The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-06
SOME INTERESTING FIGURES.
A Comparative Statement of the Acreage
and Value of the Crops of 1888 and 1884.

The sixth annual report of the Bureau of Sta
tistics was submitted to the Governor, yesterday,
by ". A. Peelle. the State Statistician. Not.
withstanding the disadvantages under which the
Statistician has been compelled to work. in the
absence of an appropriation, he has succeeded in
gathering a vast amount of valuable statistica.
matter, which he presents in a comprehensive
form.
In speaking of the agricultural production dur
ing the last year, the Statistician says that 'the
general condition of the weather for the wheat
crop in Indiana during 1884 was very favorable.
A cool and moist spring followed a protracted
winter, and the heavy. continuous rains in the
early part of the spring season, causing a great
Use in the Ohio river and its tributaries, over
flowed a large tract of land in some river coun-
ties, whereby orn-planting was very much re-
tarded, while Improved beneficial to the growth
and development of the wheat plant"
The low price of wheat, the Statistician thinks,
has been operating to diminish its production
throughout a large part of the wheat-growing
region. In some localities where wheat had
been winter killed" it was plowed up and the
land planted in corn or other spring crops,
which probably accounts for the increased area
IN corn. The area in wheat for 1884 shows a
decrease of 5S,39S acres when compared with
that of the previous year: but the yield tor 1884
shows a considerable III crease, of good quality.
In 1883 there was an acreage of 3,049, 209 acres of
wheat, yielding 81, 400, 573 bushels-an average of
1913 bushels per acre. The area in 1884
was 1890, 8l1 acres, yielding 1851, 900
bushels-an increase of 8, l25, 627, or an average
of Ii. 50 bushels per acre. The highest average
per acre was attained by Noble county, pro-
ducing on an area of &c. AGO acres 652, 656 bush
eles-an average of 1917 bushels per acre. The
next highest average was by Decatur county.
being 1857 bushels per acre, and the third was
Carroll county, which bad an average of 1I3
bushels per acre, while Gibson and Posey, which
had the largest yield, averaged l6.4 and l6. Z
bushels per acre respectively.
In some counties bordering on the Ohio river
a diminished acreage in corn was caused by the
unprecedented food, and this; it is stated by the
Statisticlan, is one of the reasons why the in
crease did not fully come up to the expectations
of those who anticipated a larger acreage. The
against 3, l25, 376 in 1888, but, nothwith-
standing the increase of Il, 464 acres over
the previous years area, the yield of 1884
which was SO, 159, 799 bushels-waS 539, 1873 bush
els less than during 1883. The average number of
bushels to the acre was 1882. The largest yield.
and also the highest average per acre, is credited
to Tlppecanoe county, where 2. 1895, GIL bushels
were raised on OI.SzJ acres. Inc next nlSneSL
average is by Vanderburg county, where there
was a yield of 917,47S bushels on %, 284 acres.
The averages were: Tippecanoe, AZ. 7; Wander
burg, 41.17; st. Joseph, 40 49,.
A very considerable increase of the area of
oats is shown. In 1883 there were 456. 2S6 acres,
while last year the acreage was 791, 343. and the
reported yield %, ISL, los bushels, against 10,
SCI, 789 in 1883. The highest average in oats
was raised by Randolph county. with AZ. % bush
els per acre., while Elkhart had an average of
IS. So.
The yield of barley was $50, LOG bushels, against
899, 1873 in the previous year. The low average
OF 1883, the Statistician remarks, explains why
the farmers have not cultivated the crop more
extensively.
The production of rye was 434. 266 bushels. In
1883 it was 1858. 513 bushels. There has been y
steady growth for several years in the culture
Of this product.
The Statistician estimates the total gross
value of the agricultural, mining and manufact-
uring products of the State for 1884 as follows: