The Washington herald., 1917-11-14
VAST TERRITORY
ONE CORN FIELD
Travellers in Middle West
and South Report Re-
markable Maize Yield.

Business men who have had occa-
sion since mid October to visit many
parts of the West and of the North
west, and railway managers whose
duties have called them into various
AGRICULTURAL sections, have been bring
ing back East reports which tell Of
the wonders Of the agricultural pro-
duction, visible even from the car
windows.
The reports especially referred to
TN harvest OF corn. One OF those
whose business called him to Ohio
and Illinois spoke with enthusiasm
and amazement Of the vast stretches,
miles upon miles, Of Indian corn
which had been stacked preparatory
to husking. It seemed almost as
though the entire northern half or
Ohio were a great corn field and
the innumerable stacks Of corn, sug-
gesting by their shape the wigwams
of Indians, were OF themselves suffi-
cient proof Of the magnitude Of the
harvest.
From Illinois similar reports were
brought and also from some of the
large corn-growing belts of the South.
New Record Made.
Therefore business men in this city
who heard these reports were ready
to accept as accurate the statement
which came from the Department OK
Agriculture a day or two ago which
gives an estimate OF the total num-
Der of bushels of Indian corn har-
vested this year. In round numbers
there were 3.1SO,OOO,O00 bushels Of corn
harvested, much but not all OF it of
excellent quality.
This record, which is a new one,
when set in comparison with the rec
ord made last year tells impressively
the story Of the effects OF climatic
c2pditions upon corn and other grain
hStyests. For in 1916 the farmers
garnered $1,000. 600 bushels less of In
dian corn than they harvested in the
autumn OF this year. Climatic con-
ditions. especially in the Northwest.
were in 1916 unfavorable and had it
not been for an increase in the har-
vest Of corn in the Southern States
the aggregate amount harvested in
1916 would have been considerably less
than the actual figure.
The Department Of Agriculture.
departing a little from its custom OF
publishing very dry statistics, ap-
parently felt that it could give a
better understanding to the people of
the meaning Of this great harvest, as
compared with the harvest of 1916, If
II were announced that the increase
Is equivalent to almost six bushels
for every person in the United States.
1t is a curious fact that it fire.
qUently happens that when the far
mers are successful in coaXinS a very
large amount of Indian corn from the
soil, other farmers, who harvest
wheat. are compelled to contemplate
falling OF in their product as COM
pared with other years.
On the other hand. it often happens
that when very great wheat harvest
IS garnercd, there Is a falling of in
the harvest of corn This may be
, in cart explained by the statement
lsh9A sonnet times the farmers devote
more attention to the cultivation of
wheat than Of corn and in other years
are more occupied with cultiYating
corn. But this is regarded as only
partially explaining the difference. 1t
is chiefly due to climatic conditions.
But the agricultural area of this
country is now so enormous so that
agriculture reaches from the almost
subarctic to the almost subtropic par
alieIs that 1t is inconceivable that
bad weather will so prevail over the
entire agricultural regions as to cause
great depreciation in the harvest OF
food products.
The story of Wheat.
Although the harvest OF wheat
was disappointing, the disappointment
being due entirely to unfavorable eli
L. ~
nevertheless the wheat that has been
harvested is reported by the Depart
nnt of Agriculture to be Of a very
fine quality. {.
Intimations came some weeks ago
that notwithstanding the falling of in
the wheat production the grain tnat
was harvested was probably Of a bet
ter quality than any heretofore Sc
cured from the wheat belts. The quail
ity Of the wheat harvested this year
il considerably better than the aver
age for the ten years preceding 1917.
\ That seems to be a queer report,
queer in the sense that while wheat
ldepyeciated in quantity it appreciated
splendidly in quality. The results are
regarded as Justifying the view that
If weather conditions are not bad and
! IL there be increased acreage put to
wheat cultivation in 1918, then II will
be reasonable to count upon a harvest
5Of at least a billion bushels and also
very fine quality of wheat.
What Ais Potntoes.
Wheat Of the finest quality, al
though Of a diminished amount, has
been harvested this year, while on
the other hand the yield of potatoes
is the greatest, measured by bushels,
ever secured, and yet it is impaired
by the poor quality of many Of the
potatoes. There will be on hand
and in the markets about 100000, 900
bushels of potatoes, or approximate
ly 3OO.9OO,OO0 more bushels than
the harvest in 1916. II only the quail
ity of the potatoes could be COM
pared favorably with the increase.
then the country might contemplate
harvest of potatoes magnificent
both in quantity and quality.
There are some exceptions which
Phave been observed in New York
state regarding the quality of po-
| tatoes. Those which were raised
Nsm Maine seed potatoes. which
4vNe cultivated by farmers who are
Experts in that vocation, yielded