The evening times., 1899-11-23
CENSUS AMONG FARMERS
A Bulletin of Instructions Nearly
Ready for Circulation.
The Method of the Bureau to Notify
Agricultural Workers Regarding
the Information Required for the
Enumeration - Facts Concerning
Machinery. Crops. and Live stock.

The Census Bureau has prepared a cir
cular which it will distribute through all
the agricultural districts in the country.
The document is a part of the educational
scheme adopted by the bureau for the pur-
pose of making all farmers familiar with
the character of information the census
erumerators will, under the law be eati-
tied to receive. The circular is now in
the Office of the Government Printer AMI
will soon be distributed. 1t will read as
follows:
The first really valuable census of ag
riculture in the United States was taken
in 1850. of the crops of 1919. The next
enumeration of agriculture will be taken
in June, 1900, of the products of 1899
Instead of recording several farms en-
one schedule in the Twelfth Census. as
heretofore, each farm will be accorded a
separate blank. the contents of which VIII
not be known TO any save sworn officers OF
the department. No names will be pub
lished in connection with information Sc
cured from the people.
Tax assessors, collectors and equalizers
cannot serve as enumerators, or nave ac-
cess to the census returns, or to the IN
formation therein contained.
There are more than 100000 farms,
plantations ranches, stock ranges, and
market gardens in the United States, all OF
which, for census purposes, will be desig-
mated as farms.
"A farm is all the land cultivated or
held for agricultural purposes under one
management, whether in single body or
separate parcels.
The enumerator will ask for TIE size
and value of each farm, the value OF build
ings, and the aggregate value of all ma
chinery. implements, vehicles, harnesses,
etc, ussd thereon; the color or race OF the
occupant, and the amount of land owned
and leased, respectively, by said occupant.
He will also ask for the acreage and
value CT each crop, ard the acreage of i'm
proved. unimproved. and irrigated lands
THE designation each crop includes all
grains, cotton corn. rice. sugar cane. sugar
beets. sorghum; hay, clover. wild grasses,
gathered forage, flax, hemp, hops, peanuts,
tobacco, seeds, nuts, tropical fruits, small
fruits. orchard fruits. nursery and green
house stock, broom corn, Irish potatoes,
sweet potatoes and yams, all vegetables
including the product of all family, truck,
and market gardens, etc, also new or
unusual crops when found.
The enumerator will ask for the num-
ber and value of the live stock on the farm
June !, 1900, which will be reported under
a number of heads such as horses, colts,
mules, asses. cows. heifers, steers, calves.
bulls, ewes, rams, lambs, swine. goats.
chickens, dncluding guinea fowl, turkeys,
geese, ducks, bees, etc.
The quantity and value of milk, cream,
butter. cheese, raisins prunes. molasses
haa
wine. cider, vinegar. dried and evaporated
fruits. forest products, poultry and meat
products, and. generally. all articles made
at home, CT for the home from farm ma
tcriais during 1899 will be called for by
the enumerators.
'If person who removes from a farm
between the end of the crop year 1899 and
June !, 1900. will leave a written record
OF the products and crops of that farm for
1899 where it will reach the appropriate
enumerator. the statistics of his operations
for that year will not be lost. He will be
required TO give the endmerator of the dis
trict in which he lives on June l. 1900. the
acreage. value. buildings. machinery. i'm
plements. and live stock of the farm he
then occupies.
IF every farmer will begin at once to
prepare a careful record OF all facts which
the enumerator will be instructed TO record
IN June, l5to, ne VIII save time 1or nlnl-
self and the officer, and ensure more ac-
curate returns to the Government.
The twentieth century will begin on
January /, 1901. Therefore. the pending
census will afford to future generations a
measure of the strength and condition of
the United States at the threshold of the
new hundredyear cycle. For that reason
every one should take an active interest
in making it as nearly perfect as possible.
If each farmer will make his own report
perfect, the aggregated report for every
community. and for the nation, will be
perfect"