128 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



uses. Tlie out-turn of the crop, however, showed it to be the largest 

 ever produced aud was 1,547,901,000 bushels. The price as returned 

 by the producer was for the whole country an average of 37.5 cents per 

 bushel against 31.8 cents in 1878. The aggregate value of the crop is 

 $580,000,000 for 1879 against .$441,000,000 in 1878. 



Wheat. — The winter of 1878-'79 was a severe one, but the injuries to 

 fall sown wheat were confined to the Southern States, where the cover- 

 ing of snow, so universal in the Northern States, was needed. 



There was some increase in the area planted in fall sown wheat, but 

 the great increase in the area of this crop was in those States where it is 

 sown in the sirring. The total increase of acreage was nearly 2 per cent. 

 The conditions of the crop during growth were not so favorable as dur- 

 ing the year previous, but, although short in straw, the out-turn of grain 

 was larger. 



In those States bordering on the Ohio Kiver the result was in excess 

 of anticipations, while in the large i)roducing States of the Northwest 

 the reverse was the case, and there the crop of 1879 did not more than 

 equal that of 1878. The same causes for the partial failure of the spring 

 wheat crop as were given in 1878, were given this year, viz, extreme 

 heat just at maturing, drought, and chinch bugs. On the Pacific slope 

 the crop is rather below that of 1878, both in quantity and quality. 

 The total crop for the whole country is estimated at 448,756,000 bushels, 

 which, assuming the population to be 48 J million i:)ersons, would give a 

 product of 9.2 -f bushels per capita ; allowing 5.5 bushels for home con- 

 sumption (seed and food), there would remain a surplus of about 

 182,000,000 bushels for export. 



The average yield per acre was 13.7 + bushels, considerably larger 

 than in the year 1 878, and almost identical with that of 1877, which was 

 the largest average since twenty years. This average of 13.7 + represents 

 the average of all the States, and seems very low, but it must be borne 

 in mind that in many sections of the country wheat is only sown for 

 home use and to utilize fields too long planted in other crops ; taking 

 into consideration only those States where wheat is a leading crop, the 

 average is fery different, as for instance in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and 

 Illinois the average yield per acre this year was rather more than 19 

 bushels, equal to the yearly average of France and more than the yield 

 in England for this year. The price, as returned us, shows a great ad- 

 vance to the farmer since a year, aud is for 1879 §1.11 per bushel 

 against $0.78 in 1878, thus making a crop worth $497,000,000 against 

 $326,000,000 last year. 



Oats. — The product of oats for 1879 was less than that of either the 

 two previous years, and was 363,761,000 bushels. The area planted was 

 4 per cent, less than the previous year. The spring was dry and cold, 

 which with unfavorable conditions during the summer caused a crop 12 

 per cent, less than that of 1878. The price, however, was much higher, 

 and was $0.33 per bushel against $0.24 last year, netting to the farmer 

 a total of $120,533,000 against $101,900,000 in 1878. 



Cotton. — The spring and summer months were not so favorable for 

 cotton as last year. Drought was reported as very detrimental in all 

 the South Atlantic States and Texas. The condition at no time was re- 

 ported as high as in 1878, and from returns made Noveuiber 1 and De- 

 cember 1 the crop was estimated at 5,261,202 bales ; unusually favorable 

 weather for growth, maturing, and picking continued, however, through 

 the month of December, and added largely to the crop. Unlike com and 

 other farm crops, cotton, being perennial, continues to produce new flow- 

 ers and fruit undiminished till the plant is kiUed by frost. 



