The Commercial Products of the Vegetable Kingdom / Considered in Their Various Uses to Man and in Their Relation to the Arts and Manufactures; Forming a Practical Treatise & Handbook of Reference for the Colonist, Manufacturer, Merchant, and Consumer, on the Cultivation, Preparation for Shipment, and Commercial Value, &c. of the Various Substances Obtained From Trees and Plants, Entering into the Husbandry of Tropical and Sub-tropical Regions, &c.

by P. L. Simmonds

The following table of average weights indicates a capacity in the soil and climate to produce grain of a very superior quality:—

COUNTIES	Wheat	Barley	Oats	Rye	BuckWheat	Maize
Saint John	61	—	41	—	50	—
Westmoreland	60	48	35½	—	48	59
Albert	58	50	34¾	50	45	—
Charlotte	59	45	39	—	57	59
King's	59½	48	37	—	48	60
Queen's	58½	50	36½	53	43	61
Sunbury	57	55	38	53	47	57
York	63	50	38	—	51	60
Carleton	64	—	38	—	52	65
Kent	63	—	37	—	50	—
Northumberland	62	53	37	—	45	57
Gloucester	63	51	39	—	—	—
Restigouche	63	48	42	—	—	—

The general average weights for the whole Province are, for

Wheat	60 11-13	lbs.
Barley	50	"
Oats	38	"
Rye	52½	"
Buckwheat	48 8-11	"
Indian Corn	59½	"
Potatoes	63	"
Turnips	66	"
Carrots	63	"

The annexed statement shows not only the average yield per acre of each description of crop, but affords an opportunity of contrasting it with the like products in the State of New York:—

AVERAGE PRODUCE PER IMPERIAL ACRE.
	New Brunswick	State of New York
	Bushels	Bushels
Wheat	20	14
Barley	29	16
Oats	34	26
Rye	20½	9½
Buckwheat	33¾	14
Indian Corn	41¾	25
Potatoes	226	90
Turnips	460	88
Hay	1¾	—

A possibility of error in striking the averages is suggested in the report; and to guard against it the following statement of the averages derived from the minimum returns is given, viz.:—Wheat 17¾ bushels; Barley, 27; Oats, 33; Buckwheat, 28; Rye, 18; Indian Corn, 36½; Potatoes, 204; Turnips, 389. The diminished averages scarcely affect the question of productiveness, as in every particular they exceed the averages for the favored Genesee Valley and the southern shores of Lake Ontario.

While the productiveness of the soil is thus proven by the statements of most experienced farmers, the average prices appear to be equally favorable to the Provincial growers. The following tables of averages set this in a clear point of view:—

AVERAGE PRICES OF GRAIN PER BUSHEL AND PER QUARTER.
	Per Bushel		Per Quarter
Wheat	7s.	6d.	60s.	0d.
Barley	4	2½	33	8
Oats	2	0	16	0
Rye	4	10	38	8
Buckwheat	3	9	30	0
Indian Corn	4	8	37	4

ROOT CROPS AND HAY.
Potatoes	1s.	11d.	per bushel.
Turnips	1	2	"
Eng. Hay	49	0	per ton.
Carrots	2	5	per bushel.
Man. Wurtzel	2	1	"
Marsh Hay	20	0	per ton.