348 



REPORT. OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



WHEAT. 



During the decade wliicli ended with 1879, the product of ^?heat 

 nearly doubled, and the annual average of estimates for the period was 

 312,152,728 bushels. The price was higher in the first live years than 

 in the latter half of the period, and the demand was all the greater iu 

 those years of deficient yield in Europe, because the price was lower in 

 accord with the commercial policy of buying iu the lowest market. 



The average product of the live years of the present decade, from 1880 

 to 1884, inclusive, has advanced nearly 50 per cent., while the equi- 

 libiiam of Ibreign production has been measurably restored by return 

 of a normal rate of yield after a cycle of defective crops; the average 

 is 403,973,318 bushels. This enlargement has not resulted from exces- 

 sive yields, the average rate being 12.3 bushels instead of 12.4 for the ten 

 years period, but from increased area, which is 50 per cent, over the aver- 

 age for the ten years period. 



The average value per bushel in 1881 was the highest since 1872, when 

 the average farm price was $1.24. Since that date the limited require- 

 ments of Europe have reduced the average, until last December the 

 value was little more than half that ®f the crop of 1881. This was due 

 to increased area and a higher rate of production in Europe, and an en- 

 larged exportation of wheat from India. 



Low prices of wheat are essential to low cost of the manufactures of 

 England and Holland, on which depends measurably the extent and 

 prevalence of commercial distribution of their manufactured products. 

 Therefore, production in India is stimulated, railroad extension there is 

 promoted, shipments from British colonies are encouraged, and wheat 

 obtained in any jiart of the world that can sell it at the lowest rates. 

 Oheaj)ness is the condition upon which wheat can be exported from this 

 country in the future, except in seasons when the European harvests 

 have disappointed the exi^ectations of the consumers. 



The value of an acre of wheat averaged only $8.38 on an average 

 yield of 13 bushels last year, the lowest return of which there is any 

 record, and a figure lower than the accredited estimates of the cost of 

 l)roductiou. It may confidently be assumed, therefore, that there is no 

 profit in wheat production at present prices. 



But there is a class of farmers who made a profit on wheat in 1884. 

 Those who secured 25 bushels per acre, or 20, obtained a small profit, 

 provided the cost of fertilizers was not too large an element of it. 



The following statement compares the results of this half decade with 

 those of the preceding decades : 



