The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-06
AMEPICil FA8HS
 N0I WEARING OUT Crol Yields sre Snown to Be
 Improving Annually COMPARISON OF FIGURES As Compared With Crops of Europe Those of America Are Making
 Great Advance Due to More
 Intelligent Methods.

Washington, September 5-fspeciaI l. The United States bureau of so,,s is apout ready to issue bulletin No 57. en- ttied "A Study of Crop Yields and Soil Composition in Relation to Soil Produc- tivity" by Prof. Milton Whitney. chief of the bureau. The bulletin deals exbaus- lively with the yields of crops from 1ss7 10 1908, inclusive. It shows, according to Frofessor Whitney, that "the common inn presslon,' as he puts it, that the soils of the United States are wearing out and that the crop yields are on the decrease Is erroneous. as shown by carefully pre- pared statistics. In summing up Pro- lessor Whitney says:
 A careful study of the data which mas been presented appears to justify two conclusions first that the produc- tivity Of the newer agricultural soil. os the United States and of the older a. ricultural soils of Europe, taken aa3 whole and for the nation, are not de- ohhihs' as IS popu1ary supposed Indi- vidual farming deteriorates and soils vear out, as they have always done. but as whole it seems probable thai ue ,r.
 ln- erly This is undoubtedly due to many 1actors; to better and more intelligent cultivation, more and better systems of rotations of crops. and in later years to the intelligent use of fertilizers tbrou,h measures of control in the hands of euer,, individual farmer. In addition, we must recognize the increase in farm animals ana stock. the improvement in seed by selection and breeding. and increased in- tensity in population, which is forcing at tention to more intensive methods. Sec ond' that so far as our information goes 'nere IS apparently no significant differ ence at the present time between the composition of the old agricultural soils Of Europe and the new agricultural soils Of the United States with respect to potash. phosphoric acid, lime and mag nesia."
 Average Yield of Wheat.
 The statistics show that from 1ss7 to 1876 the wheat yields in Wisconsin Mich 1gan, Iowa, Illinois. Minnesota. Nebraska Kansas and Missouri averaged 13 i bushels per acre; from 1877 to ISs6. 13 busbaIs. from 1887 to 1896, 13.2 bushels: from 1907 to 1906. Al bushels Tn Ohio West vir-a ginia and Indiana the wheat yields pep5 acre from 1867 to 1878 were 116 bushels# prom 1877 to 1886, 133 bushels; from 1s1s to 1896. 12.4 bushels; from 1897 to 1eo6.9 lS.1 bushels. In New Jersey, PennsyI-s vania, Delaware and Maryland from 1867 to 1876 the yield per acre was 127 bush els; from 1877 to 1886. 129 bushels; from 1887 to 1896. 13.5 bushels. and from 1897 to 1906, 161 bushels For Virginia North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama the yield per acre from 1867 to 1876 was "A bushels; from 1877 to 1sss. 6.S bushels; from 1887 to 1896, 6.9 bushels: from 1897 to 1906, s.7 bushels.
 The bulletin shows corresponding in- crease in all cereal crops throughout the United States for the past three or four decades.
 Wheat Yield In Europe.
 The wheat yield per acre in Russia from 1883 to 1905. according to the bulletin, varied several bushels per acre; for in- stance, in 1883 it was 7.s; in 1886 it, was 5,7; in 1894 it was 10.3; then in 1897 there was drop to IT. In 1904 the yield was 114; in 1905, 9.4.
 In Ireland the yield of wheat per acre in 1883 was 25.5 bushels, and in every year up to 1906 there was a constant in- crease. when 1t reached the yield of s4.S bushels per acre.
 1884 was 309 bushels per acre. and there was slight variation of increase up to 1906, which brought the yield to 34.7 bushels
 The wheat yield of Germany was 1s2 bushels in 1888, with a gradual increase to 1906. bring the yield then to S0.3 bushels.
 The bulletin gives the following aver ages by states for the production of wheat per acre from 1866 to 1907:
 Vermont, 1S.5 bushels; Maine, 16.5 bushels; New York. 15.7 bushels; New Jersey, 14.5 bushels; Michigan. 14.5 bush els; Pennsylvania, 14.5 bushels; Ohio, Al bushels; Kansas, 13.9 bushels; Wiscon- sin, 137 bushels; Minnesota, 13.6 bushels; Maryland 133 bushels; Illinois. 13.2 bush els; Nebraska, 13.1 bushels; Indiana, 13.1 bushels; Delaware. 13.1 bushels; Califor- mia, 129 bushels; Iowa. 12.4 bushels; Mis- souri, 12.2 bushels; Texas, 11.5 bushels; West Virginia. 10e bushels; Montana, 1o.5 bushels: Virginia, 9.1 bushels; Arkansas S.s bushels: Tennessee. s.2 bushels; Mis- sissppi. S.1 bushels; Alabama, 7.6 bush. els Georgia, Il; North Carolina, 6.s bushels; South Carolina 6.6 bushels.