The Glenwood post., 1908-12-19
REPORT OF DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE SHOWS YEAR
OF REMARKABLE PROS.
PERITY.
TOTAL BREAKS RECORD
NEARLY EIGHT BILLION DOLLARS
PLACED TO CREDIT OF
FARM WORKERS.

Washington, D. C.-After twelve
years Of service as head of the depart.
ment. the secretary Of agriculture in
his twelfth anual report to the Presi-
dent, just issued, renders a compre-
hensive account of his stewardship and
presents a review of the progress OF
agriculture in the United States dur
Ing this period. Concerning the farm
production of 1908, he says the
farmer has created wealth by the bill
lions.
The farm value of all farm products
Of 1908 reaches the most extraordinary
total in the nations history-$7,77S,-
100000. This Is about four times the
value of the products of the mines,
including mineral oils and precious
metals.
The gain in value of farm products
in 1908 over 1907 is $290,OOOOOO and
would have been much larger had not
the prices of cotton and hay been low.
The value of products in 1899, the cen
sus year, being taken at 100, the value
! for 1903 stands at 1875; for 1904, at
131; for 1905. at 1874; for 1906, at 143;
for 1907, at 159 and for 1908 at 165.
During the last ten years the weH.th
production of the farmer of this coun.
tryl has exceeded the fabulous sum of
$50 900 100000.
Corn-Greatest of all crops is In
dian corn, whose production this year
is 2,643,0O0,000 bushels. The value of
this crop is $1,615, 100000. This
wealth, grown out Of the soil in four
months of rain, sunshine and some
drought, is enough to cancel the inter
est-bearing debt of the United States
and to pay for the Panama canal and
fifty battleships. This crop is worth
this year nearly as much as the great
crops Of cotton. hay and wheat COM
bined. Compared with the averages of
the preceding five years the quantity
is per cent higher and the value 43
per cent. higher.
Hay-The greatest hay crop in his
tory has been gathered this year, 6s,-
average of the preceding five years.
Its price is 81 per ton less than it was
year ago, but still the farm value OF
the crop is 1921. .OOO, 900, or per cent.
above the five-year average.
Wheat-Wheat is ~ per cent. above
the five-year average in production and
23 per cent. above it's total value. Tie
| h,,c ha1c of r, ,fc &C
timated to be worth $620.O00.O00 to the
farmers, or 66,O0O.OOO more than the
most valuable wheat crop heretofore
produced.
Oats and other cereals-Although
the oat crop suffered from drought the
value is 1921, 100000 for 7S9,OO0,O0
bushels or 10 per cent. above the five,
year average value and per cent. be-
low the average product.
The barley crop, 167 100000 bushels,
Is Is per cent above the five-year av.
erage and its value, $s6,0O00,000, is %
per cent. above. Both have been ex
ceeded only once.
Rye remains in the notch that 1t has
occupied in production in recent years
but its value, $22 900. 900, is II per cent
above the average.
All cereals-All cereals aggregate l.,
329, 100000 bushels, total that has
been exceeded three times, but the
value reaches $2,694. 900 900, or more
than 5000, 100000 above that of 1907
and exceeds still more the totals Of for
mer years. Compared with the preced
ing five years, the number Of bushels
is higher by 0.2 per cent. and the value
is higher by 80 per cent.
Sugar beets and cane-The sugal
beet crop has never been so large MOI
SO valuable as 1t is this year. The
rapid development of this crop TO
sugar making appears in the statemen
that the production of beets in 1901
is As per cent. above the average o
five years.
The plantation value Of sugar cane
. molasses and syrup, not including fac
( tory products, is estimated to be 1874
900 900, a value exceeded only in 1904
, and greater than the five-year averag
: by 10 per cent, nearly 100000 shor
tons of beet sugar will probably b
made from the crop of this year. an
the factory value of this and Of tn
. beet pulp is about $45,O00,oO0. Abou
4O7 900 short tons of raw cane suga
t were produced this year, an amour
! perceptibly greater than the high pre-
duction figures of four or five forme
years.
4 The sugar beet and sugar cane crop
r are together worth about $56,000,000
J. the grower. The sugar made fror
! cane and beets. the beet pulp. the s!
:, rup and molasses of cane and sorghum
and the maple sugar and syrup. 1t is e
timated, are worth this year $4,000
, 900.
a Potatoes - Unfavorable weathe
n made the potato crop only 275,000.0O
, huahals or s 'per cent below the fiv,