AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES 161 



The large acreage of buckwheat is reflected in the 

 heavy production of buckwheat flour that is ground 

 in the smaller country mills. The crop is very prac- 

 tical for the State, the gross returns to the acre 

 comparing very well with those from other cereals. It 

 responds to good soil and on calcareous loams, such 

 as the Ontario, the yield is much increased over the 

 average. 



VEGETABLES (See Figs. 18, 19, 23, 24) 



Potatoes constitute the one staple crop in which 

 there has been a consistent increase in acreage in the 

 State for the last sixty-five years, as recorded in the 

 decade census reports. Since 1850 the acreage has 

 approximately doubled. It now ranges from 350,000 

 to 400,000 acres. While N'ew York has been in the 

 lead in the production of potatoes, Michigan is rap- 

 idly approaching in acreage, and in one recent year 

 equaled New York, the yield, however, not being so 

 high. 



Potatoes are used for human food more than any 

 other staple crop. The yields look large but it is an 

 interesting fact that both corn and wheat produce 

 more total nutriment and more protein to the acre. 

 In starch production the potato exceeds wheat but 

 still yields a third less than corn. 



The relative production, taking the average yields 

 for the State, are given in the following table: 



