The record-union., 1895-08-16
ADVICE TO FARMERS.
WHAT ATSECRETARY MORTON THINKS
THEY SHOULD DO.
Says They Ought to Study the Condi-
tions of Foreign Markets and Pay
Less Attention to Politics.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 15.-"If the Amer
ican farmer would study the demands
and conditions of the foreign market and
devote less attention to politics his con-
dition would be greatly improved" Sec
retary Morton Of the Agricultural De-
partmen: advanced this proposition yes
terday as result of his conversation q
few hours earlier with Sam Degean of
Chicago.
Degean has just returned to the United
States from trip to England, to which
country he carried a month ago con-
signment of 30S American beeves for the
British market. He reported 10 Secretary
Morton that the American cattle proved
to be good sailors; that none was lost on
the voyage, and that they all arrived at
Liverpool in better condition than when
they left this country. The average price
paid for the 308 cattle was S97 30 each.
while the average weight was 1850
pounds.
This ready sale, Secretary Morton says,
was due to the fact that the cattle were
not only in prime condition but were of a
quality which the English market de-
mands. He believes, therefore, that if
the American farmer will study to ac-
German and other European consumers
of American products want they will not
only find quick but more lucrative
market,sin those countries as we'll.
A case in point, the Secretary continued,
is found in the shipment last year OF
American bacon to the nited Kingdom.
Upon it's arrival there it was brought into
competition with Danish bacon. While
the price obtained for the latter comUod-
ity was Sl4 Is a hundred weight, that OBJ
tanned for the American bacon was only
50 ~. In other words, the Secretary
argues, if the quality of the American
bacon exported last year for sale in the
British market had been as we'll adapted
to the tastes of British consumers as the
Danish it would have realized SIS. 1872. 800
instead of the $780,, ,376 which it actually
did realize.
Upon the subject of horses Secretary
Morton also grows eloquent. He asserts
thatthere is a growing demand in Eng
land for American horses. During the
first nine months of last year the Eng
lish market took 2. Sl1 American driving
horses, at an average price of Sl39 head.
A sound, light draft horse in good condi-
ton. of the size and weight adapted to
omnibus work in cities. will generally
bring in London and Liverpool Sl50.
Here, again, Secretary Morton insists the
needs OF the purchasers must be con-
suited, and If this be done a. largely in
creased demand for American horses will
follow.
Secretary Morton made yesterday a
comparative estimate of the shipments of
American cattle to Europe for the first
six months of this year with those of last
year. He finds, TO his surprise, an
enormous decrease for this year-the fig
ures being 132. .199, against Us. .333 last
year. Secretary Morton does not attrib-
ute this falling off to any prejudice
against American cattle, but he believes
that it is due to the fact that the scarcity
of the corn crop has resulted in poor
condition of the cattle generally. and con-
sequent inability of being satisfactorily
disposed of in foreign market