No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 485 



WHEAT. 



The wheat crop of Pennsylvania was one of the largest ever known. 

 While no exceptional yields are reported, the average yield was ahead 

 of former years. The highest yield reported is 36 bushels per acre 

 and the highest average yield 27 bushels per acre. From reports, I 

 ascertain that the average for the State to-be 17.1 bushels per acre, 

 being higher than for many years. The wheat in our locality (that 

 in the middle eastern section) developed a most perfect berry, and 

 good average yields, so that while the prices have dropped about 20 

 cents per bushel from a year ago, farmers still have a good return 

 from their wheat crop. 



OATS. 



The oats crop, being largely a weather crop, gave promise early 

 in the growing season of an abundant yield, but heavy storms about 

 the time of heading and filling in our section lodged it so that the 

 yield was less when threshing time came, than was anticipated. 

 While many crops averaged 50 bushels or more per acre, other crops 

 only threshed 20 to 25 bushels. This crop is a good crop for us 

 farmers to raise, as it fits in between a corn and a wheat crop, and 

 being a crop that is quick in growth and can be placed on the market 

 in about 90 days from time of sowing, is a profitable crop for the 

 farmer to realize on. Commercial fertilizers are used to good ad- 

 vantage on the oats crop, increasing the yield of straw, as well as im- 

 proving the quality of berry aud give weight to the same. The 

 average the past year was 36 bushels per acre or 8 bushels in ex- 

 cess of 1903. 



RYE. 



Rye is a somewhat neglected crop in Pennsylvania and should be 

 given a more conspicuous place among the cereals on light lands. 

 On bluffs and land of thin quality profitable crops can be grown. 

 Rye will do well where wheat will not produce paying crops. The 

 amount of straw produced by growing rye in excess of what wheat 

 will produce, would amply repay the difference in the price per 

 bushel, being in our section about 15 cents less for rye than for wheat, 

 and rye straw is in great demand in our towns at almost fabulous 

 prices. The feed value of the rye crop is worthy of consideration 

 and will add to the money-makers on our Pennsylvania farms. The 

 average last year was 17 bushels, worth 65 cents per bushel or $3,826,- 

 ',228 in the State. 



BUCKWHEAT. 



Buckwheat is also grown to some extent in our State, and proves 

 to be a very profitable crop as it only occupies the land for a few 

 months and fully covers the entire surface during the time it is grow- 

 ing. It proves to be valuable to keep land clean and ready to put 

 in a crop of rye and thus keeps the land fully occupied on new land 

 just cleared and on light gravelly soils it is a money-maker and the 

 crop the past year was sold from the thresher in our section at 50 

 lo 60 cents per bushel. The yield varies from 30 to 60 bushels per 

 acre. The average yield in the State was 20 bushels. Total yield, 

 4,647,960 bushels, worth $2,602,858. 



CLOVER AND TIMOTHY SEEDS. 



But our report would seem incomplete if we omit the seeds. 

 Clover seed and timothy also figure in making up a grand total and 



