The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-10-08
Agricultural.
From the Report of the Sec Of the Iowa Ag'l College
The Grain Products Of Iowa.

From the Report of the Sec of the Iowa Ag College
The Grain Products of Iowa.
WHEAT. number of acres occupied
with wheat in 1851, was 800, 900, and the
average yield, after deducting loss in stack,
was IL bushels per acre, amounting to 49,
100000 bushels. From reports received at
this Office, embracing about half of the
State, the average increased breadth Of wheat
sown therein, is fourth more than last
year. a proportionate increase over the
State, would make the total increase 800,
600 acres, which is evidently too much but
the increase may fairly be set down at no,
less than ! 90 900 acres. This would give
us 100000 acres for 1862. To arrive at
the probable yield per acre, can not be
done so satisfactory as last year, in consc-
qucncc Of the many trials which the spring
wheat, especially, has had to undergo, and
from which it has not escaped without con.
siderable damage. The principal of which
has been chinch bug, whole fields in some
sections being entirely destroyed by them,
and many others partly destroyed. The
rust also, in some degree, over large
portion Of the State, which struck the wheat
about week before it was cut has injured
the berry somewhat, but to what extent
will not be known until threshcd. 1t may
be remarked, however, that the bug and
rust have not been one fourth as destrnc-
tive in fields which were well plowed in the
fall and sown very early in the spring
Up to within two weeks of the time of cut.
ting, tho fields generally promised yield
average, but what to put the yield at now,
,rip 70
sections of the State, Of the extent Of dam.
age, it is very difficult to do. We do not
feel Justified in placing the yield at one half
OF what it would certainly have cut had it
not met with the revcrSes mentioned. as
there arc as many sections, and as large,
which have met with no reverSls whatever,
excepting perhaps, here and there, where
the weeds have been allowed to choke
down the grain but ii We put the average
product per acre at IL bushels for the
spring wheat, we are confident that we are
fully within the mark. OF the / 100000
acres pat in, there were not less than lOO,-
900 acres Of winter wheat, which produced
an excellent yield, having heard of no field
that did not cut at least 25 bushels to the
acre, and many which cut 80, 40 and As
bushels, as it is admitted by all, that there
n.ver was a better yield of winter wheat in
the State, if as good. OF this variety
then, we may safely average it at 30 bush.
els to the acre, and Of an excellent quality.
If in all the above we are not doing in
justice to the State. the wheat account for
1862 will stand as follows:
100000 acres of spring wheat, at
IL bushels per acre, 100000
100000 acres of winter wheat, at
20 bushels per acre, 1000, 900.
Total in bushels, 1850: 600
1t would be nearer the truth If we should
place the total at 20, 900, 900 bushels, which
when thrcshed, Iowa will have to export as
she has on hand of past crops, more than
sufficient to supply home wants until
another harvest.
The above aggregate is somewhat above
that of 1861, and has been produced with
fewer hands, by at least ten per cent, than
we had in that year. Many feared that the
men taken from our farms to supply the
loyal army, would be seriously felt in the
products of this year; but thanks to the
loyal workers at home, the result is beyond
our most sanguinc expectations, and would
have been % per cent. more, if every ele-
ment of success had been as faithful as the
soil. We have one advantage this year over
that Of last, the grain is well harvested and
safely stored in stacks or barns.
CoRN.-Nevcr since the State was first
settled, has the prospect for fine yield of
corn appeared better than it does now
The season is also proptious at the present
writing, the 9TH of August, for its contin-
uation. One month more of such weather,
and the corn fields of Iowa will Weld an
average Of not less than sirty bushels per
:crc. Such are the reports we have from
all parts of the State, and strangers, from
Eastern States, especially, who are travelling
over our productive soil, look upon the
vast forests Of corn with wonder, even ax.
ceiling, they say, the far-famed bottom of
Scotia, in ohio.
From the same reports alluded to above
in regard to wheat, the same sections of
the State report for 1862, an average in
creased breadth Of corn over that OF 1861,
of one fourth. AS the number of acres in
1861 was 400, 900, this would give, if we
average for the whole State, that reported
for less than one-h half, an increase of $50.
900 acres. But as We havt taken but about
one-third of this inferred increase for
wheat, VIC v i'll add only 125, 900 acres as
the increased breadth Of corn planted for
1862, which makes a total of 100000
acres. If the season continues favorable
so bushels per acre may safely be estimat-
ed as the average yield per acre, which will
give an aggregate Of 76,25O,0OO bushels,
being about 100000 bushels only over
the yield of 1861. The yield mag reach
the enormous amount of 10O,O00,OGO
bushels.
OTHER CRoPs.-Oats are reported by re-
To off IN tho,
usual. The total crop, may, therefore, be
year, 10000, 900 bushels. Rye, during the
tcnsively than ever before, principally as
forage crop. We have no data on which
to estimate the probable amount harvested.
Barley, also, has received more attention
than heretofore, being grown more or less
in every neighborhood, and in some of the
eastern counties, it ranks among the lead
ing crops. Hay, which is principally cut
from the prairies, yields well this year, and
we doubt not that at least 100000 tons of
all varieties of grasses will be put up for
consumption and expectation OF Sorgh-
UNI, we cannot estimate that the yield will
be much beyond that Of last year, which
We reported at 100000 gallons. Potatoes
occupy, probably, 80 per cent more land
than was occupied last year, and the yield
will not be less than one half more per
acre. OF these we shall have abundance,
and of the best quality, which was not the
case last year, in either requisition to any
great sxtent, except in worry few sections Of
the State.
SATIRIcAL.-The following pungent sa-
tire is from the West Union Pioneer. It