RE ig ETRE AS it ae Eel iig heey os at 
.- eet 
- wy de A irr $ at “ 
" Ly Test = LAG ul .s e 
es seen ‘OF THE: COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. oe 
; Potatoes both Sfoctod vany pole by the severe ae ahe in the 
- Cotton was also reduced by seasons shaseoriznd by great 
_ portant crop which suffered from drought in a large district in the 
“West, though abundant elsewhere. The cereals were generally 
harvested before the severityof the drought was felt, and made 
’ nearly average yields. 
. The indications of condition and rate of yield point to a corn crop 
_ of about 1,456,000,000 bushels. The area planted was expected in 
- July to produce more than 2,000,000,000 bushels. Six of the past 
. seven years have had crops under average. The average for 1881 to 
_ 1886, inclusive, was 24 bushels per acre, while that from 1878 to 1880, 
inclusive, was 27.6 bushels per acre. Though it is not probable that 
Q a periodicity of fat and lean years in corn production exists, this 
- marked difference must be due to meteorological influences which 
it would be interesting and instructive to know definitely. The 
- rapid increase of acreage, however, prevents a decrease of absolute 
i ia the six bountiful years showing an average of 1,434,000,000 
bushels, and the lean years making an average of 1,639,000,000 
ee bushels. 
4 ' The wheat yield is slightly below that of last year, but. with in- 
a crease of area the season will aggregate about 456,000,000 bushels. 
» The oats crop amounts to 669,000,000 bushels. Barley, rye; and 
F buckwheat are nearly medium crops. 
ae naauiks and dace pasted the os of yield. tee is Siothae 3 im-, 
— 
_ . The minor crops of the country have been generally productive i in 
& moderate degree. 
There has been a serious failure in potatoes, the product being 
about 134,000,000 bushels, at the rate of 56 bushels per acre, as lowa 
rate of yield as has ever been reported, 1881 having nearly the same 
- average. 
| The cattle of the country have been decreased by losses on the 
_ ‘plains and in the mountains, and flocks of sheep are reduced from 
‘ the discouraging effect of ant prices, but the statistical position 
a renders almost certain an increase in the value and. profit of meat 
production. 
: An important feature in the current work in this division is the 
‘preparation of a series of charts and maps to show tiie geographical 
_ distribution and limitation of important crops. There has been fre- 
quent inquiry for such graphic illustrations in various tines of agri- 
cultural statistics, and it is very desirable to extend the work of the 
division in this direction. 
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