COUNTY AVERAGES IN MICHIGAN. 



225 



— according to the Statistical Eeturns for 1848, published 

 by order of the State legislature in 1849, and for a 

 copy of which I have to express my obligations to the 

 Secretary of the State Agricultural Society, Mr Holmes 

 — it appears that, in 1848, the number of 



Acres sown to wheat, was . 465,900 



Of bushels produced, was . 4,739,300 



And the average, per imperial acre, 10 1 bushels ; 



or less than 9 bushels, if seed-corn be deducted. 



And that this average is not derived from the 

 combinations of extreme numbers, given by very poor 

 and very rich land, appears from the fact, that, of the 

 twenty-nine counties of which the separate averages are 

 deducible from the published returns — 



These last 2 counties being Macomb and St Clair, 

 situated on the fertile south-east portion of the State, to 

 which I have already referred. 



And yet the quantity of wheat and flour exported 

 from this State is comparatively large — though I have 

 access to no trustworthy data from which the absolute 

 quantity can be estimated.* Were we to allow to each 



* I may give, as an illustration of the veiy loose, and often 

 exaggerated statements which are put forth regarding these new 

 States, what has been published by authority in regard to Michigan. 

 In the Patent Office Report for 1847, p. 547, a table is given, 

 representing the estimated population, produce in wheat, home 

 consumption of this grain, and surplus for export in each State of the 

 Union in that year. In this table the population of Michigan is taken 

 VOL. I. P 



