718 
Tht  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
May  12,  102.°, 
Mar  ke 
1 
Review  of  Philadelphia  Produce  Market 
(Supplied  by  New  Jersey  State  Department  of 
Agriculture,  Bureau  of  Markets)  , 
The  season  this  year  for  nearby  vege¬ 
tables  is  much  later  than  usual,  and  New 
Jersey  asparagus  was  received  for  the 
first  time  last  week.  The  small  amounts 
that  were  offered  sold  well.  Colossal  and 
Jumbos  bringing  GO  to  75c,  fancy  40  to 
55c,  and  culls  20  to  25c  per.  2-lb.  bunch. 
California  and  North  Carolina  asparagus 
season  is  a  little  longer  than  usual,  and 
offerings  from  these  States  were  also  in 
good  demand.  Rhubarb  is  now  coming 
in  in  fair  quantities  from  Pennsylvania 
and 'New  Jersey,  and  brought  8  to  5c  a 
bunch.  Scallions  have  got  down  to  about 
It*  a  bunch  basis  for  good  stock.  Norfolk 
spinach  sold  at  irregular  prices,  the  best 
bringing  all  the  way  from  $1.75  to  $2.50 
per  bbl.,  according  to  the  condition  of  the 
market.  New  Jersey  spinach  held  fairly 
steady  at  25  to  50<-  per  %-bu.  basket. 
'Phe  potato  market  has  been  dull  and 
weak,  with  prices  easing  off  from  day  to 
day.  Receipts  of  old  potatoes  were  heavy, 
there  being  on  the  tracks  in  the  yards 
over  800  cars  (including  the  broken) 
most  of  week.  Pennsylvania  round  whites, 
bulk  per  cwt.,  ranged  $1.75  to  $2  on  May 
1.  a  drop  of  25  to  85c  during  the  week. 
Offerings  of  Florida  potatoes  were  limit¬ 
ed,  but  these,  too.  declined,  selling  at 
$7.75  to  $8.50  per  bbl.  for  No.  1’s,  and  $5 
to  $6  per  bbl.  for  No.  2’s.  The  total  ship¬ 
ments  for  the  country  to  May  1,  as  re¬ 
ported  by  the  United  States  Department 
nf  Agriculture,  was  1,090  carloads  of 
new  potatoes,  compared  with  2,762  car¬ 
loads  to  the  same  date  a  year  ago,  while 
shipments  of  old  potatoes  were  placed  at 
282,897  carloads,  compared  with  222,181 
carloads  last  year,  showing  an  increase  of 
10,000  carloads  in  the  movement  of  old 
potatoes  and  reflecting  the  short  crop  and 
late  season  of  the  new  crop  in  the  South. 
Southern  cabbage  weakened  on  account 
of  too  heavy  supplies,  dropping  50c  per 
bbl. -crate,  to  $4  to  $4.25  a  crate.  North 
Carolina  strawberries  have  been  coming 
in  a  little  more  freely,  and  although  they 
met  with  a  fair  demand,  prices  declined 
steadily,  Klondike®  selling  on  May  1 
mostly  at  25  to  80c  a  quart,  and  Mission¬ 
aries  25  to  27c  a  quart  for  good  quality 
berries.  Shipments  have  not  been  nearly 
as  heavy  so  far  this  season  as  last,  the 
generous  amounts  sent  from  Florida  be¬ 
ing  offset  by  a  decrease  from  Alabama, 
Louisiana  and  North  Carolina.  The  onion 
market  was  a  little  off  toward  the  last  of 
the  week,  old  dropping  25c  a  sack  and 
new  about  85c  a  crate.  York  State  yel¬ 
lows  bringing  $8.50  to  $4  a  sack  for  the 
bust,  and  Texas  new  $8  to  $8.40  perorate. 
New  Jersey  is  supplying  most  of  the  mod- 
cute  amount  of  sweet  potatoes  offered. 
Peas  are  coming  from  as  far  north  as 
South  Carolina,  but  eggplant,  peppers, 
cucumbers,  celery  and  tomatoes  are  still  a 
Florida  product. 
EC, OS  AND  POULTRY 
Total  egg  receipts  for  the  week  ending 
April  80  showed  some  increase  over  the 
amount  received  the  previous  week,  but 
they  were  about  25,000  cases  less  than  for 
(lie  same  period  a  year  ago.  Early  in  the 
week  eggs  eased  off  a  little,  as  the  demand 
was  only  moderate,  but  later  trading  was 
more  active  and  the  market  recovered, 
nearby  and  Western  extra  firsts  selling 
at  20c  and  firsts  at  27c  a  doz.  Southern 
firsts  held  about  steady  at  26  to  26%o 
a  dozen.  The  cold  storage  movement  did 
not  get  well  started  during  March,  and 
holdings  are  still  far  behind  those  of  a 
year  ago.  On  April  80  only  94,420  cases 
were  reported  to  be  on  hand  in  Philadel¬ 
phia  warehouses  by  the  United  States 
Bureau  of  Agriculture  Economics,  show¬ 
ing  a  gain  for  the  month  of  April  of  about 
90,000  cases  compared  with  a  gain  for 
the  same  period  a  year  ago  of  approxi¬ 
mately  174,000  cases.  Reports  from  Chi¬ 
cago  show  that  cold  storage  holdings  there 
are  about  one-half  as  large  as  last  year, 
and  Boston  and  New  York  reports  also 
show  a  big  decrease. 
There  were  no  important  changes  or 
outstanding  features  either  in  the  live  or 
dressed  poultry  market.  Offerings  of  live 
poultry  were  generally  moderate,  but  suf¬ 
ficient  to  take  good  care  of  the  trade,  and 
prices  held  steady.  Eat  heavy  fowl  sold 
up  to  80c.  and  fancy  White  Leghorns 
were  valued  at  26  to  27c  per  lb.  Spring 
broilers,  averaging  about  1%  lbs„  ranged 
52  to  60c  for  most  offerings,  a  few  fine 
lots  exceeding  these  prices.  Receipts  of 
dressed  poultry  showed  considerable  gains 
over  the  previous  week,  and  fowl  weak¬ 
ened  a  little,  fresh  killed,  barrel-packed 
stock,  dry-picked,  weighing  5  lbs.  or  over, 
selling  for  29  to  80c,  the  preference  being 
for  the  4  to  5-lb.  size.  Nearby  fresh- 
killed  chickens  were  steadily  held  at  81 
to  82c  for  the  5-lb.  chickens,  smaller  size 
selling  as  low  as  25c.  Cold  storage  hold¬ 
ings  continue  to  he  heavy,  not.  only;  in 
Philadelphia,  but  in  most  of  the  principal 
markets  as  well. 
IT  AY  AND  STRAW 
Offerings  of  bay  were  not  very  heavy 
end  the  market  was  kept  well  cleared. 
No.  1  Timothy  sold  chiefly  at  $23  a  ton. 
and  No.  2  Timothy  averaged  $21.50  a 
ton.  Some  clover  mixed  hay  was  offered 
at  $21  to  $22  a  ton  for  No.  1  grade  light 
mixed,  and  heavy  mixed  brought  $19.  a 
ton.  The  rye  straw  market  still  contin¬ 
ues  firm  at  $26  to  $27  a  ton.  and  No.  1 
oat  and  wheat  straw  was  quoted  mostly 
at  $15.50  per  ton.  b.  w.  s. 
t  New 
Local  Up-State  Prices 
JOHNSON  CITY-EN DXCOTT  MARKETS 
Hamburg,  lb.,  18c;  choice  roasts,  lb., 
8  to  14c;  porterhouse  steak,  lb.,  25c; 
round  steak,  lb.,  28c;  sirloin  steak,  lb., 
24c;  veal  cutlets,  lb.,  40c;  veal  chops,  lb., 
80c ;  veal  hocks,  lb.,  18c;  sliced  ham,  lb., 
85c. 
Live  Poultry  —  Chickens,  lb.,  85c; 
fowls,  lb.,  88c;  geese,  lb.,  32c;  ducks,  lb., 
82c;  day-old  chicks,  each,  18  to  20c. 
Dressed  Poultry  —  Chickens,  lb.,  40c; 
fowls,  lb.,  88c;  ducks,  lb.,  86c. 
Eggs,  white  and  brown,  extra.  29c ; 
duck  eggs.  35c;  milk,  qt.,  10c;  butter¬ 
milk.  qt.,  5c;  skim-milk,  qt.,  5c;  cream, 
qt..  SOc ;  creamery  butter,  fancy  prints, 
lb.,  54c;  best  dairy,  lb.,  53c;  dairy,  in 
jars,  lb.,  52c;  cheese,  cream,  lb.,  32c; 
cottage  cheese,  5c. 
Pie  apples,  peck,  50c ;  apples,  bu., 
$1.75;  strawberries,  pt.,  25c;  tomatoes, 
lb.,  16c;  cucumbers,  3  for  25c;  aspara¬ 
gus,  bunch,  20c;  parsnips,  lb.,  4c;  pep¬ 
pers,  doz.,  35c;  cauliflower,  each,  15c; 
potatoes,  pock.  80c;  bu.,  $1.10;  dandelion 
greens,  lb..  10c:  rhubarb,  lb.,  10c;  rad¬ 
ishes.  bunch.  Sc;  lettuce,  bead,  10c; 
bunch,  10c.  8  for  25c;  sauerkraut,  qt., 
15c;  spinach,  peck,  40c;  onions,  lb.,  5c; 
celery,  bunch,  10  to  12c;  cabbage,  lb., 
4c;  carrots,  lb.,  4c;  beets,  lb.,  8c;  beans, 
lb.,  12%° ;  onions,  green,  bunch,  10c; 
vegetable  oysters,  bunch,  10c;  new  cab¬ 
bage,  lb.,  10c. 
Maple  syrup,  gal.,  $2.75;  maple  sugar, 
lb.,  85c;  popcorn.  3  lbs.,  25c;  buckwheat 
flour,  lb.,  5c;  clover  honey,  card,  22c; 
strained  honey,  lb„  18c;  walnuts,  qt.,  15c. 
Hyacinths,  pot,  25  to  35c;  large  pots. 
75c  to  $1 ;  tulips,  pot,  35  to  75c. 
SYRACUSE  MARKET 
Pork,  light,  lb.,  11  to  12c;  heavy,  lb., 
9  to  10c;  veal,  lb..  12  to  14c;  mutton, 
lb.,  20  to  25c;  lamb,  lb.,  30c;  beef,  lb.. 
6  to  7c. 
Live  Poultry — Ducks,  lb.,  25  to  80c; 
chickens,  lb.,  27  to  35c;  fowls,  lb.,  27  to 
35c;  geese,  lb.,  30c;  guinea  hens,  each. 
75c  to  $1. 
Dressed  Poultry  —  Ducks,  lb.,  50c : 
chickens,  lb..  45  to  50c;  fowls,  lb..  45c, 
geese,  lb.,  45  to  50c;  rabbits,  lb..  40c. 
Butter,  lb..  55c;  eggs,  28  to  30c;  duck 
eggs,  35  to  40c;  Italian  cheese,  lb.,  40c. 
Apples,  bu.,  $1  to  $2.75;  beans,  bu.. 
$3.50  to  $5;  beets,  bu.,  $1  to  $1.25;  car¬ 
rots.  bu..  60  to  75c;  cabbage,  doz.  heads. 
75c  to  $1 :  celery,  doz.  bunches,  80c  to 
$1.25:  garlic,  lb.,  10  to  12%c;  honey, 
qt..  65  to  75c;  cap,  20  to  25c;  lettuce, 
leaf,  box,  $2  to  $3 ;  maple  syrup,  gal.. 
$1.75  to  $2:  onions,  bu.,  $1  to  $1.50; 
green,  doz.  bunches,  50c :  parsley,  doz. 
bunches,  50c ;  potatoes,  bu..  50c  to  $1.20 ; 
parsnips,  bu.,  $1  to  $1.25;  rutabagas, 
bu.,  $1 ;  vegetable  oysters,  doz.  bunches. 
Hay!  °  No.  1,  ton,  $18  to  $20;  No.  2. 
$17;  straw,  ton.  $14  to  $17;  wheat,  bu., 
$1.25;  oats.  bu..  60c;  corn,  bu..  95c; 
buckwheat,  100  lbs.,  $2. 
ROCHESTER 
Dressed  beef,  carcass,  lb.,  10  to  15c ; 
forequarters,  lb.,  8  to  lie;  hindquarters, 
lb.,  12  to  17c ;  dressed  hogs,  light,  lb.,  10 
to  lie;  heavy,  9  to  10c;  Spring  lambs, 
lb..  24  to  26c;  yearling  lambs,  lb..  15  to 
17c;  mutton,  lb.,  10  to  11c:  veal,  lb..  14 
to  16c. 
Live  Poultry — Broilers,  lb.,  50  to  60c; 
chickens,  lb.,  25  to  26c;  fowls,  lb.,  26  to 
28c :  old  roosters,  lb.,  15  to  18c ;  guinea 
fowls,  each,  40  to  50c;  pigeons,  each,  15 
to  20c ;  ducks,  lb.,  23  to  26c ;  geese.  lb„ 
18  to  22c;  rabbits,  pair,  50  to  60c. 
Butter,  country,  crock,  lb.,  42  to  45c; 
eggs,  30  to  32c. 
Apples,  best,  bu.,  $1.50  to  $2  :  seconds, 
bu.,  $1  to  $1.25;  apples,  bbl..  $4  to_$7; 
asparagus,  doz.  bunches,  $5.50  to  $7.50: 
beets,  bn.,  80  to  85c;  cabbage,  doz.  heads, 
50  to  75c :  per  100  heads,  $4  to  $5 ;  car¬ 
rots,  bu..  50  to  65c;  celery,  doz.  bunches, 
75c  to  $1 :  lettuce,  doz.  heads,  50  to  60c ; 
Boston.’  doz.  beads,  $2  to  $2.50;  onions, 
dry.  bu..  $1.50  to  $1.75;  green,  doz. 
heads,  20  to  30e ;  parsley,  doz.  bunches, 
25  to  30c;  potatoes,  bu.,  $1.20  to  $1.25; 
parsnips,  bu.,  $1.25  to  $1.40;  radishes, 
doz.  bunches.  35  to  40c:  rhubarb,  doz., 
$1.30  to  $1.35:  spinach,  bu.,  $1.75  to  $2; 
tomatoes,  lb.,  20  to  25c;  turnips,  bu..  60 
to  70c:  vegetable  oysters,  doz.  bunches, 
40  to  50c. 
Beans,  per  100  lbs.  hand-picked,  red 
marrow.  87  ;  white  marrow.  $8.50;  red 
kidney.  $7  :  white  kidney,  $S ;  pea.  $6.50 ; 
medium,  $6.50;  yellow  eye,  $6.50;  Im¬ 
perials,  $6. 
Hides — Steers,  No.  1.  8c;  No.  2,  7c; 
cows  and  heifers.  No.  1.  8c;  No.  2,  7e; 
bulls  and  stags,  lb.,  6c;  horsehides,  each. 
$2  to  $3  ;  sheepskins,  each,  75c  to  $2.50 ; 
calf.  No.  1.  12c;  No.  2,  11c;  wool,  fleeced, 
lb..  35  to  40c :  unwashed,  medium,  35 
to  40c. 
Clover,  seed,  large,  bu.,  $15.50  to  $16: 
medium.  $15.50  to  $15.75  ;  Timothy.  $4.25 
to  $4.50:  Alfalfa.  $13.50  to  $14.50; 
Alsike.  $13.50  to  $14. 
New  Jersey  Local  Grain  and  Feed  Prices 
(Supplied  by  New  Jersey  State  Department  of 
Agriculture,  Bureau  of  Markets) 
The  following  quotations  show  approx¬ 
imate  oust  of  feed  per  ton  and  grain  per 
bushel  in  ca  riots,  sight  draft  basis,  de¬ 
livered  on  track  at  the  various  stations 
given  below.  The  quotations  are  based 
s  and 
on  sales  for  transit  and  nearby  shipments 
Monday,  April  30,  1923,  according  to  the 
New  Jersey  Bureau  of  Markets  and  the 
United  States  Bureau  of  Agricultural 
Economics  co-operating.  Feeds  all  in 
100-lb.  sacks.  Figures  are  for  Branch- 
ville.  Belvidere,  Mt.  Holly,  Montclair, 
Milford,  Washington,  Highbridge,  Frencli- 
town.  Sussex,  Flemington,  Trenton,  New¬ 
ton,  Lafayette,  Ilackettstown,  Belle 
Meade,  Lebanon,  Califon,  Hopewell,  New 
Brunswick,  Perth  Amboy,  Morristown, 
Dover.  Paterson,  Elizabeth,  Somerville 
and  Newark* 
Per  Bu. 
No.  2  white  oats . $0.56% 
No.  3  white  oats . 54% 
No.  2  yellow  corn .  1.01% 
No.  3  yellow  corn . 99% 
Per  Ton 
Spring  bran  . $36.90 
Hard  W.  W.  bran .  37.40 
Spring  middlings .  36.40 
Red  dog  flour .  40.90 
Soft  W.  AY.  middlings .  89  90 
Flour  middlings  .  39.40 
AA’hite  hominy  .  87.40 
Yellow  hominy  .  36.90 
Gluten  feed .  42.15 
36%  cottonseed  meal .  47.00 
41%  cottonseed  meal .  51.50 
43%  cottonseed  meal .  54.10 
31%  linseed  meal .  46.10 
34%  linseed  meal .  47.10 
New  York  Wholesale  Quotations 
May  3,  1923 
MILK 
Dairymen’s  League  Co-operative  Asso- 
eiation.  Inc.,  price  for  May  Class  1  fluid 
milk,  3  ])cr  cent,  in  201 -210-mile  zone, 
$2.33  per  100  lbs. ;  Class  2,  for  cream 
and  ice  cream,  $2:05. 
RUTTER 
Creamery,  fancy,  lb. 
.43% 
#  .44 
Good  to  choice.  .  . 
.41% 
#  .43 
Lower  grades. . . . 
.40 
#  .41 
Dairy,  best  . 
.42% 
(ft)  .43 
Common  to  good . . 
.89 
#  .41 
Packing  stock  . 
.33 
#  .36 
CHEESE 
Whole  milk  specials, 
held  . . 
.28% 
#  .29 
Average  run  .... 
.27% 
(ft)  .28 
F resh  specials  . 
.22% 
(ft)  .23 
Average  run  .... 
-21% 
#  .22 
Skims  . 
.10 
#  .18 
Eggs 
AVhite.  choice  to  f’ey 
■39% 
(ft)  .40% 
Medium  to  good.. 
.34 
(ft!  .38 
Alix'd  col’s,  n’bv,  b’st 
.34 
(ft)  .35 
Gathered,  best . 
.32 
(ft)  .32% 
Common  to  good .  . 
.26 
#  .80 
LEANS 
Marrow,  100  lbs .... 
10.25 
#  11.00 
Pea  . 
7.50 
#  7.75 
Red  kidney . 
8  00 
#  8.25 
White  kidney  . 
8.50 
(ft)  12.50 
Yellow  eve  . 
7.50 
#  8.00 
LIVE  POULTRY 
Fowls,  lb . 
.28 
#  .29 
Spring  broilers  .... 
.50 
(ft)  .60 
Roosters  . 
.15 
(ft)  .16 
Geese  . 
.12 
#  .14 
Turkeys  . 
.35 
(ft)  .40 
.27 
#  .30 
VEGETABLES 
Asparagus,  doz.  bobs. 
5.50 
#  8.50 
Beets,  bu . 
2.00 
(ft)  2.75 
Carrots,  100  lbs.  .  .  . 
1 .00 
#  1.25 
Cabbage,  new.  %-bbl. 
bkt . 
1.75 
(ft)  2.50 
Celerv  hearts,  doz.  . 
1.00 
#  1 .60 
Parsley,  bbl . 
4.00 
(ft)  5.00 
Parsnips,  bbl . 
4.50 
(ft)  4.75 
Peas,  bu.  bkt . 
2.50 
#  6.00 
Eggplant,  bu . 
3.00 
(ft!  4.00 
Lettuce,  bu . 
1.50 
(ft)  4.50 
Onions,  100  lbs. .  . . 
1.25 
#  3.00 
Peppers,  bu . 
Radishes,  bu.  bkt... 
2.00 
(ft)  5.00 
.50 
@  2.00 
Spinach,  bbl . 
1.50 
(ft)  2.75 
Squash,  new,  bu . . . . 
String  beans,  bu.  .  . . 
1.00 
#  1.75 
3.00 
#  4.50 
Tomatoes,  6-till  c’te. 
1.50 
#  5.00 
Turnips,  bu . 
Cucumbers,  bu . 
1.50 
#  2.00 
2.00 
#  5.50 
Kale,  bbl . 
1.50 
(ft)  2  00 
AAratercress,  lOObchs. 
3.00 
#  3.50 
POTATOES 
State,  180  lbs . 
2.50 
#  3.50 
Maine,  ISO  lbs . 
4.00 
#  4.50 
A’’ginia,  2d  crop,  bbl. 
3.00 
(ft)  3.25 
Florida,  new,  bbl... 
2.75 
(ft)  9.00 
Sweet  potatoes,  bu.. 
.90 
@  2.00 
DRESSED  POULTRY 
Turkeys,  best  . 
.37 
#  .38 
Common  to  good .  . 
.30 
(ft)  .35 
Broilers,  best,  lb... 
.60 
#  .75 
Fair  to  good . 
.35 
#  .45 
Fowls  . 
2*> 
(ft)  .30 
Canons,  best  . 
.44 
#  .45 
Fair  to  good . 
.32 
(ft)  .40 
Roosters  . 
.16 
(ft)  .22 
Ducks  . 
.25 
(ft)  .35 
Geese  . 
.15 
@  .21 
Squabs,  11  to  12  lbs., 
doz . 
9.00 
#  10.00 
8  to  9  lbs . 
6.00 
#  7.00 
6  to  7  lbs . 
3.50 
’#  5.00 
Eruits 
Apples,  bu.  bkt . 
1.00 
#  2.50 
Baldwin,  bbl . 
4.50 
(ft?  7.00 
Ren  Davis . 
2.25 
(ft)  3.25 
Greening  . 
3  00 
(5)  5.00 
Gano  . 
2.75 
.  (ft)  5.50 
Albemarle  . 
5.00 
#  8.50 
Pears.  Kieffer,  bbl .  . 
1.50 
(ft)  3.00 
r  r  i 
c 
e 
s 
Cranberries,  bbl... 
.  4.00 
@  i 
.2.00 
Kumquats,  qt . 
Strawberries,  qt. . . 
LIVE 
.08 
# 
.15 
.12 
STOCK 
# 
.35 
Steers,  100  lbs. . . . 
7.55 
# 
9.75 
Bulls  . 
.  4.00 
# 
6.30 
Cows  . 
.  1.50 
# 
6.00 
Calves,  best  . 
.  11.00 
#  i 
2.00 
Lower  grades  . .  . 
.  5.50 
7.50 
Sheep  . 
.  4.00 
# 
8.00 
Lambs  . 
.  14.00 
^  i 
7.25 
Hogs  . 
.  6.50 
# 
8.90 
COUNTRY-DRESSED  MEATS 
Calves,  best . 15  #  ,16 
Common  to  good..  .10  #  .14 
Lambs,  hothouse,  ea.  0.00  #  11.00 
Roasting  pigs . 20  @  .30 
Pork  . 10  (ft)  .17 
HAY  AND  STRAW 
Hay, 
No.  1, 
Timothy  25.00 
# 
26.00 
No. 
2 
.  23,00 
#. 
24.00 
No. 
o 
o  .  .  • 
.  19.00 
(ft1 
21.00 
Straw 
*  rye 
.  28.00 
# 
80  00 
Oat 
. . . . 
.  12.00 
# 
13.00 
Retail  Prices  at  New  York 
Milk- 
Grade  A,  bottled,  qt . $0.17 
Grade  B,  bottled,  qt . 14 
Grade  B,  bottled,  pt . 10 
Grade  B,  loose,  qt . .11 
Certified,  qt . 28 
Certified,  pt . .17 
Buttermilk,  qt . .10 
Cream,  heavy,  %  pt .  jiO 
Butter,  best  . $0.53@$0.55 
<  'heese  . 32(5)  .37 
Eggs,  best,  doz . 48#  .50 
Gathered  . 39#  .45 
Fowls  . 35#  .45 
Broilers,  lb . 75#  1.00 
Turkeys,  lb . 48#  .50 
Potatoes,  lb . 04  (ft)  .06 
Onions,  lb . 05#  .10 
Lettuce,  bead  . 10(5)  .15 
Cabbage,  head . 10(5)  .15 
Countrywide  Produce  Situation 
more  cotton  and  less  wheat  and  pota¬ 
toes  PLANTED — EFFECT  OF  CHANGES  IN 
PRODUCTION - EARLY  OUTLOOK  FAIRLY 
SATISFACTORY -  MORE  CHEERFUL  TONE 
PREVAILS. 
Farmers  have  been  planting  more  corn, 
oats,  barley,  flax,  tobacco  and  cotton  as 
compared  with  last  year,  but  less  wheat, 
potatoes,  sweet  potatoes  and  truck  crops., 
Flax  shows  the  greatest  increase,  but  the 
changes  of  most  general  interest  are  the 
9  per  cent  decrease  in  potato  area  and 
10  to  12  per  cent  gains  in  cotton  and 
tobacco. 
THE  POTATO  ACREAGE 
after  the  decrease,  would  still  be  up  to 
(he  five-year  average.  With  a  fair  season 
we  may  expect  an  average  crop  which  in 
good  times,  like  the  present,  ihay  be  ex¬ 
pected  to  bring  a  decent  price.  The  pop¬ 
ulation  gain  is  equivalent  to  the  yearly 
addition  of  two  cities  like  Boston  or  three 
like  AVashington.  and  the  country  can  vise 
a  few  million  more  bushels  season  by 
sea  son. 
The  cotton  increase  of  9  per  cent  over 
the  average  would  not  provide  loo  much 
cotton  for  profit.  The  boll  weevil  may  be 
counted  upon  to  cut  the  yield,  and  there 
was  not  much  old  cotton  carried  over. 
The  10  per  cent  increase  in  tobacco 
might  not  affect  the  market  much  in  pros¬ 
perous  times. 
LESS  WHEAT 
The  most  striking  change,  as  compared 
with  the  average  season,  is  the  decrease 
of  about  one-sixth  in  area  of  Spring 
wheat,  a  change  which  would  point  to 
higher  prices  for  grain  and  feeds,  but  the 
effect  of  lessened  production  would  be 
modified  by  the  export  situation.  Europe 
seems  to  be  coming  back  to  the  plow. 
Even  Russia  and  the  Balkan  States  are 
exporting  a  little  grain.  All  Europe  is 
buying  less  and  selling  more,  not  only  of 
grain,  but  of  many  other  things,  and  it 
may  be  just  as  well  if  we  do  not  have 
quite  so  much  wheat  this  year.  European 
affairs  are  still  in  a  messy,  unsettled  con¬ 
dition.  with  future  buying  power  un¬ 
settled. 
The  early  crop  estimates  were  gathered 
long  before  planting  was  over.  The  trou¬ 
ble  is  that  with  a  forecast  that  everybody 
is  supposed  to  know  about  everyone  is 
liable  to  shift  his  plans  a  little  and 
change  the  situation  more  or  less.  North¬ 
ern  farmers,  noting  the  expected  decrease 
in  wheat  and  potatoes,  might  put  in  a 
few  more  acres  as  a  late  season  venture. 
And  yet  farmers  in  general  have  not  be¬ 
come  used  to  quick  moves  of  that  kind, 
but  many  truck  growers  act  closely. ac¬ 
cording  to  the  developments  in  competing 
sections.  A  lost  farmers  are  too  busy 
planting  to  read  forecasts. 
THE  IIOG  SURPLUS 
In  the  line  of  live  stock  the  hogs  are 
the  unruly  element.  Western  farmers - 
have  been  plowing  “more  land  to  raise 
more  corn  ot  feed  more  hogs,”  until  the 
hog  population  is  about  6,000,000  too  many 
for  the  future  security  of  the  market. 
To  fatten  the  herds  next  Fall  a  great 
deal  of  corn  will  be  needed.  The  demand 
may  help  the  grain  market,  but  there  is 
small  prospect  of  high-priced  pork. 
Summing  it  all  up,  the  general  farmer 
may  look  for  a  market  year  not  far  away 
from  the  average.  The  tone  of  opinion 
is  considerably  more  cheerful  than  for 
the  past  year  or  two.  G.  B.  F. 
