Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-04
THE CORN CROP OF 1889.
An Experienced Observer Gives
the COurler-JOurnaI the Ben
eft Of fits Information. and
Furnishes Some Very Interest
ing information.
Cor. Courier Journal.

MANSFIELD, o., November Is
The estimates on the corn crop of the
United States for 1882, made by many
parties (including that of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, are SO very much
beneath the actual crop that | ask
space in your market report for this
communication. | have probably
spent more money and time in getting
accurate statistics bearing on the
wheat, oats and corn crops of 1882
than any single individual in the
world, and for this reason the results
Of my researches as they apply to
corn will certainly not be without
great weight and ought to prove o
substantial value to your readers. In
my estimate | have taken it for
granted that the corn acreage for
1881, reported by the government, Of
81 ,262,025 acres is correct, though, as
is well known and now universally
admitted, both acreage and yield were
greater than the government estimate
for 1881 (%actual yield at least 80, 1000,
600 more than 1885, 00, 000). The
average increase Of corn acreage fol
1892 (lllinois having made a slight
decrease, is about nine per cent
but in order to make my estimates
rather below than above the mark
| consider the increased acreage
only five per cent, making a total
corn acreage Of 64,475,l 26 in 1882. ]
have had five seplr tic reports during
the season made up from responses
to injuries addressed to $4,000 farmers
business men dealing with farmer,
direct, and bankers. The average Of
the first four reports gave yield per
acre for 1882 Of shelled corn of thirty
four bushels, and the 9th report,
which was made to me early in No,
vember, makes exactly the same yield
per acre as the average of the four
earlier reports, that is, thirty.
four bushels Of shelled aoen pei
acre, indicating q total WELD
Of 2,294, 1000 bushels, against tn,
government estimate OF 1850, 900, 900
But, in order to see what estimate
would reach by taking information
mot so ample as mine, because from
not nearly 80 many sogrces) from al
entirely different source, | took tn,
yield per acre in the corn belt, az re.
ported for the weeks ending Novem
Der II and November Is in the lead
ing farm journal published in Chicago
and the average was 30 100 bushel.
OF shelled corn per acre. AS thes,
come from farmers who, il interested
at all, would certainly not be inter
ested in over estimating the crop, i
will be seen that my estimate O
thirly.fOur bushels, or 1929, 600, Q0l
bushels, is below rather than abov,
actual resQltg. 1t would be safe Il
add AZ least four per cent to tb,
acreage, and 2,400, 000, 900 is not likell
to prove too higl. for actual results. J
know it will be an easy matter 60,
Tom, Dick and Harry, 10 say | an
too high, but L hereby offer 500 K
any one who can present TO YOU
readers an accurate estimate base,
upon anything like tao same humble,
Of reliable in1iyidual sources of in
formation, which will not place th.
crop above the estimate max
Of 1894 00, 600. 1t is an cas-
matter for any man who has spen
neither time nor money in gettinI
accurate information to ridicule tn.
estimates Of those who have, but M,
reward of 800 will test the sincerit'
Of such talk, and will also show tba
practically nobody does moro thai
guess at the CROP, whereas / hay
taken tAe utmost pains TO ascertain il
4 Sensible, b%lsiness like way Just wha
the crop will be. 1t may be that tn
following facts will interest your reaS
ers. The total average aXpOrts OF corr
for iyo years past, at an average pric
10 Chicago OF 424 cents a bushel il
gold, have been 81 900, lQQ bushel
9i shelled corn per year. This sea
sons corn Drop in Europe, taking 10
as an average, Is. Russia, ll8; Turkey
III; Italy, l2O; Hungary, 100; Rou
mania, l3i. Wheat is selling in Chi
cago at about eight cents below tn
average price for five years, ana corr
at twenty-Eyo cants per bVshel aboy
the average for the same Eve years, O
proportionately at thirty three cont
per bushel more than tho price o
wheat warrants This, on the lareos
crop by at least 800, 900, 900 bushel
and on the smallest foreign deman,
We have ever had, is, to say the lcas'
singular. II may 30 yaFy unsafe /
sell i shogt, but il looks as if thosl
Nho want 10 buy corn for lesi,imat
purposes would DO able tO got il a
Chicago btfore next May at thirty
three to thirty eight cents per bushel
Where storage is to be obtained for IN,
quantity which will go into Chiaaso |.
Ia MEET1I y