REPORT OF THE STATISTICIAN. 



EXPORTATION. 



The exportation of wheat has a record as old as the Government of 

 the United States. In the eighteentli century and up to 18G0 flour 

 took the lead of wheat in quantity. Since that date grain in bulk has 

 been greatly in excess. Recently the tendency is manifestly favora- 

 ble to a larger proportion of exports in the form of flour. 



From 182G to 1855 the average exportation was less than 9,000,000 

 bushels. After 18G0 there was rapid increase in the volume of wheat 

 exported, rising to 2U, to 30, and culminating at 33 per cent., or one- 

 third of the crop shipped abroad for a period of six years. The last 

 six years, however, mark a period of decline to 26 per cent. It is 

 doubtful if one-fourth of the crop can hereafter be exported, as other 

 wheat-growing nations will doubtless divide the trade, which is lim- 

 ited by an uncertain measure of deficiency. 



The following table shows the exportation of wheat, and flour in its 

 equivalent of wheat, by decennial periods from 1831 to 1880 and by 

 years from 1881 to 188G: 



OATS. 



The tendency is towards enlargement of the cultivation of oats, as 

 in the case of corn. The other grains are used almost exclusively for 

 human consumption, and do not, therefore, admit of such extension. 

 An increase of about half a million acres occurred in 1886. The sea- 

 son was moderately favorable, the averages of condition being: June, 

 95.9; July, 88.8; August, 87.4; September, 90.9. As in the case of 

 spring wheat, there was a sharp decline in July; in August condition 

 remained nearly stationary, and on the 1st of September a material 

 improvement was shown. The product of oats is (in round numbers) 

 624,000,000 bushels, 5,000,000 less than in 1885, grown on an area of 

 over 23,000,000 acres, and valued at $186,000,000. The average yield 



