REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 



369 



Tlie estimates of distribution show, as usiial, that little more than 

 one-sixth of the crop goes beyond county lines. The neighborhood 

 distribution to local feeders is not considered. A part of the shijD- 

 ments go to more distant individual buyers for consumption, another 

 portion to the cities of the West, and both city and country east of 

 the Alleghanies, besides that which is exported to foreign countries, 

 which is only about 3 jDer cent, of the crop. Excepting Tennessee 

 and Kentucky and the seven States above named, there is no State 

 in which the movement amounts to 10,000,000 bushels. Nebraska 

 stands next to Illinois in this record of distribution, and Iowa and 

 Indiana are next in prominence. 



The following statement makes a comparison by sections of this 

 distribution, showing that one-fifth of the product of the West has 

 been handled commercially, while about one-tenth has been dis- 

 tributed in the Middle and Southern States: 



The distribution of the crop of 1886 to date is less than the ship- 

 ments of two years ago by only 10,000,000 bushels, though the crop 

 of 1884 was much larger. 



PROPORTION MERCHANTABLE. 



The crop of 1886 ripened well, with very little frosted, and only 

 14 per cent, from any cause deemed unmerchantable. The propor- 

 tion of sound corn, commercially designated as "merchantable," was 

 86 per cent. Two years ago the crop was even better ripened, aver- 

 aging 89 per cent, merchantable. The great crop of 1885 was slightly 

 below average in quality, as only 78 per cent, was estimated mer- 

 chantable, from frost and other causes. The crop of 1883 suffered 

 severely from frost, only 60 per cent, being merchantable, instead of 

 80 in an average year. 



The largest proportion of the crop consumed at this date is on the 

 Pacific coast and in the Territories, but the quantity is so small that 

 the fact has little significance. 



The Western States uniformly show the highest rate of consump- 

 tion and the largest proportion of the crop consumed, with the above 

 unimportant exception. This is due to feeding for meat, mutton, and 

 milk. The Eastern States stand next, and the Middle States next to 

 the cotton belt. It is also understood that shipments eastward are 

 from this region. 



The average consum]Dtion of the past crop to date is 63.8 per cent.; 

 for five years, 63. 2 j)er cent. Thus the average consumption to March 

 is ordinary; a very little less than two-thirds of the crop. The fol- 

 24 AG— '86 



