The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-07-31
The Wheat Crop Of Michigan.

The Wheat Crop Of Michigan.
From July 7th to July 18th, the farmers
have had an uninterrupted term of fine harvest
weather On the last named date, which
which was that Of the eclipse, we had fore
moons rain. During that deriod most Of the
wheat and grass crops in the IL ost southern
tiers Of counties have been secured in probably
ms good order as the crops ever have been in
Michigan. In the nine northern uuties such
rs from Gencsee 10 Kent and from Oakland
to Allegan, the wheat was not SO eaIly. and
much Of it was either just ready for cutting,
or had been cut but was not taken in when
the rain Of Wednesday last occurred. The
impression is very general that the wheat
crop OF tho State this year il not only of more
than ordinary quality, but the quantity prom
ises to he greater than we have hal for some
years. We My fear that it may be over es.
timatod, Last year We had the crop of Mich
igan estimated at such an enormous amount
by men who were entirely uuacquaintcl with
" hat the State actually Produced, that every
ono was frightened by the great yield, and
many sold their crops al the low rates that
prevailed after harvest, under the impression
that we had such an overplus that wheat
would be worth very little to keep. We hope
that cooler counsels will prevail this year. -
Tho Published estimates put the crop at some
thing like twelve millions of bushels. Tho
result for the wear have indicated that the
crop of wheat last year hardly did reach more
than half that amount We think the crop
of this year if al secured in good order, may
probably reach eight milion it may even 90
as h.1h ~ uiNc millions. but this il the outside
This amount o' IN average of sixteen bushels
to the acre, sni taking the whole State and
all the land sown in wheat, making every al
loweucrs fcr quality and excellence Of crop,
sixteen bushels is large average and equal
to two bushels per acre more than the best
crop that has ever been raised in this State
would give us the breadth of land used for
the production of wheat this year as equal to
562, 800 acres. We think this is pretty near
" correct. In 1854 the whole number Ofim.
proved acres in the State was 81 $50, aud
the number Of acres sown to wheat in 1853
was 473,57l. The yield being extraordinar-
lily good that year and prices having advanced
wheat culture had q stimulous. and the next
year the number OF acres sown to wheat was
55l, ,667 The crop of 1855 was failure,
however, and the wheat crop every year since
has me. with some disaster, SO that more eau
tion has been used, and not quite 80 great q
breadth has been sown in wheat IA the natur-
al Increase of improved acres from 1854 up
10 this time would suggest At that time the
portion was almost one in wheat to five that
was improved, taking the same ratio now, and
the above average in wheat as the basis fer
calculation it would indicate that the number
Of improved acres now in the State reaches
2,Sl2,5OO acres or, in round numbers about
100000 acres more than when the last census
was taken, which may be found pretty near
the truth. 1t would indicate, also that our
estimate, relative TO the wheat crop, as being
now between eight and nine million, may be
very near right In considering the whole
question of the crop, we ar" endeayoring to
take reasonable view Of it, aud whilst we do
nat claim for ii exacttuie, we feel very sure
that it approxmates pretty closely to what
will be found To be the actual results, as may
be declared 10y the tables Of the new sensus
when it appears Meanwhile that more
correct general Approximate Of the crop Of this
State can be made we doubt.
The next question that arises, after settling
what the amount Of the crop will be, is what
shall we 90 with il? How much Of it de we
need at home? How much for export. ES-
timatipg he crop at mime millions OF BUSHES
for the sake of round numbers there will be a
certain quantity to feed our hame population
and the remainder for export.
|. Sc d-Taking the average to be SOW II
in wheat for next years crop at the same as
we have estimated it the present year, viz. :
262, 800 acres, aud each acre to need at the
rate Of Ii bushlos. there would be needed for
seed S43 700 bushels
2. Home ConsU0ptioa.-Our population
is put down As experimenting closely to 7OO,-
600. We do not feel certain that it will reach
that extent. but We take it as t Ie basis. The
c1n>nup,iHa pf -four by the population is as
sum.d .s arNa, fu uu" barrel to every ten pcr-
sons ion eocu six weeks, and We think it wIll
reach that IN tins State, wher. moro wheat
flour Is consumed IN proportion 10 lhe popua-
ton than meal ar hoIr Of anv other grain, we
have an annual cnnsumntipn of wheat at home
20 the extent of 6O6 666 barrels of flour or
3,O33. $50 BUSHES Of wheat.
g. Wheat for export. assuming the pro
duet Of the State At nine millions of BUSHES, +,
and taking from il the amorOt used fo' secl
and for consumption, We have remaining for
export over five millions Of bushels, which may
be worth any price from one dollar to one
and a balf dollars per bushle and which may
add our cash capital from five to eight mil.
lions of dollars. Mich. Farmer, July 81.
From the Quincy QlD. Wing July7.
l. fidelity and y oOtiug