Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-01-03

of the state"
The yearly averages of production
tell the story as to the supremacy Of
Iowa In agriculture Corn Is the great
est Of the cereals, and the statistics
show that for the last seventeen years
1880 to 1906, inclusive)the average
yearly output of that great staple has
been above 275 100000 bushels, and in
the last five years the annual average
was a little over 317,000,000 bushels
These figures indicate a steady In
crease in the yearly output, and there
has been also corresponding In
crease in the average yielr per acre.
Prior to 1890 this state was credited
with an average yield Of about 80
bushels of corn per acre. For the
seventeen years (Jan. 1, 1890, to Jan.
1 1900 the average was 1876 bushels
per acre. For the decade ended Jan.
1, 1907, the average was 34.5 bushels;
and in the last half of that decade the
average was SO bushels per acre.
In Other Years.
OF course there has been notable
variation in the yearly output Of the
soil. There have been several rela-
lively lean seasons within the last two
decades, caused by deficiency or ex-
cess of moisture in critical crop
months But there has been no near
approach to failure of the staple farm
crops and the leanest season exper-
fenced in Iowa would be regarded as
fairness in many of the les favored
states. The most severe drought oc-
Cured in 1894, serving as a supreme
test of the productive capabilities Of
Iowa soil under adverse conditions.
The average rainfall for the state in
the three summer months was only
4.S8 inches. and July was almost en-
tirely rainless and destitute of dewfall
in the larger part of the state; and
yet the state harvested 256,O00,O00
bushels of corn and small grain, with
a good yield of forage for the live
stock, and that was fairly good year
for the farmers, though the surplus for
export was cut off.
The year 1906 has scored the high
est record in the production of corn,
in the total yield of cereal crops and
the value of the sold products. The
big crop table, reproduced from the fl
nal report of the Iowa weather and
crop service and published on another
page of this issue, tells the story fig
uratively, of the most prosperous agri-
cultural season ever known in the
history, Of the state. or in any other
commonwealth in America Note the
plethoric columns of figures under the
toes and hay. No better advertisement
Of Iowa's resources can be sent out
than copies of this table Of figures,
showing the average per acre and to-
tai yield of farm crops by counties
To comprehend its full significance
one must be able to think in millions
and understand the potential value Of
the grains and grasses in the produc-
ton of cattle. horses, swine, poultry
dairy goods, etc.
533,5o7 ,42o Bushels of Cereals.
In cereals (corn and small grain) we
have grand total of 553,507,4 bush
els-or over half billion bushels of
grain. If we should conclude to ship
all that mass of feed stuff outside the
state we would require about 100000
freight cars. each laden with thirty
tons of grain. That would make train
of cars reaching nearly all the way
from San Francisco to New York. On
account of the shortage of cars we had
better not ship it. And it pays better
to feed it to our live stock.
Corn is the king of cereals, and that
column of figures in our table will at
tract most attention. In the column
of average yield per acre it appears
sixty-six counties twothirds of the
state) produced an average of 40 to 4S
bushels for each acre planted One
third Of the counties reported averages
ranging from 33 to 80 bushels per acre,
which would be considered fair yield
in any ordinary season. In totals Pot
taawattamie county leads, with an ag-
gregate OF S,724,SO0 bushels. Wood
bury produced S,153,550 bushels The
smallest amount in any county is
1,464,6O0 bushels in Dickinson, which
has an acreage of corn much below the
average. Dividing the state into sec
lions, or belts three counties wide. on
east and west lines, we find the largest
average yield and greatest corn acre
age in the central section. This Is the
heart and center of the corn belt of
America.
Pasture and Forage.
Corn and grass are the chief factors
in Iowa agriculture, forming the basis
of our live stock agriculture. We are
not likely to overestimate the import
ance of the corn crop, and the need of
care in selection of seed, and improved
methods of cultivation; but we may
underrate the value of pastures, mead
ows and other forage crops In my
Judgment pasturage, grazing, the hay
crop and other forage stuffs are more
valuable in our agriculture than the
corn crop and the wheat crop together,
which are credited with a total value
of over $132,000,000. The great live
stock industry of Iowa can be made
1arafi ahla only har thaSa flua ct