No. fl. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 385 



RYE 



The average production of rye in the State was about the same 

 pep acre as in the two previous years, 17.2 bushels per acre. The 

 area harvested was 271,G00 acres and the yield 4,672,000, the esti- 

 mated value being |3,971,200. Pennsylvania ranks fourth in the pro- 

 duction of rye; Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota leading in the 

 order named. 



BUCKWHEAT 



The acreage of buckwheat was increased by 14,000 acres and the 

 production 1.7 bushels less per acre than in 1914, and .1 bushel per 

 acre less than tlie five year average. The estimated production of 

 the country is 15,769,000 bushels. This State is first, with a yield 

 of 5,540,000 bushels. 



HAY 



Hay ranks third in value compared with the other crops. The 

 yield for the country— 85,225,000 tons,— valued at |912,320,000, being 

 an increase of |133,000,000 over the 1914 crop. This increase is 

 due to the fact that there was 1,830,000 acres more in grass; also 

 that the yield was increased by one-fourth ton per acre. The value 

 per ton was 42 cents less than in 1914. The area cut for hay in this 

 State was about 4 per cent, less than last year, producing a total 

 of 3,558,000 tons, at an estimated value of |57,572,200. The Pennsyl- 

 vania farmer should give more attention to the raising of grass, 

 because it increases the fertility of the soil, especially when clover 

 is raised. 



POTATOES 



Pennsylvania stands sixth in the production of potatoes. The 

 average yield was only 72 bushels per acre, selling at an average 

 price of 75 cents per bushel. The average yield for the country was 

 95.5 bushels per acre and the average price nearly 62 cents per 

 bushel. About 22 per cent, of the crop in this State was affected by 

 rot, ranging from 7 to 50 per cent, in different counties. The total 

 production for this State was 20,502,000 bushels, being nearly 8,000,- 

 000 bushels short of 1914. 



According to the fall report, the acreage sown to winter wheat is 

 11.3 less than the preceding year. The acreage of rye is 3 per cent, 

 less than 1914. The condition of these crops are favorable through- 

 out the country. 



The average prices on all cereals, with the exception of potatoes, 

 were less per bushel than in 1914, this being due to the enormous 

 crops produced and high ocean freight rates on exports. During Sep- 

 tember, October and November, 1915, the rates on wheat from New 

 York to Liverpool were 37.22 cents per bushel, or more than four 

 times the average for the corresponding three months in 1914; also 

 during this period — September, October and November, our exports 

 show 10,000,000 bushels less than the corresponding three months of 

 1914, while Canadian exports show an increase of 58,000,000 bushels 

 in the same time. 



But, on the whole, it has been a good year for the American farmer. 

 The valuation of the different crops is considerable above the five 

 year average and an increase of 9 per cent, as compared with 1914, 



25—6—1915 



