The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-25
BUREAU OF STATISTICS
HAS JUST COMPLETED IT'S ANNUAL
AGRICULTURAL REPORT.
The Acreage OF Corn, Wheat, Oats and
Hay-Lfve stock Ffsures-A sum-
mary for the Year 1899.

- a(RO- - NNN
year 1899. II says:
I'm many respects the year has been a
fruitful one for the agricultural industry,
excepting that of wheat growing in many
counties OF the northern section Of the
State. From January to April there was
little or no snow protection of the plant,
and much of the period with the mercury
far below zero. Wheat. nevertheless. prom
ised well until the latter part of March
and early April. when freezing and thaw-
ing, added to the weakened condition of
the plant, almost destroyed its vitality in
many sections so long without snow pro-
lection.
"The reports to the bureau on acreage
are made by the assessors of 1,O14 town
ships, and the yield was estimated and
reported by the township trustees in Oc-
tober, and by threshermen as TO the yield
of wheat, oats, etc.
The average area OF wheat sown for the
State falls a little below 100000 acres, but
in the fall OF 1898 3.437,57 acres were sown
TO wheat, which was very much above the
average for the State. As a result of the
hard winter on the plant there were 397, 64f
acres plowed up and put to- other crops in
the spring of 1899. This occurred chiefly in
northern counties Of the State, as already
stated. The remainder Of the area was we'll
above the average, being 1893, 333 acres. II
should be said, however, that a consider
able of this remainder was 50 thin on the
ground at harvest as to not warrant har-
vesting, though Ii was left standing be-
cause grass seed was growing in 1t and II
was desired to preserve the coming crops
of timothy and clover. A large part of the
acreage plowed up is shown in
THE CORN CROP.
1.-The table of area by counties gives the
corn crop of the year at 3,87,93 acres,
which, while not quite as large as in a
former year. is somewhat above the aver
age for the State. The yield shown In the
same table is the largest ever reported, be-
ing 81 ,2i6.8 4 bushels. This is the largest
corn crop ever reported for the State, and
the reports are in general concurrence that
the crop Is a more nearly merchantable one
than in several former years. 1t will be seen
that the average production by counties Is
very high in nearly all sections Of the
State. The smallest average yield in any
county is reported at twenty-six and me-
half bushels per acre, while the largest
yield Is reported at ffty-six bushels per
acre. that Of Upton county. which. years
ago, before the surface and tile drainage
became general. was reckoned a poor coun-
ty in agriculture, but which drainage has
made one OF the most productive in the
State in this great cereal. The same is true
of many other counties in the level plateau
Of the State, which lay high, and many
years ago were reckoned too wet for proht-
able agriculture. TIL reports on yield of
corn, as well as on that of other produc-
tons. have been verified by the bureau In
down in the regular reports. Altogether
the corn production of Indiana Is the great
est in the history of the State. The aggre-
gate yield anges from 5.266,6l4 bushels. In
Warren county. down to 1885, bushels in
Floyd county, but Ii should be said that
Floyd county had a small area to corn and
is never reckoned a great corn county,
though it's average yield is above thirty
three bushels per acre.
THE OATS CROP.
while the area was a little below the
average. the crop Is one of the largest and
best in quality for several years past. The
area was not quite one million acres, but
the yield was Sc. 500. 1S6 bushels. Laporte
county leads in the production, with over
100000 bushels. followed by Benton coun-
ty, with over 2,40 900: Allen county, with
over 100000; Newton county. with over l.
10000: Jasper county, with over 100000:
Warren county, with over 100000, and Lake
county. with over 1000. 900 bushels. Wells
ecu 9, Leads LEAD fidnI,the yield per acre w;,h being
lfL AN AoNG ~ AhAA0hF NhtAA f0E
bushels; Newton county. with 40k bushels.
and Huntingt1n county. With 40 bushes
per acre. In the table by counties. II VIII
be noticed that the yield stands unusually
high for the whole State.
The area in timothy was a little below
the average, while the yield, being l,5S9,s16
fSns' ten ts a y Tafle ae The 5 area aT ie ofev eqr w She
about the usual average, while the yield
was considerably above the average for the
past ten years, being 2.091.534 tons.
LIVE STOCK.
1.-THE number of horses on hand was
GA. 303; died during the past year, 20.255.
The number of mules on hand was As, $50;
died during the past year. 1,749. The total
number of cattle in the State was 1,15S. 15s,
and of these 4s2. $50 were milk cows. During
the past year 19.427 cattle died. Hogs on
land for the year were Ii 6.476; died during
the past year. $685. $50. Pigs on hand under
three months old on April 1 were LAS, s36.
On April l there were SCI. O24 sheep and 45s. Oe7
lambs. The wool clipped for 1899 was ,63l, All
pounds. Sheep killed by dogs during the
past year. I5.727. Sheep affected by scab
were 9.19. Sheep died during the past year,
55.2si. The value of all domestic animals
slaughtered on the farm was 81, 1885, S9.
IA hG sssl sssa POUNDS of %il of b Ba9aqce q, s IL ,i the p ssats;
OF cheese made on the farm, 1,0S3, 40S. Poul-
try Of all kinds on farm; l;2i1 102 dozens.
The number Of farm hands regularly
employed was 80. 404, and the average wages.
including. board for farm hands, was sl3. SO
per month. Number of women employed in
families on the farm was IL IA, and their
average pay per week. including board. was
sl:56.. The table referring TO these things
Will be found interesting. as given by coun-
ties.
SUMMARY o THE YEAR 1899.
The leading products OF the farm, and
their value for the year. taking the current
prices at Indianapolis and including the live
stock on hand. are as follows:
Products. Quantity. Value