Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-08-18

13aiIp Krnnfhrr 3ournal.
Prof. Brewers Report on Cereals.

Professor W. II. Brewer, of the Sheffield
School, Yale College, Special Agent of the
Census Department, has completed his re-
port on the Cereal Products of the United
States. 1t makes a volume of los pages of
the size of the Congressional Record. The
Superintendent of the Census has received
the proof sheets. The volume, in addition
to its valuable statistical information, con-
tains the history of cereals in which are
elaborately discussed the species, varieties,
changes of seed, physical and chemical char
acters. relations of grain to moisture, hydro
scopc characters, chemical composition, cost
| and methods of production, mishaps TO crops,
diseases and insect pests injurious to the
cereals crops. The report will also contain
\ history of American agriculture, to which
| is added discussion of mixed farming. land
tenure, farm implements and machinery, re-
lations of cereal productions to live stock,
growing and the handling of grain. Some
information CLEANED therefrom, is presented
below
The total production of the six principal
cereal grains in the United States tor the
census year amounted in round numbers 10
=, COS, ,00e, 600 bushels, an average of 80 s
bushels per head of the population. and an
increase of over "a per cent since 1870. 1t
is an interesting fact that this increase is not
chic fly due to the cultivation of new lands in
the West and Northwest. but is more largel,
due to gain in farming regions already oc-
cupied in 1870. The tables of production
show that the chief gain is in regions for
some time in cultivation and on lands rang
ing in value from $50 per acre and upward.
The grain consumption per capita in the
United States is a fraction over 40 bushels,
but in Europe it is less than Is bushels. 1t
is l3 bushels in Austria 80 in Denmark, u
in France, % in Germany, 30 in Great
Britain, 6 in Holland, 3 in Italy, Il in Rus
sia and Il in Spain.
The crop OF five contiguous States Ohio
Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and Iowa, amounts
of over 80 per cent of all grain produced in
the United States.
Most of the grain of the United States is
grown in regions where mixed farming is
practised. and on farms of moderate size.
BY mixed farming Prof Brewer means the
growing of green and grain crops and the
production of the animals on the same farm.
The tables of distribution by Typographical
features show that the ''praire region" pro-
duces over 81 per cent, or about three -eights
of the whole. The central region" follows
These two produce nearly as much as all the
other nineteen Typographical divisions into
which the country is divided for this nvesti
cation.
Each of the grains has severaly its largest
production in an elevation of between 800
and 1000 feet above the level of the sea-
where over 80 per cent of the whole product
10 moi rnnt nftl tln -
the country is grown between the elevation
of 100 and 1900 feet.
The production of bread-grains belongs
chiefly to the belt where, owing to winters
cold, comforts are secured only bv labor.
A little less than 30 per cent. of the whole
grain production is in regions where the
mean temperature of January is below 80 de-
grees, and nearly three -fourths where the
average for that month is below the freezing
point. Over 40 per cent is produced where
the annual temperature is between IS and so
degrees; "A per cent. where it is between 45
and 90 degrees; 81 per cent. where it is be-
tween As and 60 degrees and over 81 per
cent where it is between 40 and 60 degrees.
Thirty per cent. is produced where the an
nual rainfall is between 40 and As inches; 60
per cent. where it is between 30 and A.
inches So per cent where it is between 50
and 80 inches; and % per cent. where it is
between 25 and IS inches.
Forty-seven per cent. is produced where
the mean July temperature is between as and
go degrees ; and sc per cent. where it is be-
tween 20 and 80 degrees.
In all the greater grain-growing States,
except Pennsylvania, more than four fiiths
of the grain farms are worked by their own
ers. Prof. Brewer says that it is verv proba-
BILE, in the light of all our present knowl-
edge. that not less than 80, and probably
more than So per cent. of the total grain
produced in the United States, one year
with another, is grown upon farms which
are occupied and managed by their owners.
The greater portion of the grain is grown on
farms of over 100 acres. Let the advocates
of "ten acres enough" and small farming
make note Of statement by Professor Brew
er, one Of the best writers on agricultural
topics in the United States.