Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-09-09
SOIL HOLDS
ITS FERTILITY
BULLETIN WILL
SHOW INCREASE IN CROPS
FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

Washington, D. G., Sept. 7.-soils of
the United States are not wearing out
and the crop yields are increasing
rather than decreasing. These facts
are demonstrated in bulletin shortly
to be issued by the bureau Of soils OF
the agricultural department, prepared
by Prof. Milton Whitney, chief Of the
bureau. The bulletin deals exhaustive
ly with the yields of crops from 1857
to 1906, inclusive.
Yield Per Acre Increasing.
"a careful study of the data which
have been presented appears to justi-
fy two conclusions" says Prof. Whit
ney. First, that the productivity of
the newer agricultural soils Of the
United States and of the older agricul-
tural soils of Europe, taken as a
whole and for the nation, are not de-
clining, as popularity is supposed.
Individual farming deteriorates
and soils wear out, as they always
have done, but as whole it seems
probable that we are producing more
crops per acre than formerly. This I'M
doubtedly is due to many factors; to
better and more intelligent cultivation
more and better systems of rotations
of crops, and, in later years, to the
intelligent use Of fertilizers through
measures Of control in the hands of
every individual farmer.
In addition we must recognize the
increase in farm animals and stock,
the Improvement in seed by selection
and breeding, and increased density
Of population, which is forcing atten-
ton to more intensive methods. Sec
ond, that SO far as our information
goes there apparently is no significant
difference at the present time be-
tween the composition of the old agri-
cultural soils of Europe and the new
er agricultural soils of the United
States with respect to potash, phos-
phoric acid, lime and magnesia."
The bulletin shows an increase in
all cereal crops throughout the Unit
ed States for the last three or four
decades. The wheat yield per acre in
Russia from 1883 to 1905, according
| to the bulletin, varied several, bushels
per acre. In the latter year it was 9.4
bushels.
Foreign Yields are Large.
| In Ireland the yield of wheat per
acre in 1888 was 255 bushels, and In
every year up to 1906 there was a
constant increase, when it reached the
yield of 34.S bushels per acre.
In Great Britain the yield of wheat
in 1884 was 800 bushels per acre and
there was slight variation of in
crease up to 1906, which brought the
yield up to BAT bushels.
The wheat yield of Germany was
| 1872 bushels in 1883 with gradual in
crease to 1906, bringing the yield then
to 30.3 bushels.
The bulletin gives the following
averages by states for the production
of wheat per acre from 1866 to 1907:
Vermont, 1875 bushels; Maine 1876
bushels; New York, 1877; New Jersey,
14.5; Michigan, 14.5; Pennsylvania,
14.5; Ohio, AL; Kansas, 1879; Wiscon-
sin. 1877; Minnesota, 1876; Maryland,
1873; Illinois, 1872; Nebraska, 131:
Indiana, 1871; Delaware, 1871; Cali
fornia, 1873; Iowa, 1874; Missouri,
1872; Texas, 11.5; West Virginia,
1906; Montana, 105; Virginia, 81;
Arkansas. SO; Tennessee, 49,, Mis-
sissippi, 81; Alabama, 7.6; Georgia,
IL; North Carolina, SO; South Caro-
lima, 6e.