Year: 1874


cannot be considered part Of the commercial crop
of the country, because they have nothing to spare
IL is probably true that calamties ever befal the
corn crop except protracted wet weather and early
frost, and even these do not prevent frst-class
farmers the purple prairie soil from having good
returns, for early in the they ready to inn
prove every shining hour; their cultvatOrs start
the moment the ground is in order and the corn rs
hard enough by the last of August to withstand any
frost.


IL is to be noted here that an invisible mex
plicable and unfavorable influence was observed on
many crops in limited localities but over wide
extent of country and even in parts of Europe.
During June and up to the middle of Jnly vegcta-
ton scarcely grew, and tender plants lived with
great difficulty perished. Aud yet there no
lack of rain, nor of heat, nor of fertility, while
careful and skillful cultivation was without its
usual result Some ascrbed the phenomenon to an
electrical condition, beng either of excess of de-
fcencv; Others to lack of dew by night, which
certainly was absent or to some other influence,
possibly that of the late nightly display in the
heavens. But the dominant inactive condition was
fact whatever might have been the cause. and it
prevailed from the Rocky Mountains to the
board and was noticed in France and in Northern
Italy. After the middle of July thereabouts
favorable change noticed, and it was smuta
neOus with the temperance of copious dews.


The complaint is somewhat general that apples
and peaches drop badly probably because of over
bearing and also to the injury the trees received by
the cold Winter of 1923 But there are many
thrifty orchards that were unharmed the yield on
the whole promises to be uncommony large, i'll fact
the largest, in the aggregate. the country has
seen. The Delaware peach crop appears more hope
full as the fruit swells and the estimate has been
raised to 100000 bushels. There are good many
other places where peaches grown, and where
the crop will be full. Our market for almost every
product must depend on many sections instead of
one section, because continued cropping certainly
does exhaust the soil of special elements.


The larger part of the wheat crop is now har
vested and it is estimated that the yield this year
will exceed that of last year by 100000 bushels
This is not far from correct if the yield of Calfor-
MIA and Oregon is included these States contrib
ute an excess of perhaps 100000 bushels On the
contrary, it is assumed that Spring wheat will be
deficient 100000 bushels, owing to unfavOrable
weather but this Is too great an estimated loss, be-
cause the great bulk of the surplus is produced IN
the Northwest. especially in Minnesota, where the
only deficiency arises from the ravages of the
grasshoppers But il is to be understood that this
pest aficts that part of the State recently put in
cultivation. most of it on sod or new ground not





Besides, the quality of the Northwestern wheat is
high that it increases the value of the bulk of the
Spring wheat crop. In Colorado, New-Mexco, Mon
tana, and Utah the yield of wheat is uncommonly
large and though Spring wheat, the quality is supe
ror to the best Genesee


Prices of wheat are well maintained, and merely.
il would seem, for the that low fTeghs have
prevailed tor several months, during which time
large portion of the old crop forwarded to the
seaboard, leaving a short home supply, while the
demand for the coming year is to be met alone by
the present crop But an advance in railroad
freights is now announced which must have a ten
dency proportOnately to reduce the price though
far a. navigation bv the lakes and canals IS con-
ceTned, serious decline need on the whole be eX-
pected. General business has been exceedingly dull
for the last ten months and the poor crops of last
wear We're one cause of the dullness Now business
certainly must revive, and much will grow out of
the movement of the crops, which form new ele-
ment of wealth actually created and added to the
capital Of the country; and this wealth will form
basis for the renewal of business and for sustaining
old enterprises which for the time have langulshed
heathtul enterprises and solid ventures will be in
augurated and it may be assumed that with the
large crops grown and growing, all kinds of legit-
mate business be planted on a surer foundation
than for several years has seemed possible.