The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-18
PATENT OFFICE REpoRT-pART II.
Agricultural Statistics.

-.
their General accuracy and being reliable for all
business purposes. Wrong information To the
quantity of grain, tobacco, and other crops annu-
ally gro AN, aud nlsstateents IN reference 10 their
lnsrke value are calculated TO inlslcad the
wary-tempting thousands TO invest and sink their
ca pita in uncalled-for and disastrous operations
Farmers have complained that the Patent Office
Reports overestimated the quantity of tobacco,
breadstuis, and other staples, to degree which IN
uriously affected the market price of the products
OF their industry.
In the absence of regular census, there is no
way to determine, with any approach to accuracy,
the amount OF grain and provisions annually pro-
duced; and it Is thought better to make no est
mates at all so far the official returns de-
ective than to tabricate statistics by guess
ing. The injury that results from this is not con-
fined TO the farming interests but all dealers in and
consumers OF agricultural products equally La
BILE TO sustain pecuniary loss by the public credit
given to erroneous statements emanating from
d. partmcnt OF the Government. Whoever attempts
to furnish statistics should bear in mind that in the
same degree in which true information ID bic,
false information is Injurious to the community.
Certainly the great farming interest of the coun-
try has IA right to exemption from harm, if Gov
eminent can do it no good.
In the last Patent Office Report the wheat crop
Of Michigan Is estimated at 10000, 900 bushels.
The census OF that State for lS49 gives the amount
at 1899 299 bushels, showing an over estimate Of
than 100 per cent. Instead of placing the
value OF the estimated 10 900 900 bushels at some
thing like the worth of this crop TO the producer,
every bushel is set down at 81 10, giving an ag-
grcgatc of & IL 500 900. Seventy cents quite
as much the farmers of Michigan realized for
their wheat in 1913; and, by correcting both the
quantity and price. the figures are reduced to
$3,3 500, or 10 nearly one fourth OF the sum SAID
to have been obtained.
Hitherto very definite objects appear to have
been sought in collecting statistical information
pertaining to rural affairs In consequence OF this
lack Of purpose, the means employed have been In
adequate, except to accumulate mass OF hgures
sponsible Statistics, to be worthy of the name,
must be founded on facts entitled to confidence.
What evidence is there on which one may presume
to name the tons Of hay or bushels OF grain grown
in the State of New York in the year lS49! There
is whatever, nor has there been since the State
census of 1915. Why, then, waste time and paper
in writing and printing crude guesses, in an 9th
cial document, to mislead the public! Instead OF
repeating operation which is believed to be
worse than useless, an humble attempt will be made
in this chapter to point out few defects IN the ag
ricutural statistics of the country and suggest such
improvements as are most desirable and practica-
BILE.
If the question were asked, of what crop grown
in the United States do the people export the
largest amount in value? the answer would be- cot
ton; for it pays for nearly two thirds OF all the I'M
ports of the country. If an American statesman,
merchant, or farmer, were TO ask, how many acres
planted in this crop? the answer must be: !
cannot say, for in no cotton growing State has
census ever been TAKEN either by the Federal Gov
eminent by its Legislature, which gave the
number of acres devoted to this staple.
Here is most extraordinary omission, and one
which has largely contributed to the unwse ex-
haustion OF millions of acres OF the best cotton
lands in the world.
If the question asked, how many acres are
planted in tobacco? nobody can tell; for neither
Congress nor any State government has deemed
the matter of sufficient importance to ascertain the
fact. No United States census has ever given in
formation to the number of acres sown III wheat,
rye, barley, oats, hemp, flax or peas, or planted IN
corn, potatoes, beans, or any other hoed crop.
If the questions asked, how many sheep
were shorn in 1910 10 yield the 35,s02,ll4 pounds
of wool, and how many lambs were not counted as
sshcep' in the 1871 ,374 enumerated, no one can
answer. The ilcoces clipped have never been
counted; nor has any census given the number OF
COWS MIXED in the United States So far as relia-
bic statistics concerned, all our farming opera
tons are conducted in midnight darkness. Moth
ing liz much needed as the annual record oil trust
worthy facts extending over all the States setting
forth The productive power and value of both land
and labor, when employed TO the best advantage.
So soon as this shall be DONE whether by State Lo
gisatures Congress, IT will be seen that the labor
and soil of one farmer give twice as good returns
for the benefit Of himself and the community at
large as do the labor aud soil Of another, although
the land OF both may be alike prpdrcllye. The re-
turns procured through the medium of few PLAIN,
simple questions, put by the assessors OF COLLECTORS
of taxcs would delonstraie the truth OF the above
remark; and, when demonstrated, thosc who Ian
TO use their means to the best advantage will dis
cover their errors and Immediately change Tor the
better.
So soon as legislatures shall be willing to pro-
mote improvements in tilaGc and busbandry, no
thing il easier than TO effect tho desired object
Bring the practical results OF the art the science,
and the energy devoted To agriculture often before
the public, and the influence of thousands Of good
examples will tell powerfully in favor OF universal
advancement. Good and bad farming are now SO
blended that dclinquents escape nearly all xposure
while such as do well are denied that distinction
| NyIt ia he mat q
sisting legitimate argument, sustained by con
coded facts. Mistakes IN practice and errors ~
theory must give way before the light oil TRUTH ana
Tie truth alone should be diligently sought, and
widely disseminated among the farmers OF the ke-
public.
When we shall be permitted to know the exact
difference in the organic structure and productive
value of the machinery which transforms grass,
grain, roots, and other vegetable food into milk,
meat, wool, and horsecsh, II will be seen that some
domestic animals yield profit ten times larger
than others There are samples OF wool in the IA
tent Office, the product OF sheep that yields is lbs
of washed wool year and weighs 42O lbs. This
mammoth sheep is the property OF Colonel josiah
w. Ware, Of Clarke county, Virginia, whose best
fat wethers sell at $50 head.
In no branch of husbandry can greater or more
profitable improvements be made than in wool
growing Instead OF importing 30 many millions
of pounds Of wool in broadcloth, flannel, and raw
material American farmers should supply the
home demand, and have large surplus for export.
III - muCh 10 De regretted tnat inc Censuh Ol loou
will give no information 20 the number Of hecces
clipped i'm the United States. Without this know
ledge it will be impossible to know what county or
district gives the most wool per fleece.
The statistics Of the dairy business more de-
fcctive than those pertaining to sheep husbandry
The counting Of cows in all the States is the first
step towards their universal improvement; but this
| is yet to be taken. Previous TO lS45, the number
MIXED in the State Of New York not known
and il required effort 70 persuade its Lcgisls
turo 10 have them counted. In that year the mum
Der was 999 400. This nuUber $50 near million)
attracted public attention TO the production Of but
Ter and cheese, and the improvement Of mich kline
in a remarkable degree.
| To the New York State Agricultural Society
and especially to ts indefatigable Secretary, B.
Johnson, esq., great credit is due for successful
efforts 20 advance this important interest. IL IL
thought by those best informed ON the subject, thai
| 100000 cows in that State nowIyeld avorag,
| return of $50 head. One Of its best dairymer
| expresses the opinion in the Transactions of thu
State Society for 1919, that the dairy products o
that Commonwealth will reach, at no distant day
| @50.000,0OO per annum. The business is.rapidly
| extending in northern Ohio, and more or lea
"a far south Georgia. Excellent cheese, from
| two diaries in that State were exhibited at thu
we'll attended State Fair held at Stone Mountain
| in August, lSf9. About sixty COWS MIXED IL
| one Of these daires and not far from one hundred