The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-09-06
The Wheat Crop i'm Northern Illinois.


The Wheat Crop in Northern Illinois.
From the Rockford Register,
WINNEBAGo CoUNTY.-Our farmers
agree in saying they never raised wheat
of so good a quality before as that of
this year, and the yield is even mich
larger than they anticipated before
threshing. In the estimate we made
some weeks since, based on the Assess
ors' returns of land under cultivation
with wheat, We placed the yield at 20
bushels to the acre, making the aggre-
gate for tie County about million
bushels. Intelligent farmers now, how
ever, place it fully up to 25 bushels to
che acre, which would give million
and quarter of bushels in the County.
Many pieces have yielded 80 and 35
bushels to tho acre. We have heard
of one farmer who sold the wheat off
from eighteen acres of land for $3.50,
being an average Of 384 bushels to the
acre. 1t was purchased by Mr.. Hurl-
burt, grain buyer at Durand. These
figures as the product of eighteen acres
We imagine will not easily be beaten.
Never in the history of Northern
Illinois was the sacred promise that
seed time and harvest should not fail
more abundantly verified. In the lam
guage of a contemporary, it not unfre-
quently happens that the season is fav-
orablefor some particular crop, while
others do not reach the average. This
year, tits not a single crop nor single
farm or county; the same bountiful
blessing is bestowed upon all. As if to
consumate the gift, God has given the
most favorable weather for maturing
and harvesting grain. Storms have
been averted, intense heat has not been
permitted to blast, nor rust to destroy,
in short nothing has been withheld by
the All-wise Being, to give to the peo-
pie of this State that which they stood
SO much in need of, an abundant hdr-
rest!
It remains to be seen now how they
will use it. Will the same speculative,
unhealthy, and restless desire for re-
mote investments in wild lands and pa
per cities mark the return of financial
prosperity ? That prosperity will again
come there is not a shadow of doubt.
The golden fields will yield large sur
plus of capital to be invested some
where. Farmers, as general thing,
have struggled hard during the past
two years TO get out of debt, and in a
great manner succeeded. What then
will be done with the proceeds of fields
when converted into money ? We
say, improve your farms, put up com
Portable houses, erect substantial barns,
and sheds, rebuild the decaying fen
ces, improve your stock and drain the
land; these will pay better invest
ment than wild lands or fancy lots, de-
pend upon it.
BETTER AND BErTER-Since the above
was in type we have heard of several
additional instances of immense Yields
which if not we'll authenticated we
should be exceedingly disinclined tc
Believe. But they are attested by va
rious parties. The yield Throughout,
the whole town of Winnebago, especi
ally, has been large. Mr.. Estey, Of
that town, sold from Sc acres 1,95C
bushels of wheat-an average of near.
" 50 bushels to the acre. From Ia
measured acres of the same piece there
were 40 bushels and two pounds to the
acre. Mr.. Light, also of the same
town.. from 6 acres harvested As bush
els to the acre.
But the largest yield we have heard
of was on the farm of Mr.. Zimmerman
of Scott, Ogle Co., who threshed from
four measured acres 200 bushels and
40 pounds, or fifty bushels and ter
pounds TO the acre! IF any body car
beat this we should be glad to see then
produce the figures.
Eastern people who have turned ar
their noses at Illinois as a wheat grow
ing State, will begin to realize that she
is good for something else besides rails
ing corn. Our farmers are only lust
beginning to understand the nature o
the soil and the kind of cultivation re
quired to make it "laugh with a har
vest," and what they may be able to d.
hereafter IN propitious season lik'
the present,will astenish them still more
The influence which our County ant
State Fairs, and meetings of Agricul
tural Clubs have had upon the success
Of our farmers this year has not beef
slight, and it is not easily estimated. A
friend also suggests it is in large de
gree attributable to the nomination o
Lincoln. The farmers In consequence,
went to work with more energy an,
hope Of business being revived and tn
country rescued from prostration. w
are inclined to think this theory ha