340 



THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



470. Center of Barley Production. — In 18^0 the North Atlantic 

 division produced eighty-one per cent of the barley crop of the 

 country; in 1900 the North Central division produced sixty-eight 

 per cent, and the Western division twenty-eight per cent. The 

 center of production has moved westward from about the center 

 of New York in 1850 to near the junction of Iowa and South 

 Dakota in 1900. In 1850 New York reported 69.4 per cent of 

 the entire barley crop ; in 1900, while reporting nearly the same 

 number of bushels as in 1850, her contribution was only 2.5 

 per cent of the entire crop. The growth of barley is so concen- 

 trated in this country that nine States furnish ninety-one per cent 

 of the total production. To produce an equal percentage of the 

 maize crop, nineteen States w^ould be required. The nine States 

 referred to are California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South 

 Dakota, North Dakota, Washington, New York and Nebraska ; 

 the first four of w^hich produce three-fourths of the total crop. 



471. Yield per Acre. — The average annual yield per acre of 

 barley during the decade 1893-1902 was nearly twenty-four 

 (23.7) bushels, an increase of more than one bushel over the 

 previous decade. The yield per acre is quite uniform in all 

 except the Southern States, which yielded about four bushels 

 below the average. Thirty- five to forty bushels is considered a 

 good yield per acre, and where the soil and weather conditions 

 are very favorable, a higher yield may be obtained. 



472. Exports and Imports. — During the past decade the 

 annual export of barley has been about eleven per cent of the 

 production, San Francisco being the chief exporting center. 

 The United Kingdom, Australasia and Portuguese Africa receive 

 the largest quantities of the exported grain. The import has 

 been comparatively small, coming chiefly from Canada. 



473. Commercial Grades. — The Illinois Board of Railroad 

 and Warehouse Commissioners recognizes the following classes 

 and grades : 



