262 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE CROP OF CORN. 



BY JOS. A. JEFFERY. 

 Special Bulletin No. 22. 



In studying the corn crop it is worth while to form some idea, first of all, of 

 its importance and magnitude, to learn if possible the meaning of the expression 

 "King Corn" and "Corn is King." 



Corn is grown on every continent but in greatest quantities on the continent 

 of North America. 



In 1901 the corn crop of the world was 2,327,894,000 bushels. In 1902 it was 

 about 3,000,000,000. In 1902 the crop of the United States was 2,523,648,312 

 bushels — more, it v/ill be seen, than the world's crop of the year before and more 

 than five-sixths of the crop of 1902. 



Generally speaking the United States produces about three-fourths of all the 

 world's yield. 



Our closest competitors among the nations are Hungary and Roumania in 

 Europe. Each grows about one-tenth as much as the United States. Argentina 

 in South America is becoming a corn producing nation and promises to become 

 an important competitor. 



Question I. If the wlwle crop of 1902 could be placed in a cril) covering one 

 section of land (one mile square), how high would the walls of the crib need to 

 be to hold the crop provided the crib should be just level full? Estimated 4,300' 

 cubic inches to the bushel of ear corn. 



Question 2. Hoio high is the peak of your barn and how many times as high 

 will this national corn crib be? 



In the United States, Illinois, Iowa, Rlissouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana and 

 Ohio lead in the acreage and total yield of corn and together are known as the 

 "Corn Be]t." In 1902 they stood in the order named for yield. 



In 1902 Michigan stood eigtheenth in the list of corn producing states. In 1901 

 we stood eleventh. 



The average yields of the "Corn Belt" states for ten years are as follows: 



Ohio 33 . 03 bu. per acre 



Illinois 32 . 8 bu. per acre 



Indiana 32 . 11 bu. per acre 



Iowa 31.3 bu. per acre 



Missouri 20 . 8 bu. per acre 



Nebraska 23.62 bu. per acre 



Kansas 20.25 bu. per acre 



Average for belt for 10 years 28.56 bu. per acre 



The average yield of corn for the United States for the past ten years is 23.9 

 bu. per acre. 



It is interesting to note that the average yield of corn for Michigan for the same 

 ten years is 30.91 bu. per acre and that its average exceeds the average of the 

 corn belt and exceeds also the average yields of three of the corn belt states, viz.: 

 Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas. 



It is interesting also to know that Vermont leads all the states in average yield 

 for the past ten years of 37.56 bu. per acre. Massachusetts stands a close second 

 with an average yield for the same ten years of 37.32 bu. per acre. 



South Carolina stands at the foot with an average of 9.13 bu. per acre for the 

 same period. 



Question 3. Why should Kansas give an average yield for ten years of 20.25 

 bu. while Michigan gives an average of 30.01 bu.? 



Question 4. Why should Vermont lead all the states xvith an average of 31.56 bu.f 



Question 5. Why should South Carolina give an average yield of 9.13 bu. only? 



