks and greater steadincss in
prices. In the interior. good crop
prospects have improved sentiment.
hut mail order returns do not in
dictate any noteworthy increase I'm
purchasin activity. Collections are
not quite so good as a year ago.
DOwnStatc merchants report $40
bills appearing. indicating that min
ers are digging into their old socks
There has been little let-up I'm buy
ing. however, and bank deposits hold
np. There is unusual home building
Many miners have drifted to other
occupation. some to other sections.
The Black Diamond reports coal
prices throughout the country appre-
bly but irregularly up. Railroads
and larger industrials are coming
into market for immediate needs to
keep their big reserve stocks intact
In case of prolonged strike. Every
body is guessing about that.
Production Increases.
Production in practically all fields
still operating was considerably
above last week, most Of the coal of
| Southeast going North and West. and
OF the Central area East and West
AS general thing, the demand in
all fields exceeded the supply. 1t has
| been more a sellers than BUYERS
market. Much coal ordinarily going
to export and bunkering trade found
its way West. Tidewater prices
strongly advanced. but still are 81
under the lowest British offerings.
Pennsylvania bituminous supply
has been greatly reduced and prices
are much inflated, despite dull de-
mand. In the Pennsylvania region tho