Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-12-14
FARM PRODUCTS WORTH
ENORMOUS AMOUNT
LAST YEAR
Agriculture Benefited tho
Country to the Extent
OF Nearly Eight
Billions.
SECRETARY WILSON
GIVES A SUMMARY
During the Twelve Years He Has
Been at the Head OF the AQri-
cultural Department. the
Work Has Made
Progress.

Washington, Dec. 14.-After twelve
years of service as head of the de-
partment James Wilson, the secre-
tary of agriculture, in his twelfth an
nual report to the president. issued
today, renders a comprehensive ae-
ecount of his stewardship and presents
la review of the progress OF agricul-
ture in the United States during this
period. Concerning the farm produc-
tion of 1908. he says that the farmer
has created wealth by the billions.
Production has been aoove the aver
age of recent years with few exceD-
tions; and. while some prices have
fallen, others have risen.
Production In 1908.
The farm value OF all farm prod
ucts of 1908 reaches the most extra
ordinary total in the nations history
200. This Is about four
times the value Of the products Of the
mines. including mineral oils and
precious metals. The farmer con-
tributes 81 per cent of the raw ma
terials used in those manufacturing
Industries which depend mostly or
| considerably upon agricultural MAJ
ltesaiais. ard thesr industfies use "a
Iper cent OF all imateriais used ID all
Industries -s,i
| The gain in value of farm products
in 1908 over 1907 is $3.50. 10000 and
would have been much larger had
not the prices of cotton and hay been
low. The value of products in 1899.
the census year. being taken at 100.
the value for 1903 stands at 1876; for
1904, at 1871; for 1905. at 1874; for
1906, at 143; for 1907, at 159; and
for 1908 at 165. During the last ten
lyears the wealth production on the
farms of this country has exceeded
the fabulous sum of $4,000, 000, 900.
Corn-Greatest of all crops is In
dian corn, whose production this year
is 2,643,O0O. 900 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 in
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 combined. Compared with the
Averages of the preceding five years
the quantity is 2 per cent higher and
the value 43 per cent higher.
Cotton-It seems likely that the
lcotton crop is one of the highest
three ever produced, but with a value
next to the highest or perhaps more.
although the farm price of cotton this
Iyear rs below the price of last year
by more than one cent.
For the first time in the history Of
this countrys agriculture, the value
lof the cotton crop, including seed, has
apparently exceeded the value of the
lhay crop, which has heretofore held
second place.
Hay-The greatest hay crop in HIS
tory has been gathered this year, 68.-
000,00 tons, or 12 per cent above the
average OF the preceding five years.
Its price Is So per ton less than It
was a year ago. but still the farm
value OF the crop is s621, ,00O. 900 or
6 per cent ABOVE the five-year aver
age.
Wheat--Wheat is IL per cent
above the five-year average in pro-
duction and 23 per cent above In
total value. The $50. 900 900 bushels
of this crop are estimated to be
worth $500, 100000 to the farmers, or
&c, 100000 more than the most VAL
liable wheat crop heretofore pro-
duced
Oats-Although the oat crop suf-
fered from drought the value is s32I,~
900. 900 for 7S9 coo. 900 bushels. OF 10
per cent above the five-year average
value and per cent below the aver
age product.
All Cereals--An cereals aggregate
4,329, 900, 900 bushels, a total that has
been exceeded three times, but the
value reaches s2,6s4 900 900, or more
than $4,000. goo above that of 1907.
and exceeds still more the totals OF
former years. Compared with the
preceding FIVE years the number OF
bushels rs higher by 0.2 per cent and
the value is higher by 32 per cent.
} Animal observation-disclosures the
farmer gets hardly 20 cents a pound
for his butter. between and cents
q quart for his milk, and about IN
cents for each egg. yet the value OF
the farm products Of the Dairy COW Is
getting close OF $500. .o0o. .000. and the
value OF the eggs and poultry pre-
J dueed on the farm Is worth as much
; as the cotton crop seed includeds or