Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-12
The following communication from John
p. Jacobson, State Commissioner of Stats
tics, is worthy the space occupied in its
STATE OF MINNESOTA,


OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE
BUREAU OF STATISTICS, Sr. PAUL. Aug. II, 10. J
To the Editor: l have the honor to submit
according to the provisions of law, the follow.
ing tables showing the average a::d yield OF
the principal cereals and the sugar cane of the
State for the year 1878; ALSO the average of
same crops growing in 1879, as compiled from
the official returns of the town assessors and
county auditors.
LIE Sueur county, and some of the less i'm :
portant agricultural counties (as shown on
tabe), and seventeen townships in the re-
ported counties have not made returns at this
date, aud are therefore included in the esti-
mated amounts which are based upon The re-
ported averages of 1878, and the general aver
age yield and per cent of increase, and will
closely approximate the true amounts which
the Commissioner hopes to obtain before the
publication of the annual report.
Rscollecting the blight THAI struck the wheat
crop at it's most critical stage in the season of
1878, it will not be surprising to notice that
the yield falls considerably below the general
average. The damage sustained from this
cause, was, however, comparatively small in
the northwestern counties, increasing in regu-
lar ratio towards the southern, where IN many
localities, it was very serious. The quality
was therefore materially retter and larger in
the Northwestern part of the State. As will be
seen from the tables. the largest wheat grow
ing counties, viz: Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore,
Freeborn, Goodhue, Mo ser, Rice, Steele, Waba-
shaw and Winona, which in 1877 produced
from 300, 900 to 3,70O,0 600 bushels eaoh and
together over twenty and one-quarter millions
bushels of the first quality of wheat were re-
duced in 1878 to l2,4l9,536 bushels, and this
mostly Of lower grade, although grown upon
an augmented acreage.
An increase in the wheat acreage for the cur
rent year will be noticed in nearly every coun-
ty, but more especially in the new western and
Northwestern counties, where it reaches to from
SO to over 100 per cent. The total acreage of
the State is 2, 1885, 1896, an increase of more than
16 per cent. over that of 1878; and the reports
of the crops harvested therefrom are generally
highly favorable, although some localities in
the southern counties are said to have suffered
from the drouth in the early spring and also
from chintz bugs. The yield will probably
fall considerably below the general average, but
the quality is said to be very good throughout
the State. In the northwestern counties the
usual high average seems to be maintained
both as to yield and quality. Owing to the
vast extent Of the wheat acr age and the many
peculiarities of the season and circumstances
of farming, (many farms in the same local
tiles vary in yield from tsn to twenty bushels
per aors), 70 correct estimated yield per acre for
tho State is difficult to arrive at through the
information received at present; suffice to say
the yield will not fall short Of from thirteen to
fifteen bushels per acre, and the present crop
will be by far the largest ever grown i'll Min
resOta.
The GRIP of oats and corn of 1878 were the
greatest ever produced in the State-the yield
per acre of oats being larger than that of any
year since 1869, and of corn the largest yield
per acre since 1871. These crops participate
largely in the general increase of acreage for
1879 seen from the tables, oats being II 40
per cent. and corn Is per cent. larger than the
acreage of 1878, and heavy yield is promised.
Barley like wheat was badly affected by the
blight in 1878, consequently decrease in BUSH
els produced from that of 1877 is shown in the
table, al increased acreage for the present year
of over 100 per cent. is also shown. The severe
storms during the summer are reported to have
lodged the barley crops to a considerable ex-
tent, and this Circumstance will probably mater
tally lessen the large acreage yield which was
expected.
The large additional acreage of sugar cane
must be exceedingly gratifying to those inter-
ested in the progress of this new industry of
the State, and it is therefore included in the
followingl statement: 3l7, 1919 gallons of the
syrup were produced in 1878 against 140, 153
gallons in 1877, and the yield per acre for the
latter season was 90 gallons. The increase of
acreage reported this year over 1878 is 80 per
cent. The introduction into the State of
superior machinery for refining the raw mate
rial will aid largely in the devel ,pment of this
industry and in verifying the predictions of
those who have claimed that amber cane sugar
is destined to become one of our most import
ant manufactures.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN P. JACOBSON,
Asst. Sec. of State and Com. of Statistics.