The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-08-21
MINNESOTA CROPS.
6TAT1 OF N1NNEsorA.
OFFICE OF 6ECRETARY: OF HrArr-

BUREAU o. 1TA11sflcs, ST. PAUL, Aug. H. ,'79.
according to the provisions Of law. tho % foiio.'
ing tables showing tho average ard yield 81
the principal cereals and tho sugar cane of the
State for the year 1878; also, the AVERAGE III
same crope growing in 1879, a. compiled from
tho official returns of the town aasessors and
county auditors.
portant agricultural counties (as shown on
tables, and seventeen townships in the re-
ported counties have not made returns Ut this
date, and are therefore included in the eati-
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
cloaely approximate the true amounts which
publication Of the annual report.
Recollecting the blight that struck the wheat
crop 1t it, most critical stage in the season of
1873, it will not be surprising to notice that
the yield falls ocnsiderably 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, 1t was very serious. The quality
was therefore materially cetter and larger in
tho Northwestern part of the State. Az will be
seen from the tables, the largest wheat grow
ing counties, viz: Dakota. Dodge, Fillmore
freeborn, Goodhue, Mover, Rice. Steele, Waba-
from ,so0, 900 to 100000 bushels each, and
together over twenty and one-quarter millions
bushels of the first quality of wheat. were re-
dnced in 1878 to l2,4l9,6S6 bushels, and this
mostly of lower grade, although grown upon
An augmented acreage.
An increase in tho wheat acreage for the cur
rent year will be noticed in nearly every ooun-
ty, but more especially in the new western and
northwestern counties, where it reaches to from
% to over 100 per cent. The total acreage of
the State il 2, 765, 1885, An increase of more than
l6 per cent. over that of 1878; and the reports
of the crops harvested therefrom are generally
highly favorable, although some localities in
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 il said to be very good throughout
tho State. In the northwestern counties the
usual high average seems to be maintained
both "a 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.
lties vary in yield from ten to twenty bushels
per scre), = correct estimated yield per acre for
the 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
will be by far the largest ever grown in Min
nesota.
The crfp Of oats and corr of 1878 we're tn
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 as seen from the tables, oats being IL 40
per cent. and corn l8 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 q considerable ex-
tent, and this circustance 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 il therefore included in tho
following statement: 3l7,129 gallons of the
tyrup were produced in 1873 against 14O, 1853
gallons in 1877. and the yield per acre for the
latter season was 80 gallons. The increase of
acreage reported this year over 1878 is SO per
cent. The introduction into the State of
superior machinery for refining the raw NATE
lial will aid largely in the development of this
industry and in verifying the predictions of
those who have claimed that amber cane sugar
10 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.