The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-11
Although Considered a Disas-
trous Year in the State, Mis-
souri, Is Second to Illinois
in Corn Production.
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3 . 80 . . . Q . = . = . . 81

tsf.f IBl>iC SlEClAls
Columbia. Mo-. Dec. 10-The annual re-
port OF the Missouri State Board of Asri-
culture, which was issued to-day. shows
that the crop values of Missouri for this
year are more than what they were eX-
pected to be several weeks ago.
The corn crop has turned out more
favorably than was expected, the acreage
this year being 6.SS2000, which is Sll.90O
acres less than the acreage of last year.
The average yield per acre for the whole
State is 2a.7 bushels. which is a full aver
age Yield for the last ten years. but about
ten bushels below the average yield of last
year. The total number of bushels pro-
duced this year was 20I, 725, 0OO The aver
age price on the farm as reported to the
State board is $40 cents per bushel, as
compared with 32.1 per bushel at the same
time last year, making the value of this
years crop amount to s70.S5l. 900, exclusive
OF the forage crop. If the small estimate
OF 81 per acre be added to this for forage
the total value of the corn crop Will
amount to S1,7O0Ooo. The value Of the
corn crop last year was S97,O599O0
Inc yield in both clover and timothy
nay Is ABOUT the same as last year, and IA
ABOVE the average in both quality and
quantity. The total value of the Missouri
ma nay crop this year is estimated at $1,000
wv. Inc acreage was about the same as
last year and the yields were: Clover, 1. IS
tons per acre; timothy, l.6 tons per acre;
making a total estimated yield OF b.OtOOO0
tons. The reports OF seed crops of both
timothy and clover. which are beuoming
more important each year. snow thai the
average yic.d of clover seed is 225 bushels
per acre, and that of timothy is 4.5 bushels
per acre.
WHEAT.
The acreage sown in wheat this fall is
about per cent below the acreage sown
last year. The falling off is caused by the
poor quality of this years crop. the fear
OF damage Dy the Hesisan fly and the poor
Weather for sowing in October and No
vemoer In the southwest section of the
state, however, there is an increased acre.
age of per cent. The total acreage sown
ms year Is 2,6a5.3O acres. Tine acreage
sown thls year, by sections and compared
with the acreage sown last year, is as fol-
lows: Northeast. 367. 500 acres decrease Q
per cent: northwest. 2il3C0 acres. decrease
decrease per cent; southwest section,
wv iN acres, increase per cent; southeast
section. 666 500 acres, decrease Is per cent.
me greatest increase IN acreage this
year is shown to be in the same counties
IN which there was the Slcatest increase
last year-CaSs. johnson, Hcnry Vernon
and Bates, In several counties in the
eastern and southern parts OF the State
the wheat has suffered from insufficient
rainfall. and several correspondents COM
plain OF poor termination because of this. |
me present condition OF the wheat sown
Is IS. which. while 10 points below the very
excellent condition of the crop at this time |
last year. IS two points above the condi- |
ton at the same date in 1901. which crop
Of the State.
The vegetable crop this year amounts |
to $l0.000.vOO. about the same as last year |
or year before. The crop of oats and |
the crop last year. The small grain crop |
last year amounted to ss.oOO,03o. while this |
year 1t Will amount to s7.C0o.GGo.
COTTON.
The yield Of the cotton crop this year |
IS less than that Of last year and the |
acreage less. but the price is a little bet
Ler than 1t was last year. The total value |
% this years crop amounts to Si.792,Co
The acreage was about per cent less |
han that of last year.
George b. Ellis, secretary of the State
Board of Agriculture, feels rather elated
over the showing made by Missouri in
t this year think said in he
his year in the yield of corn per acre.
We feel more proud of the fact that we
'aise more corn per acre than we would
lad We larger total yield. Large total
'ields may show large acreage but large
'ields per acre show the fertility of the
oil and the skill Of the farmer.
ther thu snas t.t corn hears
to the value of the minerals.
The total value Of all the minerals pro-
uced in Missouri in one year. according
o the report OF the State Mine Inspector,
n round numbers. is ss.000c0o. The value
( the corn crop produced this year, al
hough S2s.oO0C00 less than that of last
ear, is still four times the value of all
mineral mined In the State.
Estimating that one man will plant,
ultivate and harvest 40 acres In three
Months time. it requires the labor of H.
20 men. working one-fourth of the year
0 produce this crop in comparison with
1859 men employed in the mines Of the
tate"