The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-07-28

pal crops throughout the State, from the Sc
we're drouth and chinch bug, | embraced the
opportunity of the attendance of a large rep-
resentation from every section of the State
at the Union Convention at Des Moines, on
the 7th ofJuly, to address each one of them
certain interrogatories to elicit the desired
information, so far as OF was in their power
to give it. About 500 delegates were in at
tendance. representing every important
county except two, and the information de-
rived embraces 65 counties, which produce
fully nine e-tenths of the whole crop of the
State. The general desire of the parties re-
plying to obtain reliable information from
the general report induced most of them,
perhaps all, to give careful and we'll consd-
cred replies. After all the care taken, how
ever, it may only be considered as an ap-
Proclamation, but it may be more safely re-
lied upon than the numerous exaggerated
statements usually circulating about our
crops at this season of the year. when suffer-
ing from any cause, some of which are kept
aaoat by designing persons. My inquiries
embraced the Wheat Corn, Oat and Sorgo
crops. and by making comparisons with the
yield Of 1862, -FOUR State census year, it has
not been difficult to arrive at the following
results from the information given: 8
WHRAT-Most of our wheat was sown
later than usual owing to an unfavorable
Spring; the extreme drouth injured it to
some extent; and in consequence of its ma
turing later in the season than usual, its ter
rble enemy, the chinch bug. has cut off (and
is still at work. a large portion of the CROP
flour farmers would prepare their wheat
ground by thorough blowing ard cleaning
up in the Fall, two weeks at least can be
gained in the Spring for sowing, and the
chinch bug may be cheated of half its food
From my data | learn that the chinch bug
and drouth have cut off the probable yield
of the crop ope.third, fixing that third at an
average Of five bushels per acre-and that
there is a reasonable hope that ten bushels
will be the average yield per acre through.
out the State after making all allowances.
The breadth Of land occupied is reported, to
be one-fifteenth over that of 1868, which
gives an increase of so, 200 acres. and the
aggregate of 1880, goo acres, which will
produce l2,s0O.o0O bushels. Ten bushels
per acre is the average product of 1862 and
1863, taken together, for the acreage occu-
pied. ..ry.
Corn The breadth of land occupied this
year over that of 1868 is one-twelfth, max
ing total of $50, 900 acres--and the ave.
rage increased prospective yield sic bushels
per acre, which viii give an average product
forty.taoo and three: fourth bushels per acre;
by throwing off the fraction the gross yield
will exceed 80,000,000 bushels il the season
continues favorable, which will exceed that
of any previous crop in the State l Z 900, 900
bushels. A fair and much needed prospect
for that corn consuming animal, the Hog,
Of which our State has such large share.
OARS: The number of acres occupied in
1862, as per State census, was 1896, 1877 +; the
increase reported for 1854 is one t,celftA,
making an aggregate of 364,1 14S acres, and
the probable average yield at least thirtv
bushels per acre, giving an aggregate of TO-
e24, ,44O bushels against 1852, ,O6o in 1862.
This. with the corn will permit a greater
variety Of food for sheep and better yield
of wool. to say nothing of a full provision
for the wants and tastes of that noble and
useful animal, the Horse.
SoRGHuM Much to my surprise cur farm.
ers have neglected to provide properly for
the necessary sweetening used by all, espe-
cially since its cost has risen so high as to
he almost beyond their reach. In 1862 our
State product was s.Ol2 ,S96 gallons from
3e,667 acres. In 1863 the numher Of acres
in Sorgo was not over $4,000 and the yield
per acre owing to the extreme early frosts
did not exceed one third that of 1862, which
would be about thirty gallons per acre, and
the aggregate 900, 900 gallons. For 1864 the
reports exhibit decreased breadth planted
as compared with 1868 Of one fourth, and the
crop in most Of the counties as not very
promising, which with the impure seed used
to great extent from necessity, the average
yield per acre cannot be placed at oyer Sep.
enty .ese gdllons, which is seven gallons less
than the average per acre in 1852 The ag-
gregate prospective yield then on the 90, 500
acres occupied will not exceed ,6s7, 500 gal.
Ions, probably not oyer a million and half
of gallons, or one-half that Of 1869.
Hay CRoP: Abundance of grass can be
had for the cutting, but owing to the general
severe drquth at the time when the grass
most needed rain, it is not as plenty rs usual,
but suficiency for all purposes can be OBJ
tanned il hands can be found to cut it-in
this view there will not probably be more
than two-thirds the usua! quantity put up.
OTHER CRoPs.-They generally look well
and give fair promise, and our farmers we're
never more industrious in striving to make |
every available acre produce something
still there arc many fields lying idle. testify
ing that the owners are fighting for their
country hundreds of miles away, but there
are ten times as many fields which give evi.
dence to the industry and thrift Of the Sold
iers' wives aud young children. If Proyi-
dence smiles upon their efforts until the close
Of the season as kindly as during the past
few weeks, Iowa will secure in value greater
crops this than during any previous year.