Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-08-21
MINNESOTA CROPS.
49, sr1rz 81 Miaiia,ltIii;siioi,ri:axI...S::
- OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
RnfSHAn ON en- TYnrIcu 0n nAHrgf ISm II 81

- OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE. :
BukxAu o. erAT1sr1qs. 81. PAuH Aug. II, 70. J
: To the Editor: 1have the honorto submit,
according 70 the provisions Of Law, the follow.
the principal cereals and the sugar cane of the
StateIfor the year 1878; also, the averageof
same crops growing in 1879, is compiled from
the official teturne of the town assessors and
LIE Sueur county, and some of tho less i'm
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 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. -. -
> Recollecting the blight that struck the wheat
crop at it, most critical stage in the season OF
1873, 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 netter and larger in
seen from the tables, the largest wheat grow.
ing counties, viz: Dakota. Dodge, Fillmore
Freedom, Goodhue, Mower, Rice. Steele, Wabar
shaw and Winona, which in 1877 produced
from l, SOC, 900 to $500, 900 bushels each, and
together over twenty and one-quarter millions
bushels OF the first quality of wheat were re-
dhced in 1873 to 12,4l9,5S6 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 g. 755, 1856, 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
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
peouliarities of the season and circumstances
of farming, (many farms in the same local.
tiles vary in yield from ten to twenty bushels
per acre., correct estimated yield per acre fol
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
fifteen bushels per acre, and the present cror
will be by far the largest ever grown in Min.
nesota.
The GRIP of oats and corn of 1878 were 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 fo1
1879 as seen from the tables, oats being II &c
per cent. and corn 10 per cent. larger than thu
acreage of 1878, and a heavy yield is promised
Barley like wheat was badly affected by thu
blight in 1878, consequently decrease in bush
els produced from that of 1877 is shown in the
table. an increased acreage for the present yea
of over 100 per cent. is also shown The sever.
storms during the summer are reported to hav.
lodged the barley crops to a considerable ex
tent, and this Circumstance will probably mater.
tally lessen the large acreage yield which wa.
expected. =;
The large additional acreage of sugar can;
must be exceedingly gratifying to those inter
ested in the progress of this new industry o.
the State, and it is therefore included in tn,
following statement: 3l7,129 gallons of th1
syrup were produced in 1878 against 40. Is;
gallons in 1877, and the yield FER acre for til,
latter season was SO gallons. The increase Of
acreage reported this year over 1873 is IS pe]
cent. The introduction into the State o
superior machinery for refining the raw mate
lial will aid largely in the development of thil
industry and in verifying the predictions q
those who have claimed that amber cane suga,
is destined to become one of our most import
ant manufactures.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
=. JOHN P. JACOBSON,
Asst. Sec IF Htate and Con, NJ Qkok;.&;o.