342 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



While Mr. Stockard may deceive himself, or the Federal 

 Chemical Company, by this misuse of figures, he is not likely to 

 deceive others, because the knowledge is common that the aver- 

 age yield of corn in the corn-belt states varies from less than 20 

 bushels in the poorest seasons to more than 40 bushels 'in the 

 best seasons, and that the average v^heat yield for a state also 

 varies so greatly with seasonal conditions that a four-year aver- 

 age is not trustworthy for deciding whether crop yields are in- 

 creasing or decreasing. The fact is that one can ''prove" almost 

 anything by improper use of crop statistics. Thus, Mr. Stock- 

 ard might have called attention to the fact that the average acre- 

 yield of wheat in Illinois jumped from 8.3 bushels in 1912-to 

 18.7 in 191 3 ; and these are two of the numbers out of which he 

 constructs a four-year average to show that ''in Illinois the one- 

 element idea has resulted in a decrease of one bushel per acre." 

 Not only seasonable variations, but seed selection, and methods 

 of cultivation are also factors of influence, as well as fertiHza- 

 tion. 



The Illinois Experiment Station was established in 1887, 

 and began about 1890 to disseminate information extensively 

 concerning the production of corn. Investigations relating to 

 wheat in connection with soil improvement were started in 1901 

 and during the last ten years important information from these 

 investigations has been put into agricultural practice, and in in^ 

 creasing measure. 



Both the United States Department of Agriculture and the 

 Illinois State Board of Agriculture have reported, independent- 

 ly, the crop statistics for Illinois since 1866. 



These statistics for wheat and corn are summarized in the 

 accompanying tabular statement, which is easily verified by ref^ 

 erence to the Yearbooks of the Federal Department and to the 

 State Board Reports for August and December, 1914. 



