The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1893-04-20
Farmers Institute.

Farmers Institute.
The Farmers Institute, recently Or
ganized at Hillsboro, held its second
meeting on last Saturday at the Court
House. The forenoon session was EN-.
ployed in perfecting the organization OF
the society. A constitution and bylaws
were reported by the committee appoint
ed for that purpose at a previous meet.
ing, and we're read, discussed and adoted.
At the afternoon session paper was
read by Henry M. Higgins on the sub.
ject, "Why is the Price of Wheat so
Low?" The paper started very inter.
esting discussion, participated in by
Messrs. Good, VanWinkle, Nelson, STAN
forth, Wright, Leslie, Newby and others
Quite difference of opinion was develop
ed upon the question of the cost of pro-
ducing wheat in Highland county, the
cost of raising, harvesting and market.
ing wheat being variously estimated at
from five to ten dollars an acre.
The atte ndance was not as large as
might have been expected but fairly
representative body of the farmers Of
the county were in attendance and
much interest was shown. The society
will hold monthly meeting, its next
meeting being fixed for the third Satur.
day in May at the Court House at half
past one o'clock p. m. standard time.
Mr.. Hupgins paper will be found be.
low:
The price of wheat at this time is
probably below the cost of its produc-
ton in Highland county. The cost to
the farmer of producing wheat has no
doubt decreased in recent years, but the
J, price seems to decrease in greater pro
|. portion.
The average yearly crop of wheat in
the United States for the decade ending
with 1879 was 312, ,152, ,72S bushels. The
average yearly crop for the decade end
ing with 1889 was 449, 1896, 1859 bushels.
The increase in the yearly average in
the last named decade over the first was,
as will be seen, 117,542,631 bushels
The average farm price of wheat pei
bushel in the United States during the
first named decade was 81 04 plus. The
average price during the last named de.
cade was S2 plus. The price did moi
fall in quite the ratio that production
increased, but so nearly that some sig
nifcance would seem to attach to these
figures.
In round numbers the yearly average
crop OF wheat in the United States from
1870 to 1889 was 45O, 100000 bushels. Ir
1880 the crop was 49S, ,549,S ,S6S bushels
The price in 1880 was ,95 plus Eel
bushel. In 1881 the crop was 3S3, ,2S0,
900 bushels. The price was 81 10 plus
In 1882 the crop was 5O4, lS5, 40 bushels
: The price was ,SS plus. In 1883 th'
crop was 42l ,0S6, 100 bushels. The pric'
was 81 plus. In 1884 the crop was 5l2,
n 1000 bushels, the largest crop that W
j. to that time the country had ever pro
]. duced. The price fell to .644. In 1SS
ia the crop was 357, $4,000 bushels. Th
% price was II plus. In 1886 the crop wa
d 7,2l8, 900 bushels. The price was g
plus. In 1887 the crop was 456, ,329, ,OO
:. bushels. The price was .68 plus, tn
- plus mark indicating less fraction of I
- cent than in 'S6. In 1883 the crop wa
4l5 5,S6S,OOO bushels. The price was 81
x plus. In 1889 the crop was 49O,56O,0O
bushels. The price was SO plus.
y 1t will be seen from these figures tina
" without exception whenever production
ID for the year fell below the average TO
N the decade the price went up, and when
ever production for the decade wen
r, above the average the price went down
b, One striking fact is the variation in th
lg annual production, the extreme bein
between the years 'S4 and 80, the differ
at ence being los, ,653, 900 bushels. In tw
v. of these years, however, the years IS
and '87, the difference in production wa
49, slight, being only 900 bushels. Tn
e difference in price in those years wa
also slight, being little over one. half
IL cent per hushel.
A fair deduction from the foregoin
e, would seem to be that the price OF whes
C. follows with some degree OF certaint
k. the variations in the quantity producet
r, Other factors may interfere so that tn
price may be above or below what