34 BULLETIN 1421, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Average yields —A knowledge of average yields is of value in that 
it furnishes standards by which the yields obtained on each farm may 
be readily judged. With this end in view the average yields of 10 
crops are presented in Table 11. These yields are based on harvested 
acres and those for alfalfa represent three cuttings of hay. One cut- 
ting of hay and a seed crop are generally obtained from red clover, 
but alsike clover is grown entirely for the seed crop. The average 
yields of some crops varied but little during the four years, while 
those of other crops varied considerably. The maximum variations 
in the yields of alfalfa, wheat, and oats were 10, 13, and 14 per cent, 
RELATION OF CROP YIELD TO PERCENTAGE RETURN TO CAPITAL, 1919-1922 
CROP YIELD GROUP PER CENT RETURN TO CAPITAL 
PER CENT OF AVERAGE =! 0 | 2 3 a 5 6 7 8 9 10 
Under 86 
86 — 99 
1919 
100 — 113 
Over 113 
Under 86 
66 — 99 
1920 
100 —113 
Over 113 
Under 86 
Sop 99 
1921 
100 — 113 
Over 113 
Under 86 
86 — 99 
1922 
100 — 113 
Over 1i3 
Fic. 20.—The crop yield groups presented in this figure are based on crop index (per cent of 
average yields). The average percentage return to capital of the respective farms having different 
crop yields is indicated by the heavy horizontal bars and the figures at the top of the chart 
Without exception the percentage return to capital increased, though not in the same propor- 
tion, as crop. yield increased. 
respectively, from the 1919-1922 average. The maximum variation 
in the yield of sugar beets, on the other hand, was 46 per cent, that 
of beans 42 per cent, and that of alsike clover seed 32 per cent. 
From the standpoint of producing feed, a comparison of the aver- 
age yields of the four cereal crops is of interest. [Expressed in 
hundredweights per acre to the nearest whole number the 1919-1922 
average yields are as follows: Corn 27, wheat 26, barley 21, and oats 
16. That is, the average yield of corn during the four years of the 
survey has been about 100 pounds, 600 pounds, and 1,100 pounds 
greater, respectively, than the yields of wheat, barley, and oats. 
