Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1911-06-15
SOUTH DAKOTA'S
CROP STATISTICS
MOST GRAINS SHOW INCREASE
DECREASE IN WHEAT.
Preliminary Statement of Thirteenth
Census Results Issued by the
Census Bureau.

Statistics relative to the leading crops
for the state of South Dakota collect
ed at the Thirteenth Decennial Cen
sus, April Is, 1910, are contained in an
official statement issued to day by
Acting Census Director Faulkner. 1t
is based on tabular summaries pre-
pared under the direction of DIR. LIE
Grand Powers, chief statistician for
agriculture in the bureau of the cen
sus. The figures are preliminary and
subject to slight revision later, when
few other farms, whose returns, now
incomplete, will be included in the
final tables. 1t is not expected that
these additions will materially modify
the amounts or rates given in the pres
ent statement.
The leading crops in 1909, ranked
in the order of valuation, were:
Wheat, $42,SS1 900; corn, $26,385, 900;
oats, $16,03S 600; hay and forage, $15,-
100000; barley, $10,S7O,oO0; faxseed,
$6,993,000; emmer and spelt, $685.
700; potatoes, y1,967,OOO.
Decrease in Wheat.
From 3,9S4,659 acres in 1899 the
wheat acreage fell off in 1909 to ST.
lO4,622 acres, decrease of 22.1 per
cent. The preceding census showed
an increase; the acreage being in 1889,
2,259,S46 acres. Although wheat de-
creased in acreage during the past
decade, the aggregate yield increased
for the same period from al, SS9, $3.50
bushels in 1899 to 45,2S9,S1S bushels
in 1909. The yield of wheat per acre
was reported as Is bushels; the value
per acre, $3.50.
Corn Makes Big Increase.
From 1899 to 1909 the acreage of
corn increased from 1,196,3S1 acres to
l,975,558, or 651 per cent. Notwith-
standing the enormous gain by oats
during the last decade corn has re-
tanned its position among the cereals,
ranking second in acreage and first in
production. The acreage in 1889 was
753,309. The total yield for 1909 was
53,612,093 bushels, lead over it's
nearest competitor in production,
wheat. of more than 100000 bushels.
The average yield per acre was II
bushels; the average value per acre,
$1335.
Immense Increase in Oats.
From 1899 to 1909 the acreage in
oats increased from SOL, 167 acres to
1,480,075. or 114.1 per cent During
the past 10 years oats have more than
doubled their acreage and are now
pressing close upon corn for second
place among the cereals. The acreage
in 1889 was 580,2S9 acres. The aggre-
gate yield in 1909 was 41,255,5 69 BUSH
els; the average yield per acre, %
bushels; the average value per acre,
$1,000.
Great Gain in Hay and Forage.
The acreage devoted to hay and
forage in 1909 was 3,429,527 acres. 1t
has been constantly increasing. With
1,554,913 acres in 1889, it rose to 2,2S7,-
S75 in 1899, and again to 3,429,527
in 1909. The increase since 1899 has
been 49.9 per cent. The acreage in
1889 was 1,554,913 acres. The total
yield in 1909 was 3,649,577 tons, the
average yield per acre LOG tons, and
the average value per acre $40.
Barley Triples Its Acreage.
From 1899 to 1909 the acreage in
barley increased from 299,5l0 acres to
1,057,533, or 1881 per cent Since
1889, when 1890 acres were harvest
ed, this crop has multiplied more than
tenfold. The increase in the decade
from 1889 to 1899 was notable, but
that for the last 10 years has been
even more remarkable The total
yield in 1909 was 2O,325,49S bushels,
the average yield per acre 10 bushels.
the average value per acre s1O.25.
FIaxseed Shows Increase.
The area devoted to f1axseed in 1908
was 5O7,2S6 acres, as compared to 3O2,-
010 acres in 1899, an increase of 6S
per cent. The acreage in 1889 was
354,951. The total yield in 1909 was !
649,237 bushels, gain of over 1900, 900
bushels. The average yield per acre
was bushels, and the average value
per acre $3.50.
Emmer and speIt.
In 1909 there were devoted to the
cultivation of emmer and spelt .259,-
674 acres, yielding 6,O95.6S3 bushels,
valued at $2,626,O0O. The average
yield per acre was % bushels, and the
average value s1O.10. The census bu-
rea has no reports Of emmer and spelt
for previous decades.
Potatoes Increase.
From 1899 to 1909 potatoes in
creased in acreage from 1856 acres
to 50,2O3. or 49.6 per cent. The total
yield in 1909 was 3,439.6 bushels, the
Matter Of Degrees.
He-"He was a bachelor of arts, but
she was master OF ar.ss arts ss.:e-"And
so thew are marriad now 90 evoc.