New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-29
STATISTICS or THE BHE1T CROP.

EXPLANATION OF DISCRLPAN les BETWEEN ChNSu7
AND AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT REPORTS.
To the Edttor NJ The Tribune.
SIR: desire to make Anew comments in regard
n the wheat yield and the reports OF the stati9tcan
who The TRIBUNE says prepared the census report ana
that Of the Agricultural Bureau, IN which the census
returns disclosed "A much larger acreage and Yield OF
,b.at tnau The Bureau had estimated for 1879" The
1uNE should not forget that the statiStcian In b0th
these cases hal 20 make his reports upon the figures
which came before him each set Of hsre-, or returns,
coming from different source. The census reports III
nv Judgment are often excessive, or In Other WORKS.
greater than the actual yield acreage. The average
farmer knows many acres OF land he owns but IN
ineynipe cases ont hundred he has never had his
fields measured and only gesses at the number oi acres
IN each one The same Of the yield; it Is often
que swork "a between the census taker who mas never
seen he crops and have no knowledge OF the proper
vied Of crops ms 10 soil etc. and the farmer who nat
urnly ,wes the yield of his own farm BECAUSE he may
yart 10 sell il some day and anyway he does not Ike to
have hi. neighbours farm excel MS. With such OASIS
A. this n Il not at all strange that the census returns
suould exceed those o. the Bureau.
On the other hand the Bureau statistics, or returns
o naturally con sentative because they made by
men who have personal interest to swell OF oepes
them but who are ANXIOUS not TO make any mistakes, a.
,bir renorts Will bs compared with others in adjoining
counties and they do not Ike TO DO nj the bottom IN
noiut OF iud inent and correctness. The Agricultural
Deuortnent has the perfect system for securing
,-ou,pt and correct returns In the country As nave
,iI the persons making returns are non.interested
certaiuv In no speculative SENSE and are among the
most Intelligent practical and experienced citizens
Each county contains head correspondent, who asso-
ct,ca with himself several other correspondents IN
a.rent par- o. the county, whose combined Judgment
and nowled ,e covering the entire county, Is put In
firm IN blank. furnished the Bureau for Its iDtor
maron or course the statistcan or the Department IN
on could be expected 10 nave any per-"a
lnovr r o. over under iulates or discrepancies
arisius from local or other causes; when dHcrchcrs
,igt axe considerable change In the aggregate re-
trru. and CONFUSION when compared win FORMER OF
n-cauent returns For stance, the drOuth THIS month
,ril rd zee the potato yied Of late varieties IN SOM
cnnute. iu New York yYe per cent under Witt u
NH t,v, beep had suitable ral5 fallen 10 provide
49, lice A. ncirnces and difficulties under when the
ina a correspondent, agent, for each Stae should De
an,outed WHO would have the advantage OF 10 al
,i,v,ledyr could supervise the county returns oupN-
core. heng sent 10 him. and supplement- I'm win ntOr
nation which would SHOW the reasons f0 'rtines anu
sIeraI uecuariirs. These agents are also rqLIed on
fhe FIRST OF eacu month 10 max report 10 the DrPar
nent which shall give accurate view OF the s'atl5
a. crn local changes, Investigate and report special
c-s of agricultural industries, faCis te anu 10 i-7ls
I'm rurean ia .tican ia testing the returns IN reBhu
~ ,crea o. condition. etc. and 20 organize system VI
cnrcsnonaeuce VITA experts as 10 Obian tle pest
L,ovviere oil every branch OF agricultural work Inc
In .rtrent Il evidently endeayOrlng 10 increase anu
ia usefulness and To aid us althIuI corps Oh Ou
aud the statisucan 10 obtain 4uller Ia,
formation and to make lhelf IcP'i'' ~ o'A"F -
nccaratr possible 800
Aarr-I ARK