The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1904-12-16
Report Of S. cretary Wilson.


Report Of Secretary Wilson.
The annual report of Secretary Will
son of the Department of Agriculture
presents an array of figures and state
ments concerning the farming interests
of the country which we are sure will
be of interest to all readers of THE
TIMES.
In opening his report the secretary
enumerates some of the more important
features of the years work. Among
them are extensive cooperation with
agricultural stations; the taking of
preliminary steps to conduct feeding
and breeding experiments; the war
waged against the cotton boil weevil
and against cattle mango; plans for
education of engineers in road building:
the production of hardy orange, a
hybrid of the Florida orange and the
Japanese trifoliata; valuable research
in successful shipment 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; the extension of
instruction to our island possessions to
enable them to supply the country with
| 5000, 900, 600 worth of domestic products,
now imported from abroad.
He then proceeds to discuss the place
of agriculture in the country's indus.
trial life
AGRICULTURE AS A SOURCE OF
NATIONAL WEALTH.
The corn crop of 1904 yields a farm
value greater than ever before. The
farmers could from the proceeds of this
single crop pay the national debt, the
interest thereon for one year, and still
have enough left to pay considerable
portion of the governments yearly ex-
penses The cotton crop, valued for
! lint and seed at go millions, comes
second, while hay and wheat contend
for the 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 bar
ley reached their highest production in
1904; save in 1902, the oat crop was
never so large by 60 million bushels.
The present crop of rice promises a
yield of 900 millions pounds-3O0 mil
lion more than ever before
Horses and mules reach the highest
point this year, with an aggregate value
exceeding / ,354 million dollars. On the
other hand, cattle, sheep and hogs all
show slight decline.
The steady advance in poultry leads to
some astonishing figures The farmers
hens now produce 2-3 billions of doz-
ems of eggs, and at the high average
price of the year the hens during their
busy season lay enough eggs in a single
month to pay the years interest on the
national debt.
VALUE OF OUR FARM PRODUCTS.
After a careful estimate of the value
of the produts of the farm during 1904
made within the census scope, it is safe
to place the amount at 1900 million
dollars after excluding the value of
farm crops fed to live stock in order to
avoid duplication of values. This is
9.65 per cent above the product of 1908,
and 312S per cent above that of the |
census year 1899.
Some comparisons are necessary to
the realization of such an unthinkable |
value, aggregating nearly five billions
of dollars The farmers of this country |
have in two years produced wealth ex-
ceeding the output of all the gold mines
OF the entire world, since Columbus
discovered America. This years pro-
duct is over-six times the amount Of the
capital stock of all national banks, it /
lacks but three-fourths Of o billion
dollars Of the value of the manufac-
lures Of 1900, less the cost Of materials
used; it is three times the gross earnings
from the operations Of the railways,
and four times tho value Of all min
erals produced in this country.
The year 1904 keeps well up to the
average Of exports Of farm products
during the five years 1s99-19O3, amount
ing to over $50 millions, while the
average for the Ave years was nearly
865 miilions During the last 10 years
the balance Of trade in favor Of this
sountry. al articles considered, sx- I
cssdsd 4,8s4 million dollars, but taking
farm products alone. these showed -