Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-11-30
WEALTH OF FARMS
ASTOUNDING FIGURES IN TIE
REPORT OF SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE.
From Corn Crop Alone the Farmers
Could Pay National Debt and
Have Surplus Lett.
THE VALUE OF OTHER CROPS
Have Surplus Left

Washington, D. c., Nov. 3O-The
secretary of agriculture has transmit,
ted his eighth annual report to the
president
In opening his report the secretary
erumerates some Of the more import
ent features of the years work.
Among them are extensive cO-Opera-
ton with agricultural stations; the
taking of preliminary steps to con
duct feeding and breeding expert
ments: the war waged against the
cotton boil weevil and against cattle
mango; plans for education OF engl-
neers in road building; the produc,
ton of hardy orange, hybrid OF
the Florida orange and the Japanese
trifoliata; valuable research in sue.
cessful shipping of fruit abroad: the
value Of nitrogen-ixing bacteria; sue.
cessful introduction of plants suited
to rainfall areas; establishment OF
pure food standards: the extension OF
agricultural education in primary
and secondary schools; the exten-
sion of instruction to our island pos
sessions to enable them to supply the
country with 5000 100000 worth OF
domestic products. now imported
from abroad.
He then proceeds to discuss the
place Of agriculture in the country
industria al life.
The corn crop yield of 1904 yields
farm value greater than ever before
The farmers could from the proceeds
ot this single crop pay the national
debt. the interest thereon for one
year. and still have enough left to
pay a considerable portion of tho
governments yearly expenses. IN"
cotton crop. valued for lint and SEED
at 600 millions. comes second. Whllc
hay and wheat contend for the third
Ilace. Combined, these two crops
will about equal in value the corn
croD Notwithstanding the wheat
crop shows lower production than
any year since 1900 the farm value
is the highest since 1881. Potatoes
and barley reached their highest pro-
duction in 1904; save in 1902 the oat
crop was never SO large by 60 million
bushels The present crop of rice
promises yield of 900 million
pounds-3O0 millions more than ever
before.
Horses and mules reach the high,
est point this year. with an aggre-
gate value exceeding 1854 million
dollars. On the other hand, cattle
sheep and hogs all show slight de-
cline.
The steady advance in poultry
leads to some astounding figures.
The farmers hens now produce 20
billions of dozens of eggs and at the
high average price Of the year the
hens during the busy season lay
enough eggs in single month to pay
the wears interest on the nationai
debt.
After careful estimate OF the
value of the products of the farm dur
ine 1904 made within the census
scope. il is safe to place the amount
a 900 million dollars after excluding
the value of farm crops feArto 1--we
stock in order to avoid duplication
Of values. This is 9.G5 per cent apoVe
the product of 1909. and 3l.2o per
cent above that of the census yeai
1899
Some comparisons are necessary 10
the realization of such an untnlhN
able value aggregating nearly nVe
billions of dollars The farmers OF
this country have in two years pro
Guced wealth exceeding the output
of all the gold mines of the entire
world since Columbus discovered
America. This years product is over
six times the amount of the capital
stock of all national banks, it lacks
but three fourths of a billion dollars