The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-13

The New York Sun recently under
took to prove that the limit of wheat
production had been reached in this
country. The writer shows by stats
tics that from 1854 TO 1889 the decrease
in wheat acreage amounted to $500, 900
acres. Previous to 1884 the area in
creased. From 1869 to 1879 the increase
was about 16,20O,O 900 acres. From 1879 to
1854 the increase was slower, but aggre-
gated 1900, 900 acres. The year 1884 he
calls the maximum year. the total area
in wheat being IS, 1850 acres. Decrease
began with 1855. wheat lands being con-
verted into pastures, meadows, etc, to
supply the demands of an increasing pop
ulation in cities and towns.
New additions by irrigation and the
settling of arabic lands. continued for
several years and partially Offset the de-
crease going on elsewhere, but by 1889
not a single group of the states and ter
ritories came off without loss. During
these four years Iowa, Nebraska and
Missouri lost 256OOO0 acres. "Since the
census year." the Sun declares, ''reduc-
ton has continued in all the states east
and south of Minnesota, Nebraska and
Delaware, North Carolina and Texas, and
the annual losses from such conversions
have in all this region been as great as
in the preceding five years. In the alb
sence of material from which to make
new farms in any considerable numbers it
has been possible TO offset the losses
since 1889, only by the conversion Of
more than 1000 900 acres of the corn
lands Of Kansas into wheat fields The
corn area of the country being now de-
hcient, the diversion of corn fields to
wheat growing is no longer practicable
If we are to continue the expectation Of
animals and animal products on any
thing like the scale Of recent years. On
the contrary there are Indications that
wheat lands will soon be diverted large
ly to corn growing to meet the require
ments of annual additions Of 800 900 to
the domestic population. In the South,
since 1880, more than a million acres Of
wheat lands have been converted into
cotton lands The Ohio Farmer says that
this is all very we'll and interesting, but
IT fails to prove what was undertaken
that we have reached the limit of wheat
production 1t does show that the area
has been decreasing since 1884 because
some other use Of the land paid better.
But If there was a demand for wheat
more than for other products, the land
now devoted to these other products
would be converted into wheat lands so
swim. There are millions Of acres yet
to be redeemed from the arid regions of
the West by irrigation, and the average
yield per acre, over the entire country,
can be doubled, perhaps, by better farm
ing. Show the American farmers that
they can make more money on wheat
than anything else, and they will give
an exhibition of their ability to tumble
TO the situation" that will astonish
statistical theorists The reason why
America 0RCTRa 3
obvious. II shrinks with the shrinkage
in prices of the product. and when it
ceases to be profitable it will not be
grown at all, as money crop.
Observers Notes.
I have fed very little hay for many
years, preferring the corn fodder on the
score both of economy and satisfactory
results. The worlds crop Of hay is very
short this year. and, although 1 fear that
extensive shipments to Europe will not
be practicable, yet prices in this coun-
try should rule fairly good. and there
are tens of thousands Of farmers, dare
say. who will continue to feed their hay
and let the fodder go to waste when they
could utilize the fodder and sell the hay
thereby netting nearly the entire price
of the latter.
I find that ten acres OF corn will pro-
mich cows with all the coarse fodder
needed from the 1st of November to the
LIST Of May even when II Is fed long and
consequently one-third of it Is wasted
or rather IS converted into manure with
out being eaten by stock When one
makes use Of some wheat straw permit
ting the horses 70 eat the chaff and ten
derest part Of the straw that is used for
bedding. one acre Of corn fodder will
supply greater amount of forage than
one animal will consume. The character
or the FOOD VIII be superior to that OF
ordinary timothy or clover hay, being
safer for horses. as 1t is free from dust
and is laxative as well as nutritious.
The advantages Of fodder over or
binary hay 1 find to be many. % 1t is
by-product, costing only the cutting
and hauling to the barn. The grain is
expected to pay for the raising Of the
crop and the fodder is so much extra
gain, while hay is a main product, re-
curing the use of land for a year. %
1t is free from dust BY feeding fodder
have practically cured a horse OF a
bad cough that seriously impaired its
value in its younger days, when il was
kept on hay. Fodder is the only fit
coarse food for horses that have heaves
or are I'm any way thick-winded, and all
horses would be better for an escape
from the dust that is present in the best
of hay. timothy or clover. co 1t is laxa-
tive, while timothy hay is binding.
There is no more richer and more desir-
able forage than perfect clover hay, yet
the fact that hardly one ton I'm hun
dred is perfect precludes it from COM
parison with fodder. Fodder gives ami
mails a glossy coat of hair, correcting
the effects Of winter grain feeding. (D
II is far superior to timothy as a milk
producer. 90 It's manurial value IS a
considerable item Prof. Armsby esti-
mates II at s4.39 per ton.
I cannot expect those farmers who
leave the slower standing in the field I'M
I'll spring TO agree with my statements
concerning its value. Neither do know
of more unpleasant work than the hand
ling and feeding Of wet, frozen and half
rotted fodder TO stock and the cleaning
up OF the refuse In the managers. Nor is
II possible to make fodder go far in the
feeding when Il Is done I'm an open.
muddy lot, much Of the feed being put
under foot. But have stated the facts
only as 1 have found them in many
years Of feeding, and as many others
have found them. The average farmer
with ten or twenty horses, colts, COWS.
can provide shed room for ten or twenty
acres OF fodder. and thus enable him
self 20 save all the hay for market II he
so desires. OBSERVER.
Crops I'm Great Brftnfn