VOL. XX.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., SATURDAY, AUG.'8,1885.
NO. 32
Yield.
Crop,bush.
18 80
3'4,i:l0,597
17.51
291,100,3 6
_20.30
816,810,824
15.97
271,099,385
>p in
France is
3F0EEIGN CHOPS AHD OEAIN SUPPLY.
The Cincinnati Price Current collects
from various sources some facts and estimates on the crop and grain outlook abroad.
These show that the " wheat product of
France in 18S4 was officially reported as
111,141,845 hectolitres, but later calculations
give the total as 114,230,977 hectolitres,
with comparisons, computed in yield and
production in bushels, as follows:
Acres.
1881 ..17,426,713
1881 .....16.812,9*2
18S2 .17,069,851
18S1 17,196,666
This season's wheat crop in
variously estimated, ranging from about
98,000,000 to 102,000,000 hectolitres, as a rule
—say about 285,000,000 bushels, which is
regarded as an average production. Estimated shortage this season 53,000,000 to
40,000,000 bushels, compared with 1884.
The rye crop of France was 26,255,925
^hectolitres in 1884, or about 74,500,000 bush-
<els.
It is estimated that stocks of wheat in
France are smaller than a year ago.
Mail advices from Holland say: "With
the exception of a few merely local complaints there is satisfaction in our country
with the condition of the growing -crops,
and it is only for rather more rain that
wishes are expressed by farmers." .
There are complaints of shortage in the
rye crop in various districts of Northern
Germany, as also in Bohemia, and several
of the most important governments of
Russia.
A report from Nicolaieff, Russia, July 8,
•says: "Not a drop of rain has fallen in
the Southern Districts of Russia during a
whole month, and this circumstance, together with the quite unusual and really
tropical heat, lasting already about two
weeks, without interruption, has caused
irreparable damage to the crops, the produce of which therefore I am sorry to say
will only bo a very miserable one."
In reviewing the wheat, trade, Beer-
bohm's report of July 17 says: "The
downward course ol the market has been
so uninterrupted for an unusually long
time,-notwilhstauding occasional appearances of some immediate recovery, that
at this moment holders seem to have completely lost heart. It is admitted that
there are apparently very strong reasons
for a future advance, and perhaps a slight
turn for the better may now be thought
more imminent than before, inasmuch as
the recent very heavy arrivals have already
had their ellbct in depressing prices, and
the large fleet ai rived oft the coast is in the
course of being dispersed, while the further
early arrivals cannot possibly be large, and
the total, quantity on passage for the
United Kingdom has this week been reduced to the serious extent of 345,000,000
quarters. At the close, the appearance of
the wheat trade is steadier than on some
previous days this week."
Dornbusch's   report of   stocks of   grain
etc., in tlii leading markets of tbe United
Kingdom show the following comparisons:
July 1,1835.     July 1, last.
Wheat, quarters V.21,121 1,477,670
Flour, sacks   987,662 731.877
Maize, quarters   511,170 154,751
Barley, quarters   554,777 183,182
Oats, quarters  609,851 281,207
Peas, quarters     49,200 36,718
Beans, quarters _...    66,370 54,385
A more extended  comparison of stocks
of wheat and flour ln the United Kingdom
is shown in the following, flour being
reckoned as the equivalent ln wheat:
Wheat.
Ors.
July 1,1885 1,521,124
April 1,1885    989,418
January 1,1885 1,558,123
July 1,1881 1,477,670
Jnly 1,1883 .5,322,183
July 1,1882. :   825.463
July 1,1881    652,193
A quarter is reckoned as eight bushels.
The Imports of wheat and flour into tho
United Kingdom, for ten months, from
September 1 to June 30, for five years,
compare as follows:
Flour as
Total aa
Wheat.
Wheat.
Qrs.
Qrs.
773.352
2.294,476
553,370
1,542,78!
480,102
2,038.26
676.017
2,053,687
875,141
3,197,424
293,793
1,119,M6
304,502
1,156,699
Flour as
Total as
Wheat.
Wheat.
Wheat.
Qrs.
Qrs.
Qrs.
1884-5	
 -.10,656,282
4,167,627
14.821.919
3,577,716
12.898,402
4,082 915
16.830,368
1882-2	
 11,264,902
2,571,201
13.8i6,121
3,049,509
13,607,562
with 350,000,000 required at home as above
estimated, leaves a surplus for export of
only 17,000,000 bushels. But if the estimate of the Reporter of 480,000,000 bushels
be accepted, then a small draft has to be
made upon our reserves of old grain if
any exports are made.
It will be understood, of course, tbat
the foregoing estimates are mere guess,
work—approximations—but there Is evidence enough in all this guessing to convince us that the United States will have
very little wheat to spare to foreign countries during the coining harvest year.'
It may be well enough to inquire, what
is to be the effect upon the markets of the
practical inability of America to assist, as
usual in making good the deficiencies of
Europe.
Written for tba Indiana Farmer.
Mistakes of Wheat Raisers.—No. 2.
Wheat Surplus Views.
The  following  is from  the New York
Produce Exchange Reporter,  as to probable available surplus ef wheat for export
the coming year:
The 1884 wheat crop of the United States
was returned by the Agricultural Bureau
at about513,000,000 bushels. But the .Reporter placed the crop at only about 4$$,-
000,000 bushels of 60 pounds each, and that
is the way the grain is sold for expo'rt,
and it is also the way it is estimated when
turned into its equivalent in flour, 414
bushels or 270 pounds of wheat being computed equal to One barrel of flour. If this
method of computation be used, it cannot be shown that there will be more than
a normal stock of old wheat on hand at
harvest time this year, and all advices
from points east of the Rocky Mountains
indicate that there is not. California it is
very likely will carry forward from the
old crop more than usual, but as compared
with the average aggregate the excess there
Is a mere bagatelle. It maybe assumed
therefore, we think, that the United States
will go into the new crop with no more
than normal reserves of old grain. If so,
then what is the probable exportable sur
plus available for the coming year to leave
these normal reserves intact at harvest
time next year?
From all accounts the wheat crop of the
present- year promises to be 160,000,000
|"busbelj} short of that of last year, and not
a few believe that the deficiency will be
even greater. But admitting that the falling off will be only 160,000,000 oushels,
what are the surplus prospects?
The population of the United States is
now probably about 58,000,000, and 5 bushels per capita per annum is, with tbe increased consumption and waste occasioned
by the excessively low prices ruling, quite
little enough to estimate the home wants
exclusive of seed. For seeding and re-
sowing 60,000,000 bushels for 38,000,000
acres is seemingly a fair estimate. This
gives a total for home requirements of 350,-
000,000 bushels. ^
Now if the crop of this year is to be 160,-
000,000 bushels short of the 513,000,000 reported'by the Agricultural Bureau last
year, or of the 480,000,000 which the Reporter believes would be nearer the mark,
what aro the export prospects? On the
basis of the Bureau estimates, the crop
would turn out 367,000,000 bushels, which,
BY JOHN  M.   STAHL.
A" serious mistake often made by wheat
raisers in preparing the ground for the
seed, is a failure to follow after the
plow with the harrow and roller. At
time of plowing the ground, provided
this work is done as early as it should
be, there is^yet considerable "moisture in
the soil.. The ground will break up more
or less lumpy; but those will be so soft
that one passage of the harrow and roller
over them will reduce.them to a great extent, and so press'them down that nearly
all their moisture will be retained. Thus
the balance of the work of preparing a
proper seed-bed will be easy; and this bed
will contain sufficient moisture to germinate the seed. But very often the clods
are allowed to lie just as they come from
the plow. The hot sun and air dissipate
their moisture until they become so hard
that to reduco them requires much work.
And when they are finally pulverized into
a seed-bed, it is so dry and lifeless that but
apart of the seed will germinate and many
plants will wither and finally succumb,
Year after year Isoosome of my neighbors
trying to reduce clods that have been
turned up to the sun for a month;' and as
they harrow among the hard lumps until
these become polished these men wish for
rain and wonder if it pays to raise wheat
after alt. If each evening they had quit
plowing in time to go over once with
tho harrow and roller the ground which
Wis broken that day,they would not have
been in such need of rain, and they would
have had a better seed-bed with but little
more than one half of the labor. Do not
fail to keep tho harrow and roller close
after the plow.
Another mistake is to apply the manure
before the ground is plowed and of course
to turn it under. This is bad policy because for one thing it delays plowing and
for another thing it places the manure
where its full value cannot be realized.
Each year I increase thelist of crops which
should be surface manured; and for several
years I have had wheat npon this list.
Wheat is a shallow feeder and at no period
of its growth do its roots penetrate deep
into the soil. If the manure is plowed
under a consderable part of it will not be
utilized by the succeeding crop of wheat at
any period in its growth. But wheat needs
the manure most in the fall. To escape the
droughty weather of early fall and also the
Hessian fly and yet other enemies of the
plant, it is neccessary to delay seeding.
This makes the season of growth before
winter quite short; and for the plant to
make that growth and strong root formation   without  which it   cannot   endure
through the winter, it must be forced along.
Hence tho necessity of a seedbed so   fine
that it will readily yield such sustenance
as the soil contains: and of "so applying the
manure that the plants can utilize it at
this season.    But now the roots  of tho
plants are short; so short that they will
reach to but little ot the manure if It is
plowed under.   If, however, it is applied
after the ground has been plowed, and once
harrowed and rolled, this work on the land
can be done earlier; and subsequent work in
preparing the  seedbed will find the manure and incorporate it in the upper stratum of the soil, thus placing it in that condition and position in which it will do the
most good.   Many yet plow under barnyard and stable manure because they fear it
it is placed on or near tbe surface much of
its value will be lost.But this fear is groundless.   It is true that   the manure, if wet
when hauled out, will lose considerable
weight; but this is the result of only the
evaporation of the water it contains, and
is not caused by any loss of really valuable
constituents.   If tho manure is apread out
upon the ground the loss in value will be
too small to [cut any figure; and will be
much less than if the manure is placed in
heaps, for then it will likely"firefang" and
this occasions a real loss.   I am strongly in
favor of applying all the manure from the
yards and stables to the fall wheat crop;
depending upon green manuring for corn
and other such crops.
Quincy, 111.
(Query & ^usurer.
Give yonr name and postofflce when asking questions. Many queries go unanswered for failure to
observe this rule.
In your issue of July 25 C. O. B. asks for
the experience of farmers as to fall plowing for corn, his neighbor says the soil
will deteriorate very rapidly owing to
evaporation of ammonia, and asks if fall
plowing is done when should it be done?
Seeing no reply in last week's issue I
would say I hope some one who knows
will answer him. My limited experience
teaches me that fall plowing for corn pays
so far as the tillage of the crops is concerned, and I had thought that late in the
fall I would break my corn ground which
is now in clover, having been in wheat
this year. T. M. S.
Please state in your columns the standing
and reliability of the U. B. Mutual Aid
Society of Pennsylvania. Is it a first-class
company to insure in? J. M.
Elkhart Co.
We know nothing for nor against this
company, but while there are home companies known to be reliable we would not
advise you to spend time in looking up
the standing of foreign ones.
Will some one who has experience in
manufacturing sorghum molasses by
steam describe the construction of boxes
and pipes, aud oblige A Sob.
Sharps ville.
Perhaps Dr. Furnas will favor yon with
an answer.