302 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[June, 
Wheat—Corn—Oats—Pork—Lard. 
BY ORANGE JUDD. 
Unsettled Hlarkets. 
There is decided similarity in the speculative 
operations of the Petroleum and Grain Markets. It 
is amusing even, to note the antics in the former. 
The stock of oil stored being pretty accurately 
known, as well as the probable annual consumption, 
the prices are forced up and down by the credence 
given, from day to day, to reports, about the flow of 
certain wells in particular localities. If such or 
such a well is reported to be increasing its daily 
yield by ten, twenty or more barrels, down goes 
oil 1, 2, 3 or 4 cents per barrel—equivalent to a 
hundred thousand dollars loss for each cent’s de¬ 
cline when the speculative sales amount to ten 
million barrels as they sometimes do in a single 
day. If somebody reports, and the dealers believe 
it, that these wells are flowing less than last week, 
up goes oil. All sorts of subterfuges are resorted 
to to conceal, to magnify and to lessen, the actual 
flow.—Not less tricky are the influences set at 
work to affect the grain and produce markets. 
Each clique has its corps of “reliable correspond¬ 
ents ” stationed at various points, who report with 
apparently the greatest sincerily and painstaking ob¬ 
servation, that “ the winter wheat is badly damaged 
by freezing out,” that “storms and cold are pre¬ 
venting the sowing of the usual area,” or that “the 
winter wheat is in splendid condition and very 
promising,” that “ farmers arc actively engaged in 
sowing and will have a largely increased area,” etc., 
etc. Every morning report of the Weather Bureau is 
turned to account by “bulls” and “bears.” All sorts 
of reliable and unreliable, and “crooked reports ” 
come daily from Europe, some of them sent hence 
in the form they are to be reported back.—The 
“ weather ” has been the chief factor in the wheat 
and corn markets during a month past, though the 
estimates of “ reliable ” gentlemen as to the 
amount of old crop remaining on hand have been 
used to considerable effect. We suppose this will 
go on until after harvest. The weather clerk will 
be responsible for the making and unmaking of a 
good many fortunes, from the clerk or chamber¬ 
maid who bets $5 on the price of 100 bushels of 
wheat or corn, up to the dealers in tens of millions 
of bushels (on “ margins.”) 
The changes in prices have varied from day to day 
during four weeks past. The selections in the table 
are taken, at weekly intervals, from our daily record 
of the Chicago markets. The last four columns 
show the current variations for each week. The 4th 
and 5th columns exhibit the net advance or decline 
between April 6th and May 7tli. The first five 
columns show the range since the beginning of the 
year. Wheat for May delivery is 13c. higher than 
Jan. 2; lc. lower than two months ago; 6c. higher 
than on April 14. Corn is 2c. higher than in 
January, 9c. lower than in March, and closes 
slightly lower than it sold during April. Reading 
across the table and noticing the dates at the head 
will give a fair idea of the present and past prices. 
RANGE OP PRICES IN CHICAGO. 
Jan. 2. 
£ 
April 6. 
>> 
g 
$1.00 
$1.10 
$1.14 
$1.08 
$1.13 
$1.07 
$1.12 
1.14 
1.09 
1.14 
1.08 
.Tiilv. 
1.16 
1.09 
1.15 
, 
1.16 
Corn, bu . 
.52 
.58 
.63 
.54 
.54 
.55 
.56 
.62 
.56 
.55 
.56 
.57 
.57 
.57 
.59 
.59 
.41 
.44 
.44 
.41 
.43 
.42 
.44 
.43 
.42 
.43 
.42 
43 
.42 
.42 
.35 
Pork, bbl . 
May. . 
17.55 
18.35 
18.35 
18.50 
18.20 
18.35 
20.10 
20.15 
18.22 
18.42 
18.90 
19.10 
20.35 
18.65 19.30 
20.45 
Lard, 100 lbs.... 
11.40 
11.55 
1 
11 35 12.00 
11.40 11.52 
10.65 
11.50 
11 40 12 10 
11.42 11.75 
12.12 
11.50 11.85 
Aug. 
12.05 
1.10 
.56 
.58 
.60 
.42 
.35 
19.65 
11.60 
11.75 
11.85 
11.80 
Difference for New Tore.— The difference in prices 
between Chicago and New York on the same day is mainly 
governed by the calculated cost of transportation and in¬ 
surance, in the different months, though local speculation, 
cliques, corners, etc., make local variations. Taking 
the above quotations for May 7, and the New York markets 
were on the same day 113fc. higher for May Wheat ; 8c. to 
8>$c. for June and July, and 11c. for August delivery. 
Corn for May and June was 10c. higher; for July and August, 
7c. to 8c. per bu. higher. Oats were 7c. to 8c. higher for May 
June, and July, and 5c. for August. Pork was only 10c. 
higher per bbl. for May, aud25e. for June, July, andAugust. 
Lard was only 10c. per 100 lbs. higher for any month. 
IIoil's Still Scarce. 
The fifth column in the price table shows that 
pork and lard are at the highest figures of the 
year, pork for May delivery being $2.60 per barrel 
higher than Jan. 2d, and about $1 above a month 
ago. The receipts- of live hogs in Chicago for 
April were only 240,697, against 461,702 in 1882, and 
329,506 in 1881. From Jan. 1st to May 1st, the total 
receipts at Chicago numbered only 1,706,594, 
against 2,010,578 for the same period in 1882, and 
1,868,653 in 1881—a falling off of 15 per cent from 
last year. The export of pork, bacon, and lard 
for six months ending April 28th, amounted to 
399,229,020 lbs., against 425,753,887 lbs. last year, a 
decrease of over 26,000,000 lbs. The small supply of 
old corn a year ago, and the high price, led farm¬ 
ers to sell off their swine very largely, leaving a far 
less number in the country than usual. This year 
they are keeping their hogs back to consume the 
corn. We earnestly advised our readers a year ago 
to secure the greatest enlargement possible of their 
young porkers. Those who did so are now finding 
their money in them. We repeat the advice now. 
The present stock can be largely increased with 
profit. 
The Outlook;. 
After watching and studying the markets, the 
various reports from this country and Europe, dur¬ 
ing all the month, and up to the last moment 
before going to press, we must confess the outlook 
is not very clear as to the future of the breadstuff 
and provision markets. The supply of grain in 
sight is very large — over 20,000,000 bushels; 
freights, recently very low, are rising in anticipa¬ 
tion of large shipments, but 5i cents is the present 
highest charge for carrying a bushel of grain 3,500 
miles, from New York to Liverpool, in steamships. 
Will Europe take all our surplus ? Probably so, at 
the current or a little lower rates. This year’s 
wheat crop will not be an average one in Great 
Britain or Western Europe, and stocks are laid in 
ahead. 
California had a bad prospect, but copious show¬ 
ers have improved matters so much that a full 
average crop is now expected. Ohio and Indiana 
will not have an average wheat crop in any case. 
In most other States, the present condition of both 
winter and spring wheat is fair, with an increased 
acreage. All depends upon the weather between 
now and the end of harvest. The increased wheat 
area in the great North-west, by reason of the im¬ 
mense immigration poured in there during two 
years past, is estimated at over a million acres. 
There are, of course, more mouths to consume it, 
but the surplus there will be large. 
The present outlook for the whole country is, 
that while there will be a fair average crop, there 
will not be so large a surplus of wheat, but that 
Europe will take it all at fair figures, not very high. 
Insect ravages and bad weather may put the pro¬ 
duct down so that higher prices may be realized, 
but it is hardly safe for farmers to speculate by hold¬ 
ing over their grain for better rates next autumn, 
There is undoubtedly a good deal of corn held 
back for higher prices, yet to find a market. 
It is too early to form an estimate of the next 
corn crop. There is nothing to discourage farm¬ 
ers from going ahead and getting in the last hill 
of corn possible, and of any other crops that can 
yet be put into the ground. 
Many house-wives fall into ruts, from which 
they are only raised by discontented looks and re¬ 
marks at the table. The best way to remedy this 
is, to draw up a plan of fourteen breakfasts, din¬ 
ners, and suppers, bringing similar dishes as far 
apart as possible. Thus each morning and evening 
will bring a pleasant surprise, without any anxious 
wondering on the part of the house-keeper as to- 
what she shall provide, and without that sudden 
and unaccountable change from great abundance 
to comparative scantiness, sometimes observed on 
tables, which are usually well regulated. A. E.W. 
New Farm Implements and Appliances. 
The Morrell Acting Force Pump Co. 
We learn that Robert Morrell & Son, manufacturers of 
Patent Double and Single Acting Force Pumps and Fire 
Extinguishers, for the Household, Farm and Garden, for 
Mills, Manufactories, and Hotels, have removed their 
establishment to Summit, New Jersey. The increase in 
their business has been so great, that the facilities at Mont¬ 
clair were insufficient to meet the demands made upon 
them. Our readers can rely upon these Pumps and Extin¬ 
guishers as being what they are represented. 
The Boomer Steam Evapori \ or. 
Cider, Sorghum, and other saccharine lipids are now 
successfully evaporated by steam. The new ivention, the- 
Boomer Steam Evaporator, shown in the en. raving, is at¬ 
tracting considerable attention. Disclaim!; that,bythe 
combination of the Defecator, with a system of jacketed 
pipes, this Boomer Evaporator produces a superior article 
of jellies or syrup with great rapidity. The liquid flows 
into the Defecator, and thence on to the Evaporator in a 
continuous stream. The Defecator thoroughly cleanses, 
and the Evaporator reduces it to the desired consistency. 
Further improvements are to be made, which, it is asserted, ' 
will reduce the labor required to operate the Evaporator, ff 
- -fit 
The Kriebel Steam Engines. up 
These Steam Engines do away, it is claimed, with about r 
one-third of the machinery and appliances of other engines. 
They have no connecting rod. no crosshead, no eccentric 
with the necessary straps and connections to move the 
valves. The cylinder is held in position with rigid bear¬ 
ings, and vibrates, giving the required motion to the valve. 
We present an illustration of the Mounted Farm Engine, of 
the Kriebel patent. It is simply a regular portable engine, 
mounted on a wagon. For further information regarding 
these engines, we would recommend our readers to write- 
to the manufacturers at West Point, Montgomery Co., Pa. 
We are satisfied that these portable engines are going to 
make a great revolution in farming. 
Catalogues Received. 
The number of belated Spring catalogues is so small,, 
that it is not necessary to classify them. We shall not 
publish another list untiPthe fall announcements are at 
hand. Those first received will be earliest noticed. j 
J. W. Adams, Springfield, Mass. A very full list of n 
fruit and ornamental nursery stock. Jjg 
H. L. Bennett, Westerville, Ohio. Describes and 
gives directions for using the Davis Stump and Rock 
Extractor. 
C. D. Brooks, Addison. N. Y. Smith's Seif-Adjust- - 
ing Swing Cattle Stanchions. 
John A. Cole, Hustisford. Wis.. and Jewell <fc Cole, 
MiltoD, Mo. A catalogue of Poland-China and Suffolk 
Swine, giving pedigrees. 
Matthew Crawford. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, prefaces 
his Strawberry catalogue with a full essay on cultivation, 
Joseph D. Fitts, Providence, R. I. Small fruit plants-, 
with strawberries a specialty. t- 
F. M. Hunt & Co.. Chagrin Falls. Ohio. Make the 
Stranahan Folding Canvas Boat; very useful for sports¬ 
men, explorers, etc. 
