The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-10-26
M'mht EARN,
A CONVINCING ARGUMENT.
From the Journal of the Farm,

From the journal Of the Farm.
1t is difficult matter we are aware, for
some people to get what are usually re-
garded as very plain facts into their heads.
Thus, for instance, there are not a few who
connot be persuaded to believe that the
crops of the United States, and the wheat
crop especially, is not what it ought to be
in point of yield. These incredulous per-
sons are mainly to be found in sections of
the country particularly adapted to the
growth of wheat, and the cultivators of
which are skilled in their profession
These unbelievsrs point to the we'll covered
acres around them, and triumphantly ex-
claim; "Look at those fields, and then
tell us whether our wheat crops are de-
teriorating?" All this is perfectly natur-
al. We should be surprised were it other
wise, and it is to be regretted that their
impressions are not correct. That they
are not, is proved by the following statis-
tics from the Report of the Department of
Agriculture, which, although not the most
reliable source in the world from which to
obtain information of this character, are
sufficiently near the mark to enable us to
form something like a correct opinion. 1t
appears that there were grown in 1871,
Indian corn, 81, 1901, 1877 acres, yielding 991,-
$4,000 bushels, worth $47s,275, 9O0.-
Wheat, 19,943,S93 acres, yielding $50, 1872,
400 bushels, worth $3.50, All $50. Oats, S.
365, 500 acres, yielding 255, $4,000 bushels,
worth $102, $4,000. Potatoes, 1905 12
acres, yielding 100, 461, 700 bushels, worth
$n,s35,61. Barley, 1,177,6G6 acres, &c.,
71s, 500 bushels, worth SCI, TAI, TIT. Rye,
LOGO, 531 acres, yielding Is, 455, 500 bushels,
worth $12, 145, GAG. Buckwheat, 431 ,915
acres yielding s,32s, 700 bushels, worth &c.,
900, 26S. These seven crops furnish total
of 50, 2s2, 1856 acres, yielding 1,649, 237, 800
bushels, worth 1888, Csc, Ill. There were
$50, 100 acres planted in tobacco, which
yielded 263, 1876, 100 pounds, worth s25, 901,-
421. The hay crop was cut from 10, 0O9,-
952 acres, and yielded 22,239, 400 tons,
worth s351, 716,O36. The cotton crop
amounted to 300, 900 bales.
Now very little plain hgurlng shows
that the wheat crop averaged per acre
little over t,oelre bushels; corn trenty-etght
bushels; oats, Mirty-too bushels; potatoes,
nirety-nine bushels, and the yield Of hay
per acre, about ton and sirh. These
are not very encouraging figures, and so far
as 1872 is concerned, they will be still more
discouraging in regard to wheat.
Where lies the difficulty? Certainly
not in the soil or climate. Where then is
it to be found? In the cultivation. In
the defects SO prevalent in the general till
age of the country. In the robbery of lands.
In the skinning of farms. In the want of
proper depth of blowing. In the neglect
to thoroughly pulverize the soil, and in
score of other directions not necessary to
be named now.
We ask the attention of farmers gener-
ally to these figures. They are very sug
gestive, and ought to induce every one to
put on his thinking cap, for the purpose of
endeavoring to solve this most important
and yet very simple problem.