New-York tribune., 1885-07-15
CROP LSEHOODS AND CROP NEWS.
PROFESSOR DoDGEs DEFENCE OF THE AGRICULT-
IRAI nRPARrMENr RsTIMATES.

PROFESSOR DoDGE's DEFENCE OF THE AGRICULT-
URAL DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES
wAsEIyGToS, July 14.-Some adverse criticism OF
the Governments agricultural reports has called forth
the following from Professor j. X. Dodge, the sta
tistician OF the Department OF Agriculture
II is the province of official statistical service
either to advance depress prices, but to tell the
truth II repeatedly proven that of
crop production inures only to the advantage of the
spcculator wealthy purchaser Honesty then. is the
best policy tor farmers in crop reporting With iier
TO the wheat report OF this spring there is some
dissatisfaction on the part OF specializing dyspcpc
extremists There always is Either they do not want
tho truth or they cannot it when mate rallied.
Calm well balanced observers of the statistical stua-
ton like some commercial and agricultural editors
whom unnecessary to name. give results almost
identical with ours though really possessing and using
extensively original facilities for crop reporting They
will continue do aud next year all including the
bureaus OF the spectators themselves will quote con-
tdcnly and iOr comparison the official records AS
usual. The charge OF IA reduction OF oDehalf III our
indications. from April TO June. by some critics, Il
cha acteri.tic looseness OF statement which has no
foundation tact he first report oil winter wheat,
made on April !, before growth had began on
part OF the and when several States cred
in part by snow, indicated a probable reduction OF
$4,000 600 bushels ~ compared with the previous
crop. l his the lowest estimate eyer made IN
Anil But il said further The real statGs of the
will be better shown a month hence. ~hen the
vitality of the roots has been demonstrated and the
character of the spring determined On May l. aitor
unfavorabc April, when the plant had progressed
sufficiently to show the real injury by freezing the in
dcatIons pontci To q crop of 10000, 900 bushels.
reduc ton oil % 3OOO.0OJ only. On June the returns
showed that the discouraged farmers bad poughed up
mi hons of of damaged grain III the hope oi
profitable crop OF corn. oats or other grain, thus
reducing the prospect again. for much OF this area
would have brought pn tial crop. Tho June returns
showed a promise OF 2O7 .OOO 900 bushels reduction
OF %. 100000 bushels from the April prospect which
was fully JUS flied by the fuller revelation Oi winter in
lures the bad weather of April and May and the sub
stituiion of other immense area of injured
wheat IL ~ reduction OF l1YOJO,OO0 bushels from
the winter wheat record of 1884, or almost ~ Der
cent of which 20 per cent reported on April
|. Less than 10 per cent of ths reduction ls The
difference between April and June due to bad weather.
substitution OF Jthcr crops Tor halidcstFoycd acreage
and IA palmer demonstration OF the halt concealed
injury the roots the date 0f April IN the more
Northern latitu lea Ii Is fair, just, and reasonable
difference, which proves the accuracy Of Judgment
cbcrVer-. and puts to shame the efforts tor dis
oron and approximation INDUCED by ignorance ana
speculative greed.
Before d,missng this subject 1t may be well To saw
for the information Of all honest in1nirers a. to the ex
tent and efficiency OF the department system that II
includes more than 1000 boards OF observers in rs
many cJuntcH, farmers OF experience and Judgment,
repif sentative men Of pnbc spirit and promoters of
intelligent agriculture In their Ofboods aud not
stipendinric, camoriug tor a piiiance of Official pap.
These the groInd all the time making their
o-eryations ir,m the standpoint of practical knowl-
clge with tier regular programme OF work before
them from month O. month and from year 10 year NO
man not farmer feel thr position 50 efficiently.
The talk OF preferable material. whether postmasters,
freight or express agents. book canyasscrs. lightning
rod men pedlai- IL based utter mieonceptlJn OF
the difficulty and Importance oi their dntes and the
fitness Of men TOR technical sreoal investigation,
All Official invcstigi tons, European and American,
National and State, has tested and proved this hypo
thesis.
There Ia one point that Is absolutely essential In
crop reports The report must cover definite area IA
county tor instancei aud represent known acreage
and customary yield Lecaise average is worthless
that has in its constituents no element OF relative
quantity. oar averages are all made with reference to
quantity aud area covered by such reports No reports
that are merely individual anu not representative Oi
liked area 5e interpreted or bo OF any practical
value hey may do for trtraiion, II the gencrazer
Ia. a back Ground Of official other syslcnatic and
tv ,irtiursd estimates Tor n basis"