The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-08-04
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TItEyIELDS THATWE GET AND THE
YIELDS WE MIGHT GET.

THE YIELDS THATWE GET AND The
YIELDS WE MIGHT GET.
The wheat crop of the United States
is estimated to average from twelve 10
fifteen bushels per acre while the pos
sible Weld has been shown to be over
70 bushels. The yield of hay for the
whole country is not much over one
ton per acre, on general average,
against possible yield of five ton and
over. as shown by successful farmers.
The average product of potatoes is not
far from IS bushels per acre, with oc-
cational yields that prove posslbiii-
ty of eight or nine hundred bushels
There are some root crops that pro-
duce an average of less than 200 bushels
Der acre, which, according to authen-
tic records, have occasionally yielded
over sixteen hundred bushels. In the
case of Indian corn, the great staple OF
the country, the average product is not
more than 50 bushels tc the acre,
though crops of $50 bushels and over
have been well attested, and product
OF two hundred bushels has been re-
ported authenticated by DIR Parker of
South Carolina.
Now, the great fact wish to EN-
phasize here is this; Somewhere be-
tween the extreme figures given above
there is a paying yield which,
though not startling in amount, is far
better than the present average, and is
entirely possible to ordinary farmers
But what is still more impotant, these
same facts are equally true in regard
to the cost of production. The corn
crop of this country costs the pro-
ducer, on an average about so to 60
cents per bushel in the Eastern States
and about 25 cents at the West. Yet
cases of cost have been reported from
western prairies even lower than seven
cents bushel, and corn crop of some
notoriety was announced last season in
New England at cost of 1912 cents
per bushel. Whether or not these ex-
treme figures can be shown to be pos
sible, il is certain they are beyond the
range of ordinary experience. On the
other hand, the present average cost
so or GO cent per bushels is entirely
too high, and there is beyond any
doubt, a lower rate of cost that is clear
ly within the reach of ordinary farm
ers.
Here then arises the question that
most of all interests the tiller of the
soil ir America. If there is an attain
able yield per acre, and an attaineble
cost per busIel, so much better than
the present average of the country,
what are the figures that represent
these possibilities, and how may they
be realized by pra a;tical farmers? In
answer to this inquiry, it is sufficient
for the present TO state definitely and
briefly our position, as we now do, that
40 bushels of corn per acre is a yield
fairly within reach of a majority of
farmers, and that there is no good rea-
son why the average yield of the
whole country should any longer re-
main at 80 to 35 bushels In regard,
also, to the cost of production, it is
equally certain that 35 cents per BUSH
el, as a rule, and 80 cents under favor
able conditions, is a rate of cost for
this cereal that is entirely attainable
by average farmers, even in the Allan
tic States. If any practical men think
that we claim too much, we invite dis
cussion, and hold ourselves open to
conviction. But from such data as we
have, embracing the gathered facts
and observations of many years, we are
confident of maintaining the position
here taken. Now let any man calcu-
late the difference between 80 bushels
per acre, at a cost of so cents per bush,
el, and 20 bushels per acre at a cost Of
35 cents per bushel and he will soon
discover that the question is too serious
to be ignored Assuming the market
price of corn to be so cents per bushel-
then the cash result would be in one
case a profit of So 90 per acre, and in
the other profit of S31.5O. But if,
after all, there are any intelligent, pro-
gressive farmers, who still doubt the
possibility of thus increasing the yield
and diminishing the cost of this and
other staples, the best thing they can
do is to re examine the question. Let
them thoroughly investigate the posi-
bility of the crop, and they will make
new and valuable discoveries. Let
every farmer review his own expert
ence, and gather new facts from expert.
ence, of others. Let him bring up the
question at his club, discuss it in the
Grange, and in the columns of agricul-
tural journals, and more than all, let
him carry the problem home to his own
farm, and interrogate the soil under
his feet. When he has done all this,
he will be better prepared to say
whether as farmers we can afford to
accept the present average yield and
cost of our staple crops, as fairly rep
resentiug the quality of American soil,
or the best attainable results OF Ameri-