Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-02-04
Agricultural Production in U. S. for 1897.

submitted by the statistician of the
department of agriculture at Washing.
ton They are as follows:
Corn-SO, O?5. 101 acres, 1902, 967 SO;
bushels, 1901, 072,952 value.
Wheat-39. 49,, OG6 acres, $50, 149 1s'
bu~hels. $42S.547,1 21
Oats-25, 730.315 acres, 69S, 767 ,S0E
! bushels, $147 ,974,7l9.
Rye. 7O3561 acres. 27,363, 324 bushels
$l2 339, 617
Barley. 1l9,1l6 acres, 66,6S5,127 bush
els. $25, l42,l 3s.
| Buckwheat--7l7,S 1876 acres, 1897 ,45l
bushels. $6.319.lsS.
Potatoes-2,5 34,5U acres, 164,O15, 964
bushels. $50, $4,000
Hay-42 426.777o acres, 6o.664.S76 tons
S40l 800, 72S
These figures show, with striking
force, what an immense part of the
country's annual production of wealth
| is in its food crops. Just think of it, the
value of the cereals alone raised in the
United States in 1897 reached the emo
nous sum of 81 121. 295, 1913. This is a
gain of $l49.226 905 over 1896 when the
value of the cereals raised was $972,
06S, SSS distributed as follows:
Corn-Sl ,021, 1856 acres. 2.2S3, S75, IL
bushels. $491 006, 967 value.
W heat-34,61S 646 acres. 427.6S4,3lt
bushels, 1910 co., $50
Oats-27, 565 9S5 acres. 1o1, $40 40;
bushels. 1872 4S5.o33
Rye. S3l POI acres, .4,369,o47 bush
els. 50, $50, 769
Barley-2,95o, 539 acres, $685. %
bushels. So, 491, al
Observation-Disclosures $3.50 acres, 14.oS9,7S IS
bushels, $5,522,3 $50.
But the splendid increase in farm
products in 1897 was by no mean.
confined to cereals. The value
of the hay and potato crop for 1891
was $49l .o33.7S1 as against $3.50 81 ,?Gi Il
1896, an increase of $50 705,S2?
But this does not by any mean;
constitute all the products of Amcri
can farms. There is the natural in
crease in live stock. The department
of agricultural has not yet publishe,
the figures which Will show this. il
1896 the total value of live stock in tn,
United States was as follows
Horses $500 40, 1856: mules. Slo3, 2o4. i51;
mileh cows. 1868 $50, 545: oxen and other
cattle, value sos, 92S. 4l6: sheep So. l61.
155; swine. $lSG, $40, 40 Total, N,72S.G17
IA. Then there comes the poultry ana
poultry products. Tho annual egg prod
uct alone exceeds Sloo. 600. 900 and AT
u conservative estimate. based upon
the returns of the census of 1890. tht
value of the poultry in this country is
SIG, 000.0G0. Then comes sheep and
wool; dairy products: fruit. which, Will
the exports, is coming to constitute
a very important feature of America
agriculture: pork and pork products
VcGcta bles: broom corn wood: maplt
sugar. etc. The whole making up al
enormous total. From the figures ~
hand, il is safe to estimate the increase
in farm products in the United State:
during the year 1891 as fully $3.50 oo9.
coo. in excess of the value Of similar
products in this country during the
year 1896.
1t has been fortunate indeed fnl
American farmers that these splendid
crops came in year when. owing tt
a shortage in crops abroad. there wa
Il splendid market for all food products
at high prices.
Owing to the continued rains of last
spring New England farmers were not
able to have much share in these pros
porous conditions; but in the great
West the people have largely profited
lay them and in a sense their benefits
have been felt in all parts of the coun-
try. In the state of Kansas alone it Is
said that three fourths of the farm
mortgages have already been dis
charged. The people of the West had
learned lessons of thrift in the hard
times Of the Cleveland regime. and. as
a result. have devoted a good share Of
the money secured from the good crouS
and high prices of 1897 to the payment
of debts, to the great joy of many
eastern holders of western securities
1t is probable. too, that many per
manent benefits will follow the condi-
tions that prevailed regarding agii-
cultural products in 1897 For instance
European nations have been very
SLOW to recognize the great virtues, for
food purposes of American corn. which
in 1897, was the largest cereal crop
raised in this country. Under the con.
ditions existing during the past six
months. they have been importing am
using it to a large extent As a result
it bids fair to have a permanent and