The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1904-12-08
WEALTH IS IN OUR FARMS
WONDERFUL OUTPUT IS SHOWN
FOR THE YEAR.
Secretary Of Agriculture Tells of the
Great Crop Record-Experts Make
Valuable Experiments.

Washington, Nov. 30.-The secretary
Of agriculture, James Wilson, has
transmitted his eighth annual report
to the president. Among the more i'm
portant features of the years work are
extensive cooperation with agricultural
stations; the taking of preliminary
steps to conduct feeding and breeding
experiments; the war against the cotton
boil weevil and against cattle mango;
plans for education of engineers in road
building; the production of hardy
orange; research in successful shipping
of fruit abroad; the value of nitrogen
fixing bacteria; successful introduction
of plants suited to light rainfall areas;
establishment of pure food standards;
the extension of agricultural education
in primary and secondary schools. and
the extension of instruction to island
possessions to enable them to supply
the country with 100000, 900 worth of
domestic products now imported from
abroad.
The corn crop of 1904, says the secre-
tary, yields farm value greater than
ever before. The cotton crop, valued for
lint and seed at 100000, 900, comes sec
ond, while hay and wheat contend for
third place. Combined. these two crops
will about equal in value the corn crop.
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 production in 1904; save in 1902
the oat crop was never so large by Co.
100000 bushels. The present crop of
rice promises a yield of 100000, 900
pounds-3OO, 900, 900 more than ever be-
fore.
The year 1904, says the secretary,
keeps we'll up to the average of exports
of farm products during the five years.
lS99-1903, amounting to over $3.50 ,OOO,-
300, while the average for the five years
was nearly sS65,000,000.
During the last Is years the balance
Of trade in favor of this country, all ar
ticles considered. exceeded $4,3S4, 0O0,-
900, but taking farm products alone,
these showed a balance in our favor of
more than $780, 900 900.
Reviewing the increase in farm cap
ltal, the secretary estimates it conserv-
atively at $2,0O0,O0O,OOO within four
years-this without recognizing the
marked increase in the value of land dur
ing the last two years.
Under the head of new industries de-
veloped the secretary enumerates, first
rice, of which under the encouragement
of the department, there has been enor-
mously increased production in Louisi-
ana and Texas. Preliminary estimates
give the area devoted to rice in 1904 in
these two states at 100000 acres, and
the crop will approximate 100000 900
pounds. In reference to durum, or mac
araoni wheat, the success attending it's
introduction continued undated. Prob
ably no less than Ia, 900, 900 of such wheat
will be grown this year.
The present situation as regards for
estry in the United States the secretary
regards as exceedingly hopeful. The
lumber industry seems to be awakening
to the fact that numbering with reference
to future as we'll as present profits may
be good business. The general adoption
Of forestry as an established policy now
depends primarily on business condi-
tons. Extensive investigations of for
est conditions are still urgently needed