290 
years are abnormally low. The acreage of 1865 was nearly doubled in 
1866 and nearly tripled in 1878. During the year last named our corn- 
fields were nearly equal in area to the State of Kansas. 
The average product per acre was substantially the same throughout, 
amounting to 26.6 bushels during the latter eight years, against 26.8 
bushels in the previous eight years. Our four last ev ops each exceeded 
considerably a billion and a quarter of bushels. As in the case of wheat, 
the supplies have grown faster than the population. 
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
During the first 
eight years the out-turn averaged 21.40 bushels per capita, and during 
the latter eight years, 24.07 bushels ; in 1875, it amounted to nearly 30 
bushels. Our surplus in later years has found an increasing foreign out- 
let. During the first eight years we sent abroad but 1. 20 per cent. of 
our product; during the latter eight years, 4.37 per cent.; of the crop of 
1877, we shipped abroad 64 per cent, and the crop of 1878 is going out 
probably in about the same proportion. 
The average price obtained by the farmer has fallen off two-thirds in 
fifteen years, being 99.7 cents per bushel in 1864, and 31.8 cents in 1878. 
The last-named crop, though greater by 46,000,000 bushels than its 
predecessor, fell short of it $39 ),060,000 in agarerate value. The aver- 
age value of each acre’s yield has fallen to the “unprecedented low figure 
of $8.55 in 1878; in 1864 it amounted to $30.64. The last-named year, 
however, was one of extreme moneyed inflation. Corn has fallen off pro- 
portionally more than wheat. Its abundance and cheapness has made 
it the object of a very considerable and growing export trade. 
. Oo cs ‘ mm 
3 & | See |B 
3 5 ie Aq 25 a 
3 aS a = S BE ee |ad 
| 5 2 5 es oS) eee oe 
Years. Acreage. | & 3 = BS E 2 se |e 3 
3) a (o) i 3 ae SR 
faa i= faa) - & a Sa oO A Ay 
= a it 8 a iG a Go deo] & 
| Sy i) 53 i) 6 Bon | 2 
| al A Ay i H ) AY 
\Bush.| Bushels. | | Bushels. | P. ct. 
15, 312, 441) 25.98! 397, 839, 212! $0. 69. 9'$278, 089, 609} $18 16 5, 146, 192) 1.29 
17, 438, 752) 30. 2| 530, 451, 403 99. 5| 52 07, 718,183; 30 26) 3, 610, 402 . 68 
18, 990, 180) 87.09} 704, 427, 853) 46. 0) 324,168,693) 17 07) 14, 465, 751 2. 05 
34, 306, 5: 38) 25.30; 867, 946, 295) 68. 2) 591, 666,295) 17 21| 16, 026,947) 1.85 
32, 520, 249) 23.63) 768, 320, 000 79. 5 610, 948, 399 13 49) - 12, 493, 522) 1.62 
34, 887, 246) 25.9 906, 527, 006 62.8) 569, 512, 460) 16 32) 8, 286, 665 91 
37, 1038, 245) 23.5 874, 320, 060 75. 3) 658, 532, 700! 17 74) 2, 140, 487 24 
38, 646, ’ 977| 28.3 | 1, 094, 255, 000 4.9; 601, 839, 030! 15 57) 10, 676,873 . 98 
34, 091, 187; 29.1 991, 898, 000 48. 2) 478, 275, 900 4 02) 35,727,010) 3.60 
35, 526, 836) 30.7 | 1, 092, 719, 600 39. 8| 435, 149, 290 12 24; 40,154, 274) 3.68 
39, 197, 148) 23.8 932, 274, 000 48. 0| 447, 183, 020 11 41) 35, 985, 834) 3.86 
41, 036, 918) 20.7 850, 148, 500 64. 7| 550, 048,080; 138 40} 30, 025, 036] 3.53 
44, 841, 371| 29.4 | 1, 21) 069, 000 42. 0) 555, 445, 930 12 33| 50, 910, 582) 3.85 
49, 033, 364| 26.1 | 1, 283, 827, 000 37. 0} 475, 491, 210 69| 72,652,611) 5.66 
50, 369, 113) 26.6 | 1, 342, 558, 000 35. 8) 480, 643, 400 9 54| 87,192,110) 6.50 
51, 585, 0090 26.9 | 1, 388, 218, 750 31. 8) 441, 153, 405) 8 5d).-----------/eene= a 
Average of whole | | | 
penOdser ewes se sae 35, 930, 407) 26.7 959, 174, 938) 52. 3 501, 616, 287 13 96)... .--------|---ee0 
Average 1863-'70...| 28, 650, 703, 26.8 768, 010, 845) 67.7) 520, 309, 421) 18 16) 5-225 oeeeree eee 
Average 1871-'78. 7 43, 210, il 26.6 | 1, 150, 341, aay 42. a 482,923,154) 11 18)...... cc coe. | eet = 
| 
DISTRIBUTION OF OUR AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS. 
ANIMALS AND ANIMAL MATTER.—The export of live animals shows 
an extraordinary increase—76 per cent. in total value—over last year. 
This is owing to the vast expansion of the horse and cattle trades during 
1878, and to : a large increase in the export of mules and sheep. Hogs 
fell off about three-fifths. The United Kingdom about quintupled its 
previous demand upon us for live stock. Continental Europe, which had 
