The Greeley tribune., 1906-12-06
Prosperity on Farms Of Country
Rural Products Still Overshadow Mill and
Factory. Balance Of Trade Favors
America by Many Millions
General Synopsis.

Corn is king, cotton holding second
rank among the agricultural pro-
ductions of the United States. The
sugar beet industry has made pne-
nomenal growth in recent years, now
occupying ninth place. These facts
are stated in the annual report OF
Secretary Wilson of the department
of agriculture, just made public.
Secretary Wilson says the laws
made by congress at its last session,
to be executed by the department,
have required and received special
attention. The meat law is being
enforced, and inspection is now made
in over 1000 houses. Rules have
been prepared for the execution of
the pure food law. Good has fol-
lowed the operation Of the law for
the determination of the cattle fever
tick in some of the southern states.
In dealing with the gypsy and brown
tall moths OF New England, imported
parasites have been successfully es-
tabished. A beginning has been
made of the method of determining
the grading of grain, and the law
providing for the humane treatment
of live stock in transit is receiving
careful attention.
The farm products of the year
have farm value of very nearly
So, 500, 600, 900, nearly half billion
above the value of 1905, and exceed
ing by over 81, 600, 900, 600, the figures
for the last census.
Corn remains by far the most
valuable crop, estimated at. 81, 10o,-
600, 600. Next comes the cotton
crop, which, including seed, should
be worth to the growers nearly $780,
900. 600. The value Of hay, which is
third in order, approaches 5000, 0O0.-
O0O Wheat, the fourth, crop, may
be worth $3.50, 900, 900; oats, $780,
600, 900; potatoes, $3.50, 900, 600.
Barley, with a value Of $65, 900, 900,
shows gain of u per cent in pro-
duction in the past seven years.
The tobacco crop will be worth about
s55. 900, 900.
Recognizing the necessity for more
systematic efforts along the line of
dry land farming, during tie past
year important field and laboratory
Investigations have been arranged
for. which, it is believed, will be of
great value to those who have
already settled or who contemp. ate
settling in semi-arid areas where ir-
rigation is impracticable. The
great plains area, lying between the
ninety eighth and one hundred and
fourth meridians and including ap-
proximately $50, 900 square miles, is
one of the most important districts
where this work is being conducted,
A remarkable development is that
of the sugar beet, now the ninth
crop in.s,value. The production III
1906 is placed at 345, 600 long tons,
ValuGu au NOf, UuU, Ouu. oeNSii JSoiS
ago tn value of this crop was 81, o0o.-
0OO The value of all kinds of sugar,
syrup and molasses aggregates SO,
00O 600.
On the whole, crop values have
been neither notably high nor low in
comparison with recent years, but
the high price level In the general
average has raised the total crop
value somewhat as compared WITH
1905 and the high preceding years.
to reach still higher point in tins
series of high annual values is an
achievement worthy Of attention.
In Colorado and Arizona sales ol
timber totaled more than 27,Ooo, 600
board feet for each state, and IN
Utah and California more than To-
600, 900. In Colorado and Utah these
sales were mainly of fire killed TIM
Der, largely used In mining. In
Arizona large quantities of mature