Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1879 — Grain and Other Crop Statistics. [ARTICLE]

Grain and Other Crop Statistics.

The following interesting statistics' are taken from a recent report by the> Commissioner of Agriculture, on the condition of the crops and the past and present yield and prices of grain, et<s.; in this country: The crop of corn in 1577 was the lanrest ever raised in this country up to tljat date, having been 1,343,000,000 bushels, valued ah $ 150,043,000. The crop of 1878 exceeded It. iw bushels, but the over production brouffht the pi ice much lower, and the crop, which was l 371,000,000. bushels, is only valued at $436,8m) 000,' The lowest State averages are in lowa and Ncoraska. both of which States increased their i roducts very largely, too great forborne consumption, and too remote from leading markets; the price lias fallen U* about one-half it was in 1870. The Btates showing the highest average price are the Gulf Stutcs, from Georgia to Texas, where the consumption fully equals the crop, aud where the prices are less than those of last y< ar. 'I he price per bushel, returned December, 1878, was 81.9; in 1877, 35.8 cents. The average price of wheat for the year 187 ti was *1.04 per bushel; for the year 1877, Stimulated bv war in Europe, the increased crop was worth 41.08; but for the year 1878, an increase of upwards of 50,000,000 bushels, the price had fallen to 78 cents per bußhel on Dec. 1 1878 - ’The crop of 1878, which amounts to 422,000,000 bushels, is worth only 1339,000,000; while the crop of 1877, which was 365,000,000 bushels, was worth *394,000,000. In tiie case of wheat, the price is greatly Influenced by the European demand. For the year ending June 30, 1878, it was found that we exported 92,000,000 bushels of wheat (flour included), about 25 per cent- of our whole crop. From estimates published by the Board of Trade apd the Mark Lane Express, of England, it Is estimated that the supply of England will be short 13,000,000 quarters, equal to 107,000,000 bushels, leaving that amount to import. Last year the amount imported was 15,000,000 quarters, or 123,000,000 bushels. This supply was mainly drawn from the United Slates and will be so this year. From estimates in France, published in the Bulletin !to Holies, the wheat crop of 1878 Is placed at. 83,500,000 hectoliters, or 230,000,000 bushel", being 20,0(0,000 hectoliters, or 56,000,000 bushels, less than that of 1877, which was a poor crop. , The amount imported into France In 187778 was 22,000,000; the amount needed this year must approximate 70,000,090 bushels. The same bulletin, estimating the sources of supply abroad, says: “The utmost surplus from Russia for export will be 50,000,000 bushels; irom Hungary, 17,000,000; and the only other source of supply of any importance is tiie United Btates.” The following statement of prices in some of the prominent wheat-growing States since 1874 will fairly illustrate the range of prices Tn those years: States. 1874. MS. MS. 1877. 1878. Ohio ..$1.04 $1.09 $1.14 $1.24 $0.86 Michigan 1.08 1.16 1-16 1.23 85 Indiaua 94 ,97 1.02 1.13 81 Illinois ...... ■ 86 91 93 1.04 75 .Wisconsin .... 83 91 1.01 W JI Minnesota.... 70 86 90 91 51 lowa 65 71 90 87 60 Missouri....... 83 95 89 I.CO 67 Kansas 84 87 86 62 69 Nebraska 60 64 73 63 49 From returns made in December, 1878, wo find the average price of potatoes to be 58.8 ceuts per bushel. With a crop almost identical with that of 1876, we have a price much lower per bushel, aud a total valueof 410,000,000 less than that year. With a cron some 46,000,000 bushels less than, last year the total value does Dot equal that of the excessive yield of 1877. The following is a table of pro duct, price per bushel, and total value for the l*et four years: Price Tear. Product. per bu. Value. 1876.. 166 870 000 38.9 $65019 000 1876.. 124*00,000 66 5 83,8G0,000 fcrpa;. m « It is a curious fact that mof* persons die of diphtheria in the healthy districts of England than in those where the general mortality is higher. In the healthy districts, out of 100,000 persons born, 1,029 die of this disease; while in the less healthy districts, such as Liverpool, the deaths diphtheria apount to only 441. 'Oh the other hapd, the , deaths frojn scarlet fever Taj the healthy Districts number 2,140,' while in Liverpool they are 3,830 out (Of every 100,000 born. The best medical authorities assert that the djseasejias existed from the earliest days of medical hTstoryrbunf ffi becomp much more ylrulent in modern times.