The Glenwood post., 1908-12-26

ycarB OF service as nead OF the depart
ment, the secretary of agriculture in
his 18th annual report to the presi-
dent, issued today, renders a compre-
hensive account of his stewardship ana
presents review of the progress of
agriculture in the United States dur
ing this period. Concerning the farm
production of 1908, he says that tite
farmer has created wealth by the bill
lions. Production has been above the
average of recent years with few ex.
ceptions; and, while some prices have
fallen others have risen.
The farm value of all farm products
of 1908 reaches the most extraordinary
total in the nation g history-$7.77s,-
100000. This is about four times the
value of the products of the mines, in
cluding mineral oils and precious
metals.
The farmer contributes 81 per cen,
of the raw materials used in those
manufacturing industries which de-
pend mostly or considerably upon ag-
ricultural materials, and these indus
tries use AZ per cent of all materials
used in all industries.
The gain in value of farm products
in 1908 over 1907 is 300 million dollars
and would have been much greater had
rot the prices of cotton and hay been
low.
During the last ten years the wealth
production on the farms of this coun-
try has exceeded the fabulous sum OF
so billion dollars.
Corn-Greatest of all crops is Indian
corn, whose production this year is
2,643, 900, 900 bushels. The value of this
crop is $l,6l5 100000 This wealth.
grown out of the soil in four months of
rain, sunshine and some drought, is
enought to cancel the interest bearing
debt of the United States and to pay
for the Panama canal and fifty bat
tleships. This crop is worth this year
nearly as much as the great crops of
cotton, hay, and wheat combined. Com
pared with the averages Of the pre-
ceding five years, the quantity is 2
per cent higher and the value 43 per
cent higher.
Hay-The greatest hay crop in histo-
ry has been gathered This year-6s mil
lion tons, or 12 per cent above the aver
age of the preceding 5years. Its price
is $2 per ton less than it was year ago
but still the farm value of the crop
is 62l million dollars or 6 per cent
above the 5-year average.
Wheat.--Wheat is " per cent above
the 5-year average in production, and
% per cent above in total value. The
500 million bushels of this crop are
estimated to be worth $50 million dol
lnrs to the farmers or 66 million dollars
more than the most valuable wheat
crop heretofore produced.
Oats and Other Cereals.
the oat crop suffered from the drought.
the value is 321 million dollars for
7ss million bushels, or 10 per cent
above the 5-year average value and 8
per cent below the average product.
The barley crop t167 million bu.
shels) is 13 per cent above the 5-year
average, and its value (s6 million dol
lars) is 90 per cent above. Both have
been exceeded only once.
Rye remains in the notch that it has
occupied in production in recent years:
but its value t22 million dollars) is
IL per cent above the average.
All Cereals-All cereals aggregate
4,32o,000, 900 bushels, total that has
been exceeded three times; but the va
lue reaches q, ,694, 900, 900, or more than
300 million dollars above that of 1907
and exceeds still more the totals of for
mer years. Compared with the pre-
ceding s years the number of bushels
is higher by q per cent and the value
is higher by 80 per cent.
Sugar Beet.s The sugar beet crop has
mover been 50 large nor 50 valuable al
It 10 this year. The rapid development
of this crop for susar-makinH sppeart
in the statement that the production Of
bssts in 1908 is 45 per cent above tbs
= average OFFS years.
Nearly 100000 short tons Of beet sug
ar will probably be made from the crot
Of this year, and the factory value Of
this and OF the beet pulp is about 4.
= million dollars. About 4o7 shest toni
" Of raw cane sugar we're produced thil
yaasy a. amount peseeptibly greater