The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-12-09
INTERESTING FIGURES.
Future Value of Farms and of Whea
Cotton and Corn.

Cotton and Corn.
In reply to criticisms OF some of his
conclusions. Mr.. c. Wood Davis the
farmer statistician of Kansas, has re-
Gently called attention to some of the
facts of the situation which it is to the
interest of farm owners to have kept
in view. Without following Mr.
Davis wording explicitly, says the
Journal of Agriculture. his facts and
conclusions may be summarized as
follows:
The area planted to corn in 1891
would not have produced sufficient
corn for domestic consumption. at the
rate found during twelve years, if the
yield had only equaled the average of
the last twelve years-twenty-t three
and nine-tenths bushels per by
an amount equal to such average on
more than 2. 900. 900 acres.
The aria planted in corn this year.
with consumption remaining at the
same rate per capita as has obtained
for twelve years past-29.i7 bushels
and with an average yield per acre
-23.9 bushels-less by 8. 100. 900
acres than would be required to pro-
vide the corn consumed at home
The reports of the department of
agriculture show that the acreage in
the three principal cereals in 1891
was actually 2. 200 900 acres less than
in 1889. although at that time no
material part of the acreage was idle.
as is now the case. because excessive
rains prevented planting.
Current additions to the cultivated
areas are not equal to the constant in
crease in the number of draft and
dairy animals alone.
Our population is increasing faster
than ever and that while the increase
from 1880 to 1S81-at % per cent per
annum-was but l, 100 OOO the in
crease during this year will be no less
than !. 500. 900, and that while we are
yearly adding $50. 900 more people
than twelve years since. we are add
ing not more than one eighth as
many new acres.
The increase in population is. year
by year. growing greater and greater;
on the other hand the increase in
acreage grows less year by year.
While population increases more
each year than in the preceding one.
the lands available for cultivation
grow progressively less
Mr. Davis concludes as follows:
Il am not in the habit of making
predictions without tying string to
them in the shape of a qualifying
clause. but will now depart from this
line, and, without reservation or
qualification. mental or expressed,
predict that within four years the
people of the United States will re-
duce the area devoted to the produc-
ton of wheat and cotton for export
by more than eight million 6, 900,
000) acres in order to grow the corn
required for home consumption.
'And that friends, as we'll as the
hypocritical may know upon what
grounds this confident venture into
the realms Of prophesy is made. l
would beg leave to say that it is based
upon a clear demonstration of the
facts-if the agricultural departments
figures and those of the census are
worth nything-that we now have a
population of IS, 500 900; that each
unit of the population has annually
for twelve years. required %. II BUSH
els OF corn. and that it re luires. at
the average rate of production. one
acre and twenty-five hundredths upon
which to grow the corn consumed by
each unit that four years hence
August 20. 1906. A. D.-with popu-
lation increasing at the same rate
that it did during the ninth decade
% per cent per annum-we shall
have population of H. 780. 000 re-
quiring-a 29. II bushels per capita
IS. 093. 923. 900 bushels of corn to
produce which. with an average yield
will employ no less than 81. SIG, 900
acres being H. S37. 900 acres more
than is now planted in corn. and
II. Ala. 900 acres more than was
planted to corn in 1891, when more
Of the fields were idle.
1T is not safe to assume that the
time involved in this prediction is toe
short to expect such radical change
in the diet and habits of the people as
will permit us to dispense with the
product of at least l !. 400. 900 acres
of corn? We may admit that the
higher price which will obtain will
cause some contraction Of the volume
required. but we shall not probably.
be far astray if we say that the pro.
duct of 8 800 900 acres will measure
the maximum contraction and this
leaves US still short 5000. 600 acres
of corn lands. which can only be OBJ
tanned by reducing the area devoted
to the production of the staples mo-
, grown for wheat and
cotton-as the current addition O.
new acres are not sufficient to NEE
, the augmented requirements for hay.
potatoes and the minor products Of
the farm.
: will the critics kindly inform US
what will be the effect upon the prices
of wheat and cotton if we reduce
the area in such staples but 8. 000. 00(
acres before August 90 1896.