Although some fields, especially in north Jersey (Burlington, Mercer, and Monmouth Counties), show signs of late blight, this disease does not appear nearly so prevalent as during the past few years. In south Jersey (Salem and Cumberland Counties) very little of this disease has appeared.
The potato deal in all sections of the State opened generally about July 17. Contrary to custom, it looked as if the northern district would ship early potatoes more freely than the southern section. Very little of the stock seems to have been contracted.
There probably will be keen competition this season, especially in north Jersey, because three or four growers’ exchanges besides several large individual dealers are interested in the deal. In the southern district there is only the one exchange, but there are several large shippers.
Increasing quantities of potatoes are moving by truck from producing sections to New York City, Jersey City, Newark, and especially to the seashore cities. Many trucks are also being used for shipping to Pennsylvania cities, and the total truck movement probably will affect the season’s carlot shipments by several hundred cars. To July 29 about 2,060 cars of potatoes had been reported shipped from New Jersey, compared with 1,850 cars to the same date last year. Total shipments last season were almost 10,500 cars.
The close-of-the-season movement of Maine potatoes was twice as heavy as in June, 1921. Total shipments from that State have broken all records, amounting to approximately 40,000 carloads, or one-fifth of the entire late potato shipments of the United States.
Grain
WHEAT CONTINUED DOWNWARD
TREND; CORN FAIRLY STEADY Receipts of Wheat Increased—Heavy Export Sales Continued—Oats Prices Dropped Off.
The steady decline which has prevailed in the wheat market for some time continued during the week ending July 29 when September wheat at Chicago closed at $1.08, 1⅜¢ lower than at the close of the previous week. The heaviest decline occurred on Monday, when September wheat closed at $1.07⅜. The market rallied somewhat toward the close of the week but did not regain the loss sustained during the early part of the week.
The principal bearish factors were the heavy primary receipts, estimated at 15,902,000 bus., which caused large hedging sales; lower foreign markets; and the weakness in foreign exchange. Opposed to these influences were the bullish reports of heavy export sales and the reports that more wheat would be needed by foreign buyers than had been generally anticipated.