I've been reading about farming in the Middle Colonies of Colonial America (Pennsylvania, New York, etc) and one article said a lucky farmer could expect from 20 to 30 bushes per acre.

Is that a lot?

A bushel is about 60 lbs. Maybe then it was average but not anymore. Now that would be a failure.

In years past you planted your corn or what ever in rows that you could walk through, today its packed tight, that with the hybrid grain they use today they get many times that amount per acre and they do it with machines.

River

A 'bushel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushel)' of grain weighs differently "per grain".

It is a measure of capacity or volume more than 'weight', but a typical amount of weight came to be expected in a bushel.

Today it is a 'customary' unit of measure, still used.

MacTheWolf (imported) wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2013 12:18 am I've been reading about farming in the Middle Colonies of Colonial America (Pennsylvania, New York, etc) and one article said a lucky farmer could expect from 20 to 30 bushes per acre.

Is that a lot?

Today you can expect over 300 bushels per acre.

Riverwind (imported) wrote: Fri Mar 22, 2013 4:51 pm Today you can expect over 300 bushels per acre.

Which crop are you referring to? My neighbors are averaging 100 bushels of wheat on one field right now and consider that about the best they have had.

I know my post was months ago but I think it referred to Corn.

River

Mac said "bushes" not "bushels." Heck, it depends on the bush. If it was a certain family then that's way too much. If it was hemp, then we should ask Moi. Beyond that, I haven't a clue.

I'm pretty sure he meant "bushels".

Since Uncle Mackie is farming-illiterate, he could very well have meant "bushes."