Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-25

results as quantity. While Nebraska has
produced an enormous crop the same is not
true of all the states in the corn belt, and
the grand total promises to be less than the
average. In addition the high price of beef
produces an added demand which enhances
its value. Nebraska has the corn, and
money to enable feeders to convert the corn
into meat is to be had in abundance. Ne
braska farmers are in better position than
those Of any other of the great corn-produc-
ing states to secure the cattle and to handle
and market them with profit. With the
corn, the cattle and the money to carry them
they will feed more cattle, hogs and sheep
this year than ever before in the history
of the state, and in spite of the immense
crop the market is liable to see less Of Ne
braska corn than ever before.
Oats About an Average.
In yield per acre oats are slightly below
the two preceding years, in both of which
they were better than an average crop. For
some reason the acreage was not as great
in 1899 as in 1897. The total yield foots
up to 50 1915 097, as against 69. .3S9, ,994 in 1897
and 54 4411 900 in 1898. The average yield
per acre in 1897 was 35.7, in 1898 35 and 1899
1t was 33.1 bushels. A short spell of very
hot weather about the time the grain was
yield though the average is above that OF
| the country taken as a whole.
| The returns Of the acreage of rye, barley,
! fax, potatoes and minor crops are far from
complete and the figures on any of them
with the possible exception of rye, afford
but an incomplete idea Of the amount pro-
| duced. While all of them do well in Ne
braska, none of them have been looked upon
\ by the farmers as staples. For this reason
| they are raised as a rule in small fields q
little on each farm, and while the aggregate
| Is large, very little attention is paid &c
| them in giving In the returns of acreage
! to assessors. For the same reason grain
dealers and others who are well posted or
| the acreage OF other crops know compare
lively little concerning them. Only a small
| percentage of the rye and barley ever finds
it's way to the market being consumed or
the farm, and this also renders it difficult Il
obtain accurate figures as to the total pro
duct. AS with other small grains, the yielt
per acre Is slightly below the great grair
years of 1897 and 1898, though about up Il
the average year and equal to the averag,
OF the whole country.
Nebraska will have potatoes to feed thu
nation this year. In every section OF tn,
state the yield has been something wonder
full.
Hay Turns Out Well.
The stocknan is again favored when i
comes to taking account Of the hay crop. I
is as essential to the successful feeding o
stock to have plenty OF hay as it Is to hav'
corn. The two crops have gone hand IL
hand this year, seeing which could make th
best showing, II is about an even thin
with them at the finish. Not only Is tn
crop large but OF excellent quality and ha
been put up in prime condition. In none.
value hay is one Of the most important crop
OF the state and with the increased acreag
OF alfalfa is increasing in Importance ever
year. Out in the range country 1t looked TO
a time as though cattlemen would be shor
of hay to carry them through the winter Il
spite of the fact there was plenty OF gras
waiting to be cut. The trouble was TO ge
someone to cut It, The weather came to thei
rescue however. The usual killing fros
which spoils the grass for hay purposes he'll
off from fifteen to twenty days longer tha
usual and as a result there is an ample sup
ply. In the feeding section of the state ther
is also a bountiful crop which was put u
in good condition, In addition 10 havin
enough for home consumption there will b
a large amount available for shipment.
Just what the hay crop Of the stat
amounts to no one can even approximate
tell. There arc no figures which can be re
lied upon to indicate within several millio
acres the amount OF hay land in the state
In the western part there are thousands upo