The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1881-02-17
DeteriO Of Wheat.

The San Francisco Post recently pub
lished the following statement:
cit is an open secret that the wheat
raised upon some of the great farms in
California is rapidly deteriorating in
quality, and if the process of impover-
ishing the land goes on much longer
there will be q marked difference in the
price between wheat of old and new
lands. Diversified farming can alone
arrest this process, and this is possible
only on small farms or on ARMS owned
by men of large ready means"
E. II. Walker, the statistician of the
Produce Exchange. says this statement
need create no alarm as to the country's
supply of wheat, either for consump-
ton or export, as the deteriora-
ton of the California crop would
have no material effect except in the re-
turn to the farmer. The wheat kernel
would not be quite as full, and hence
would not make so large a percentage of
flour; but the loss by shrinkage would
not be greater than q pound in q bushel.
The cause of this deterioration he at
tributes to the impoverishing of the land
by growing upon the same land, year
after year, the same kind of crop, with
out the use of fertilizers. The same sys-
tenn is practiced to large extent in the
Northwest lands, and the richness is
taken from the soil. If there were q
rotation of crops, or if fertilizers were
used, the soil would be kept in good
condition; but the farmer, anxious to
make every cent possible. spares every
item of expense. This was the cause
of the deterioration of the lands in
New England and in this State for
wheat7growing purposes; but now the
farmers practice either rotation of
other words, let the land lie over one
season, or sow clover, and when it has
attained its summer growth pillow it in
for fertilizing. The wheat crop of the
United States last year was about 49,
O00. 900 bushels, of which California and
Oregon furnished about 81, OOO, 900 BUSH
els. The surplus amounted to about
200, 600, 900 bushels. of which about
$50, OO0, 900 bushels were exported 10
other parts of the world. California and
Oregon furnishing about %, 500. GOO BUSH
els, which were exported to the East
Indies, China, Japan, Australia and the
Sandwich Islands. Mr.. Walker stated
that the estimated wheat crop of the
United States for 1881 was about $780,
00O, 600 bushels, of which California and
Oregon would furnish between SO.OOO,-
600 aud 35.OOO,O0O bushels. Of this
amount California and Oregon would re-
quiIe for seed about 1900, 900 bushels,
and for consumption, for an estimated
population of 100000 inhabitants,
4, 000, 900 bushels. For the rest of the
United States there would be required
about IS. 600, 900 bushels for seed, and
200, O00. 900 bushels for the population
Of about $4,000. 900 of people. This
would make . total OF aboat 260, OO0.-
coo bushels for food and seed. leaving
surplus Of nearly 230, 900, 600 for ex-
port. 1870, .-.s-------,
The average yield an acre, according
to Mr.. Walkers estimate, il thirteen
bushels, while the English farmer Sc
cures about twenty eight bushels An
acre, simply from the free use of fertil-
izers. Mr.. Walker stated that in Genesee
County and other parts of this State,
where years ago the farmers obtained a.
much as thirty bushels an acre, they now
get from twelve to fourteen bushels
only.-M r. Tribune.
BOsr0NIANs say: I" Take the bean