These statistics are compiled by the U.S. Commissioner from information received from a corps of reporters, consisting of a chief and three assistants in each county of the State, who are selected for their known intelligence and judgment through the aid of the Agricultural Societies or of the Representatives in Congress.*

On comparing the average wheat yield of Oregon with that of other States of the Union, as set forth in the following table from the above quoted report, it will be seen that Oregon, notwithstanding bad farming, stands very high, indeed, on the list, being excelled only by the Territories with a yield of 19.5 bushels of wheat per acre, and by Nevada and Texas with a yield of 18 bushels, and having a larger yield than any other State, although Vermont comes very near with 17.5 bushels, and several others, Kansas, New Hampshire, Minnesota yield 17. California yields only 11.

In yield of rye (19·5 bushels) Oregon is equalled only by Minnesota, and the Territories, excelled by no State ; Vermont comes near with 19 bushels.

In that of oats (35 bushels), Oregon is beaten by Vermont with 39 bushels, Wisconsin with 38.5, New Hampshire with 38, Nevada and Massachusetts with 36, whilst the Territories and Nebraska equal it in yield.

In yield of barley (27 bushels) Oregon is excelled only by Wisconsin with 31, Texas 30, Vermont 29, Minnesota 28, and the Territories 285.

In yield of potatoes (130 bushels) Oregon is excelled only by Vermont with 155, Massachusetts with 150, and equalled only by the Territories and Nebraska.

In the yield of hay, 1.37 tons, Oregon is excelled by seven States, two of which, Louisiana and Mississippi, have a yield of 1.50 tons, and equalled by one out of the thirty-seven States and the Territories.

* Report of Commissioner of Agriculture, 1875, p. 18.

C.-TABLE SHOWING THE AVERAGE YIELD PER ACRE, AND
IN THE VARIOUS STATES OF

Maine

New Hampshire

38

$ c.

30.5 0 96 14 1 64 16 7 1 18 28 10 56 94 17 1 64 18.5 1 1138-6

57

Vermont

37

94 17.5 1 55 19

1 0139

50

* N.B.-The prices given in the present table are the

1 02 19.5 1 00

35

71

THE PRICE* PER BUSHEL, POUND, OR TON OF FARM PRODUCTS THE UNION FOR THE YEAR 1875.

average prices over the entire range of the several States, and

In all crops except that of maize, to suit which the summers are not hot enough, Oregon far exceeded in the year 1875 the average of the United States, as will be seen from the following table :—

G.-TABLE SHOWING THE AVERAGE YIELD AND CASH VALUE PER ACRE, AND PRICE PER BUSHEL, POUND, OR TON OF FARM PRODUCTS FOR THE YEAR 1875 FOR THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.

The Oregon crop in 1875 of 17.6 bushels of wheat per acre is the worst which has occurred since separate returns for the yield of the State have been given in the U.S. reports, i.e. for a period of seven years. No doubt the comparisons given above would show more favourably still if made from returns of other seasons. The highest average yield per acre given for Oregon in any year is 19.5, and the average crop of seven years up to 1875 18 8 bushels of wheat. Supposing the wheat to weigh 65 lbs. to the bushel, as it is said to do, this average of 18 8 bushels would be equal to 20 bushels per acre according to the English standard of 61 lbs. to the bushel. But no doubt 65 lbs. is above the average. I have no statement of the average weight.

hence depend on facilities and expense of transport. The prices at centres of export are much higher.

of Oregon wheat to go upon. Its high price at Liverpool shows it to be heavy.

The average of 20 bushels of wheat is small as compared with that of England, which is set down at 28 bushels by Caird,* as an average of thirty-two counties inspected by him.

Barley averaged in Oregon in 1875 29 bushels, in England the average is 36.

Oats in Oregon in 1875 35, in England the average crop is from 50 to 60.

The low average in Oregon is almost certainly due to the very superficial farming, and the low results obtained from volunteer crops. There seems no reason to doubt that the statistics, considering the manner in which they are prepared, are substantially correct, and they were borne out by my own inquiries, though I had no opportunities of seeing any actual measurements.

I gained much information from a Mr. Simpson, a Scotchman and Presbyterian minister, who has taken to farming near Corvallis with great success. He farms about 525 acres on the verge of the foot hills of the Coast Range where they rise from the Willamette plain. He estimated his average wheat yield for this year at 25 bushels, though some would yield, he expected, as much as 40 bushels. He said the average farmer considered 20 bushels all round a good crop. Of oats he expected from 50 to 60 bushels per acre, from some of the land only 25. Oats would yield 80 if planted in the very best of his land, but this was reserved for wheat.

Another farmer, who farms part of Blodgetts Valley, told me that he expected as much as 30 bushels of wheat per acre off some of his land this year, and has once had 42 off an acre, but could not give me an average. He had once seen in the Willamette Valley a crop of 56 bushels. He expected to get 45 bushels of oats per acre.

*Our Daily Food.' Caird. Longmans and Co. 1865. P.12.