REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 



3G7 



a small element. The proportion left on the farm at this date ranges 

 from one-third to four-tenths of the crop in different j^ears. After 

 the short crop of 1S83, in March, 1884, the farmers' surplus was 33 per 

 cent., and after the great crop of 1885, last March, it was almost 40 

 per cent. The present surplus is 3G.2 per cent., almost exactly the 

 same as that of the 1882 crop, which was a trifle larger in proportion 

 to i30X)ulation than that of last year. The present remainder would 

 be somewhat smaller but for the large crop of the previous year, from 

 which a larger quantity of old corn than usual must enter into this 

 surplus. Our correspondents are directed to make the last crop the 

 basis of the i)ercentage of surplus, including in such surplus all the 

 grain remaining, of whatever croj). 



It is understood that the quantity of corn required for consumption 

 is not an absolute, invariable quantity, other feeding material being 

 used with corn, and if necessary as a partial substitute for it ; and yet 

 the quantity used from the time of harvest to the 1st of March has 

 not varied as much as the size of the respective crops. The follow- 

 ing statement is a comparison of the amount thus used and the sur- 

 plus for five years: 



March 1— 



Product. 



On hand- 

 March 1. 



Consumed or 

 distributed. 



1883 

 1884 



1885 

 1886 

 1887 



Bushels. 

 1,616.99(5,100 

 1,551,000,000 

 1,795,000,000 

 1,936,000,000 

 1, 665,^000, 000 



Bvshrls. 

 5&7,,465. 943 

 5152,000,000 

 675,0(X1,000 

 773,000,000 

 6C3, 000, 000 



Bushels. 

 1,029,530,157 

 1,039, 000, OCX) 

 1,120,000,000 

 1,163,000,000 

 1,062,000,000 



Thus in years of nearly average crops the amount ''consumed or 

 distributed " to this date is comparatively uniform, sliglitly exceed- 

 ing 1,000,000,000 bushels, while the large crops of 1884 and 1885, sold 

 at low prices, were consumed in larger proportion. The rate of con- 

 sumption to date is smallest in the South (58.1 per cent.), which is 

 nearly the same as in 1884 and 1885, and more than in 188G. The 

 winter feeding there is less for two reasons, climate and limited corn- 

 feeding for meat-making. The use of corn in the plowing and cul- 

 tivating season is larger proportionally than in any other section of 

 the country, causing a large consumption of maize for Avork animals 

 between March and July. 



It is seen that 67 per cent, of the March remainder is found in the 

 Western States, where nearly 71 per cent, of the crop was groAvn. 

 For commercial purposes this section practically represents the crop. 

 These twelve States, from West Virginia to Nebraska, inclusive, may 

 bo still further limited to seven, known as the corn-surplus States, as 

 the only States that make any material contribution to the commer- 

 cial supply. The quantity on hand in these States is less by 137,- 

 000,000 bushels than at this date last year, while the product of those 

 States was 240,000,000 bushels greater in 1885 than in 188G. The 

 quantity on hand in those States has averaged for five years 378,000,- 

 000 bushels,_ or 34,000,000 bushels more than the present remainder. 

 As the requireinent is annually increasing, the present farmers' sup- 

 ply is comi^arpotively low, and the price must be considered too low 

 for the quantity available, unless a large allowance is to be made for 

 the present depressed status of prices. The following exhiint may 



