The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-12-06
THE AGRICUL TURE REPORT
Yield ii 1904 Was Nearly FIVE
Billion Dollars.
THE ENORMOUS CORN CROP


0OO,OoO-Potatoes. Rice, Barley. Oats
and other Products Reached TheiH
highest Point or Prodnction--Livs
Stock and Poultry Make Records.
Washington, D. C.-The annual re-
port Of the Secretary Of Agriculture
just transmitted to the President
enumerates some Of the more import
ant features OF the years work.
Among them are extensiveco-op operation
with agricultural stations; the taking
Of preliminary steps to conduct feed
ing and breeding experiments; the war
waged against the cotton boil weevil
and against cattle mango; plans for
education of engineers in road build
ing; the production OF hardy oraBGe,
hybrid Of the Florida orange and the
japanese trifoliata: valuable research
in successful shipping Of fruit abroad;
the value of nitrogen-fxing bacteria.
successful introduction of plants
suited to light rainfall areas; estab-
lishment 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, 000,0 600 worth of
domestic products, now imported from
abroad.
The report then discusses the place
of agriculture in the country's indus
trial life The corn crop OF 1904 yields
farm value greater than ever before.
H.
Of this single crop pay the national
debt, the interest thereon for one year,
and still have enough left to pay a
considerable portion OF the Govern
ment's yearly expenses The cotton
crop, valued for lint and seed at $780,
100000, comes second, while hay and
wheat contend for the third place.
Combined, these two crops will about
equal in value the corn crop.
Notwithstanding that the wheat crop
shows a lower production than any
year since 1900, the farm value is
the highest since 1881. Potatoes and
barley reached their highest produce
item in 1904. Save in 1902 the oat crop
was never so large BY 10000, 600
bushels. The present cropts or rice
promises yield of 00,000,0O0 pounds,
30O,000,O0 more than ever before.
Horses and mules reach the highest
point this year, with an aggregate
value exceeding $1,354, 900, 900. On
the other hand, cattle, sheep and hogs
all show slight decline.
The steady advance in poultry leads
to some astounding figures The far
mers' hens now produce one and two
thirds billions of dozen Of eggs and at
the high average price of the year the
hens during their busy season lay
enough eggs in single month to pay
the years interest on the national
debt
After careful estimate Of the value
Of the products of the farm during
1904, made within the census scope,
it is safe to place the amount at 81
900,0OOO00, lfter 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, ana 31.2S per cent. above that
OF the census year 1899.
Some comparisons are necessary to
the realization of such an unthinkable.
value, aggregating nearly 5000, 000,-
600. The farmers of this country have
in two years produced wealth exceed
ing the output of all the gold mines
Of the entire world since Columbus
discovered America. This years pro-
duct In more than six times the
amount of the capital stock OF all ma
tionaI banks, it lacks but three fourths
Of billion dollars of the value of the
manufacturers of 1900, less the cost OF
the materials used; it Is three times
the gross earnings from the opera
tons of the railways, and four times
the value of all minerals produced in
this country.
The year 1904 keeps well up to the
average OF exports Of farm products
during the Eve years 1899-1903,
amounting to more than 1859, 000, 900.
while the average for the five years
was nearly $S65, 100000. During the
last fifteen years the balance Of trade
in favor OF this country, all articles
considered, exceeded $4,384, 600, 900,
but taking farm products alone these
showed a balance in our favor of more
than $500, 100000.
Reviewing the increase in farm cap.
ital, the Secretary estimates it con-
servatively at $4,000, 100000 within
four years this without recognizing
| the marked increase in the value Of
land during the last two years. The
most startling figures shown as illus
trating the farmers prosperity are
those presented by deposits in banks
in typical agricultural States. The
| Secretary selects for this illustration
Iowa, Kansas and Mississippi. TAX
ing all kinds of banks National, State,
/ private and savings the deposits in
creased from June 80. 1896, to October
| 81, 1904, in Iowa, 1874 per cent; in
Kansas, 219 per cent; in Mississippi,
| 301 per cent, and in the United States
| 81 per cent.