Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 May 1877 — Wheat Production. [ARTICLE]

Wheat Production.

' BiiEAb, meat and clothing are the chief productions of,the temperate zone of the North. “The northern half of this im mense belt has been for centuries and still is the source whence the civilized world derives the largest share of its vast supply of good and substantial wearing apparel. Within this belt the prodigious transactions of inland and ocean commerce are chiefly carried op—the greater activity being found throughout the northern division of greater production. A commercial journal has lately stated that the belt, or area, of highest wheat production is changing toward the South, and for aught we know; the statement may be true. Theoretically it is a valid conclusion, and probably a caiefut compilation of facte will show it to be correct. With all out- boasted advances in agriculture we have not increased, the average production of wheat per acre. Our increase of the total production of this cereal is owing to a broader area devoted to its growth. Another important fact is connected with the assumed truth that the wheat-producing district is changing, namely, that the inland commerce of the United Stales is increasing on more southern lines and diminishing on more northern routes. These facts are enough to arouse the country, for they touch the interests of ail classes—producers, carriers and consumers—and demonstrate that Kat changes are to be looked for in the iness interests of the country, or, at leAst, of certain localities. If theproductiou of wheat is diminishing in tite North it is ii consequence of soil exhaifstibii, mainly, but in part owing, perhaps, to climatic conditions which of late years have not’beenof the most favorable character. In an hour’s walk we could go to farm< which twenty-five and thirty years’ago produced thirty and forty bushels of wheat to the acre with common culture, but which now do not yield over fifteen to twenty bushels. It is truly the province of the farmer to ask himself what is the cause of this diminution of yield, dud "What is the remedy. Thecause we belfove will tie found to be, first, loss of soil fertility, second, exposure to winds and severe. cold through the removal of the forests. ' ' , The repiedies then are already in the reader’s mind. But are these the causes > If they Are not, will some intelligent farmer,tell qs what they Should the societies for the promotion of agriculture do so wort Wan act as to offer fifty dollars for tlie best-aere of wheat, there would be a dozeri favmere in «adh county who would grow from a single acre,ad • team would want to draw to market, and bring production up to the old maximum standard. The truth is we have become careless about th» i important matter Of keeping the soil rjcteT-ihinking that clover stalks Mid are Ming to preserve tfie ty of the. land, forever. Fanners must awake from this delusivt theory . !! , Wheat production cannot be raised to a maximum point witbouthtbo business of stock-growing and stock-feeding are combined with it. Ths fam cannot be maintained id a high condition of productive power unless more animals are kept to consume the coarser productions. The proportion devoted to«attie or autek food must be increased, and the proportion devoted to wheal-growing be lessened ; then we believe the , farmers of the northern division pf the y-mperato .zone may grow mVire wheat sk wfell as mew stock, and>rotaln theif position as the chief producers of bread,' meat and cloth, ing for the whole world.”— Detroit Tribtme.