462 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



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Mr. William Wheatley, secretary of the Baltimore Corn and Flour Ex- 

 change, reports that choice Fultz and long berry of Western Maryland 

 will weigh 62 pounds for the former and 61 pounds for the latter ; that 

 the Southern Maryland wheat will weigh 59 pounds. 



The Maryland Grange Agency reports the weight of wheat of the 

 northern and western counties : No. 1, 62 to 64 pounds; No. 2 red win- 

 ter, 60 pounds; steamer red winter, 59 pounds. Between the Potomac 

 and Chesapeake; No. 1, 60: No. 2 red winter, 58; steamer red winter, 



56 to 57. For the Eastern Shore : No. 1, 60 to 62 ; No. 2 red winter, 

 59 to 60 ; steamer red winter, 58 to 59 pounds. This would make the 

 average about 60 pounds for the State crop. 



A Maryland miller, J. Olney Norris, makes the average weight ot 

 Maryland wheat about 58 pounds for a series of years. The western 

 counties' wheat is heavier than that of other districts. 



WEIGHT OF WHEAT. 



In order to ascertain the relative value of the wheat harvested in 

 1883, as compared with the average for a series of years, the Depart- 

 ment sent inquiries to the leading millers, grain dealers and boards of 

 trade in all parts of the country, as well as to its State agents, asking 

 the average weight per measured bushel for a number of years, and 

 the average weight of the crop of 1883. The correspondents were in- 

 structed, in making their estimates, to take into consideration the poor 

 grades, as well as the more marketable ones, and give an average for 

 all. 



Eeturns were made, not only from the great wheat- growing districts, 

 but from all parts of the country. They were carefully compiled, but 

 there is room only for a few points in the investigation. 



The State agent of Connecticut, T. S. Gold, estimates the weight of 

 No. 1 at 60 pounds and No. 2 at 59, and claims that nearly half is of the 

 first grade. The New York agent, F. D. Curtis, admits light average 

 weight, placing the average at 57 pounds. The Millers 7 Association of 

 Pennsylvania, by its secretary, Landis Levan, makes the average 60 

 pounds. 



In Virginia, the State agent, Mr. Blanton, thinks the average weight 

 of the crop of 1883 was 60 pounds, and that the average for a series of 

 years would be less. A. M. Call, a miller of Henrico County, estimates 

 the wheat of that region at 58 pounds, or 59 when well cleaned, but that 

 wheat of well-cultivated fields usually makes a weight of 62 to 63 

 pounds per bushel, with yields of 15 to 20 bushels per acre. 



W. B. Baker & Co., of Winchester, estimate for the Shenandoah Val- 

 ley 62 pounds for 1883, 60 for 1882, and 61 as a general average. 



Andrew Bowling, a miller of Augusta County, Virginia, says the 

 crop of 1883, in his vicinity, is exceptionally good, and thinks it will 

 weigh 63 pounds. 



A. A. McAllister, a miller of Covington, estimates the crop of 1883 

 at 62J pounds, and for five years past 61 pounds. 



The State agent of Georgia, R. J. Redding, makes the State average 

 for ten years between 54 and 55 pounds, and for 1883 between 56 and 



57 pounds. 



The president of a Houston (Texas) milling company, D. P. Shephard, 

 estimates the average weight of the crop of that State at 59 pounds for 

 each of five years, including 1S83 ; 58 for four years, and 56 for 1874. 



