The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-04-28
AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS IN
THE COMING CENSUS.
Questions That Will Be Asked by the
Enumerators of the Farmers
Throughout the Country
Value of the Statistics.

lnDOTUanG MbTh Is uAiuSA ihO -
Hon. William r. Merriam, director, as
sisted by Fred H. Wines, assistant direc-
tor.
Though an enumeration of the popula-
ton of the United States has been taken
every ten years since 1890, the first at
tempt to secure agricultural statistics
through the medium of the census was
made in 1910. The data secured at that
time were considered defective for various
reasons. The methods of census taking
were changed and greatly improved IN
1850; hence it is usually said that the be-
ginning of agricultural statistics by the
census dates from 1850 Both in 1910
and 1850 there were 81 questions asked
with reference to agriculture. The ques
tons remained about the same in number,
although somewhat changed in character,
from decade to decade until 1880. In
1890 the number was increased to 253
questions. and further increased this year
to 80.
Although 255 different questions were
asked on the general agricultural schedule
in 1890, the answered to only about 100
were tabulated. IF the answers obtained
in 1900 are fully tabulated along the plans
now projected, the agricultural report will
include information concerning three times
as many subjects as in any preceding cen
suS.
The most important questions asked on
the census schedules are the following
Total number of acres in farms; the num-
Der of acres improved; the number of acres
uninproved; the total valuation of farms,
including land, fences and buildings; value
of implements and machinery; the nun
Der and value of farm animals-Ineat cat
tie. horses. mules. asses, swine and sheep.
These questions have been asked each
decade from 1850 until the present time
By the information secured in answer to
them more than by anything else can be
measured the development of the national
resources invested in the agricultural IN
dustry. The same information enables us
to trace the general progress of the agrl-
cultural classes of the country, and to de-
termine whether agriculture Is gaining or
losing relatively when compared with other
industries in the nation.
Associated with the questions given
above are the following The estimated
value of all farm products sold, consumed
or on hand for the year 1899; the amount
expended in 500 for fertilizers the amount
expended in 1899 for farm labor, exclu
sive of house-w work, including value Of
board furnished. The first of these three
questions corresponds to the one asked on
the manufacturing schedule for the total
gross product of the articles manufactured
in the factories and workshops Of the ma
ton. The question relating to fertilizers
furnishes the information that shows from
decade to decade the progress in improved
methods of farming.
OF the other important questions, at
tention is called to those which ask for the
color or race of farm proprietors, and the
tenure by which they hold their land.
The latter question was asked on the
schedules in 1880 and 1880, and the
former in 1890. The census of 1890 did
not, however, tabulate the result OF ihe
inquiry relating to color or race. IL Is the
purpose Of those in charge Of the present
census to tabulate the data collected rela-
ting to tenure in such a way a. to throw
all possible light upon the vexed social and
economic questions which have been raised
concerning the ownership and tenure OF
farm lands. This census viii also tabulate
the figures showing the number of acres Of
land. the various sizes of farms and the
crops which have been raised by the white
and black races, and thus exhibit a. no
statistics 50 far collected have done the
real progress and attainments Of the eolored
race in the United States.
For the leading farm products the cen
sus schedule calls for information showing
the number of acres harvested, the guam
titles produced, and the value of products.
The products for which these inquiries are
asked are the following Corn, wheat,
oats, barley. rye, buckwheat, Haxseed,
Kafir corn, hay and forage crops, cotton,
rice, tobacco, hemp, hops, broom corn,
peanuts, dry beans, dry peas, potatoes,
sweet potatoes and yams; also sugar cane,
sugar beets and sorghum cane In add
ton to this, it asks for the number of
acres harvested and quantities produced Of
wild, salt or prairie grasses cut for hay,
millet and Hungarian grasses, alfalfa or
lucerne, clover, other tame and cultivated
grasses, and grains cut green for hay. Ii
also asks for the quantities and values Of
clover seed and grass seed raised, and she
quantities and values Of sugar. molasses
sirup and sorghum that were produced.
Sugar and strip viii be separated into
three groups of maple, cane and beet.
The agricultural schedule for 1900 calls
for the number of acres harvested and the
quantities produced of Strawberries, rasp
berries and Logan berries, blaekberries aud
dewberries, currants, gooseberries, and
other small fruit; Of cabbages, tomatoes,
sweet corn, onions, eucumbers, watermel-
ons, musk and other melons. 1t also pro
vides number of blank spaces in which
may be reported any other vegetable grown
in commercial quantities. OF orchard
fruits, grape vines, nut trees, and tropical
fruits, it asks for the acres, the number of
trees or vines, and the quantity Of fruit
produced. The orchard fruits for which
reports are asked are apples, peaches and
nectarines, pears, plums and prunes, cher
ries, apricots, and other orchard fruits.
The tropical fruits are figs, lemons, olives,
oranges, pineapples, pomeloes, citrons,
guayas, and japanese persimmons. Other
tropical fruits are TO be reported under one
general head, Miscellaneous Tropical Fruits.
OF nuts, statistics are asked for almonds,
pecans, Persian or English walnuts, and
all other nuts under the generic designa
ton of Miscellaneous Nuts. > Instead
of asking the value of the products of each
one of these vegetables, fruits and nuts as
is done for such crops as corn, wheat and
cotton, the questions are asked for these
by their groups, as grapes, small fruits,
vegetables, orchard fruits, tropical fruits
and nuts.
One great change in the census of 1900
is found in the classifcations under which
the various farm animals are to be reported.
The change is one that has been made at
the request of the live stock men of the
country, they desiring Classification of
animals that would be of more commercial
yalue to them. and showing not only the