The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-08-13
THE INDIANA WHEAT CROP OF 1879
GRAND TOTAL, $4,000, 900 BUSHELS.

GRAND TOTAL, st, ZOO, 900 BUSHELS.
The theory has been urged that in the I'M
mediate future the people of the United
States and of other countries, in SO far as
they may be dependent upon this country
for wheat, must look for supplies from lands
beyond the Mississippi and from the far
Northwest. To establish this theory we
have been told that the wheat fields of
Western New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and
Indiana have been practically given up to
other crops, while all eyes eentered upon the
new lands of the West, from the boundaries
Of Arkansas to British North America.
But this theory is erroneous, except in so
far as farmers in the older wheat-growing
States have found il profitable to abandon
wheat culture for more remuneratiye crops;
and the correctness of this view of the sub.
ject is conclusively established by facts
relating to wheat culture for the current
year, 1879 The first thing to be considered
in the discussion of any of the cereal crops,
so far as the discussion relates to the ability
of the country to supply, in any degree, the
foreign demand, is to ascertain, approx
mately. the quantity required for
home consumption.
The best authority at hand estimates the
home consumption of all the cereals at
"a bushels per capita If we estimate the
population of the United States at so, 0O0, 900,
the quantity of cereals required to meet the
home demand would be 1,400, 900 600
bushels. The total yield of all the cereal
crops in the United States for the year 1877
was 2, It's, 934 SAG bushels and if the crop of
1879 is placed at tie same amount, the sur
plus for export would reach IT'S, 1884, O0e
bushels but it is fair to assume that the
cereal crop for 1879 will be fully 20
per cent. above 1877. which would
give for export LIZA, 724, 375 bushels.
The wheat crop of the United
States in 1877 is given at 364. 1874, 146 bushels,
while the exports for that year amounted to
81 ,O43s 937 bushels, leaving for home con-
sumption. seeding, ETC., 307, 100, 209 bushels.
or Bushels per capita, estimating the pop
ulatlon in that year at $4,000, 600. We as.
sumo that the wheat crop for 1879 will
reach $50 00O,O 900 bushels, which would be
about sc, 900 bushels ebove the crop of
1877. This estimate ofincreased production
we regard as admissible, owing to the in
creased acreage and largely increased produc-
ton in all of the States.
This increased production is brought
into special prominence by the crop
in Indiana, which we herewith tabu-
late, and which aggregates 55, 600, 900
bushels. Adhering to our estimate of 49,
10000 bushels for 1879. aud estimating the
population of the country at so, 000, 900, and
that six bushels per capita is a fair estimate
for home consumption, ETC., the United States
will have surplus of wheat for export
amounting to 150, 600, 900 bushels, an excess
over the exports of 1878 of Sc. 800, 704 bushels
We are told by the New York Produce Elk
change that the European export demand
will reach $50, 200. 900 bushels, as follows:
France, 100000 bushels; Great Britain,
100000 bushels; Germany, 10000 900
bushels; Switzerland, 100000 bushels;
Spain and Portugal 100000 bushels, and
Italy 25. 000. 900 bushels. If these estimates
are correct, the United States can supply
three.fifths of the foreign demand. leaving
the remainder, 100000, 600 bushels, to be
supplied by Russia, Australia, British India,
Canada, Egypt. Roumania and the Turkish
Provinces. -a.-sr-E
Assuming the population of Indiana to be
1000 900, and that six bushels per capita IS re
quired for home consumption, our figures
show that the State will have for export As.
100000 bushels. or something above IL pel
cent. of the entire foreign demand, and more
than % per cent. of the entire available
supply of the whole country for expectation
These estimates, based as they are:upon the
most reliable data that can be obtained
brings Indiana into the boldest prominenc,
as a wheat growing State. This will b,
still more readily seen by comparison will
other States. The wheat crop of Minnesot
is estimated at 40, 00O, 600 bushels, or 10, 0oo
600 bushels below the crop OF Indiana, ant
the crop of Californis is estimated at 80, 600
600 bushels, or %, 00O, 900 less than the GRO
OF this State. eee
The publishers of the Sentinel have take
special pains in compiling the following est
mates of the Indiana wheat crop to arrive q
the facts, and the information is derived fror
the most authentic sources available. Circt
lars were addressed to the auditors of the var
GUS counties IN the State. and in cases wher
no replies have been received, other means
information have been resorted to, but i
every case with prudent regard for relia
bility. ssss
The counted not heard from, six i
number. IS shown in the stetemen