Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-04

WASHINGTON CULLINGS.
Some Interesting Facts and Figures
Regarding Agriculture.
MEXICO AFTER MINERS SCALP.
Governor Knapp, of Alaska, Says
the Territory Should Have a
Delegate to Congress.
MEXICO AFTER MINERS SCALP
ESPECIAL D1srArcHEs TO THE REooRD-us1oN.I
CROP REPORTS.
The United States Raises Enough to
Feed the WorId-Statistics.

O---O'
The United States Raises Enough to
Feed the world-Statistics.
WASHINGTON, November 3d.-The first
annual report OF the Secretary of Agri-
culture was to-day made public. Com
plant is made that Congress has not in
raising the department to higher plane
given more liberal appropriations. After
deducting $500 900 for the experimental
stations, the p oartment had last year but
81, 1884, 600 for its entire purposes. This, as
compared with the appropriations made by
Canada, Brazil France, Germany, Russia
and Austria is shown to be niggsrdly.
A broader liberality in the matter of the
crop reporting from the various States is
recommended.
OF the years crops the report says: Stat
istical records of the season indicate an
average yield of cereals, a full supply of
meats of all kinds and the cotton crop is
adequate for all demands.
Potatoes have received some injury from
rot, which has been more prevalent in the
east than in the west
Fruits have been produced in only mod
crate abundance, Apples especially yield
ing sparely in the more favorable locations
and producing scarcely a third of full
crop.
There was an increase in the variety OF
fruits and the area occupied in California
and Florida is yearly enlareing our re-
sources, and in some directions limiting
the importation of sub tropical kinds.
The great crop of American arabic cul-
ture corn is larger in breadth this year than
ever before, comprising more than half the
area of all cereals and representing three
fourths of all the maize grown in the
world. 1t promises slightly more than an
average yield, which has been about twenty
six bushels per acre.
Though slow in termination and early
growth in the Eastern and Southern States
from the excess of moisture and from
droughts, except in local and very limited
areas, the production of wheat has for sew
eral years been so large as to reduce the
price to point so low as to discourage
growers.
There has been an increase of the de-
mand since 1880, due to the increase of the
population, of 10000, 900 bushels. and de-
cline in the foreign demand of about 65.-
900 600 bushels. The expectation of 1SS0-S1
was 1888 32l .514 bushels IN wheat and flour;
an average for eight years has been 121, 300 :
63S bushels.
This country still supplies a large part of
the European deficiency, which is much
smaller than in the period of the poor
European harvests, about ten years ago
The present crop will be full average of
from between twelve and thirteen meas
ured bushels per acre, but the quality is
below en average, with lower weight and
bread. making capacity. There is ample
supply, however, for all possible European
demands, though the deficient yields else
where should tend to sustain if not advance
the prices.
The product of cotton, approximated, is
close to 100000 bales. For the first time
since 1884. the crop of 1887 and 1888 each
attained about the same volume, and that
of 1889 has slightly increased the area,
while the October percentage of the condi-
ton is somewhat higher than last year,
giving promise of another large crop. Yet
it is acknowledged to be late, and is sub
ject to unusual injury from possible early
frosts, and therefore uncertain in its rate of
percentage.
1t is gratifying to observe that this pro-
duct still meets with ample dem ind and
maintains it's value in the market, of the
world, the production of tn. United
States as well as the worlds consumption
having nearly doubled within thirty years.
There is no immediate prospect of loss
of this supremacy in cotton-growing.
The necessity of economy in the meat
production has stimulated greatly the pro-
duction of hay and dried forage, and the
extension of the silo system which has been
encouraged by the demand for succulent
feed in the absence or scarcity of roots and
has greatly enlarged the variety and vol
ume of feeding material.
In arid regions alfalfa has absorbed con
siderable of the area of irrigated lands and
is assuming large proportions in crop dis
tribution in those areas.
The increase of forage and hay is rela-
lively greater in the South than in any
other portion of the country.
The report says agriculture in the Rocky
Mountain region and on the Pacific coast is
showing great stimulus.
The values of the agricultural products
of the Pacific coast far exceed those of
mining The reports say much attention
is being paid to silk culture and the sor-
ghum and beet sugar experiment, and to
the investigation of the diseases of vines
and other fruits.
A special agent who was sent to Califor-
MIA to investigate the vine troubles is said
to be making commendable progress.
Disease experiment stations are recon-
mended.
Attention is also given to dairy and poul-
try interests and to sheep-growing.
Special attention is to be given to the de-
velopment of varieties of beets containing
a higher proportion of available sugar.
Important progress has already been made
in this direction in many localities in the
United States, especially in the North and
ON the Pacific Coast. The soil seems to be
specially suitable to the production of the
sugar beet rich in saccharine matter. In
terest in this subject by successful expert
ments in California will be met by the pub
lication, during the coming winter, of q full
report on the beet sugar industry of the
United States
The Department is to be specially occu-
pied in the effort to solve the problem of
increasing the forage yield on 3O0, ,000. 600
acres of a region outside of possible irriga-
tion, By promoting the productiveness of
grasses there.
In regard to textile fibers, the question
now occupying the attention of the Depart
ment is the utilization of fax. jute, ramie,
and other fibers. The report urges the
duty of the Government to assume more
definite preservation of such forest areas as
are still owned by the Government.
Sheep and wool receive special consider
alton in the report The growth of the
mutton interest is referred to as one to be
greatly encouraged.
AS to wool growing, the reduction in the
tariff of 1888 is earnestly deplored. To it
is attributed great reduction in the num-
Der of sheep, which hss fallen off about
1000, 600 head, while the importation of
wool has increased from rs, ,350,61l pounds
in 1854 to 126. 49, 729 pounds during the
past year.
The figures are submitted showing the
importance of agriculture. which produces
annually a yield of 81 600 600 600, employ
ing on 100000, farms 10000 600 persons,
representing a population of 10000, 600
people, while the value of live stock is
estimated at 1907 GOO, 900.