Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-12-18
Secretary Wilson's Annual Report.

as amazing proportions in advancing the
knowledge by which the production Of crops
is fostered. All this and more is set forth in
the annual report of James Wilson, Secretary
Of Agriculture. There is told q portion oil
the story of the lifting of farming from the
dull rut of the PEASANTS drudgery to the realm
of modern scientific agriculture, aiming not
only to cause two blades of grass to grow
where but one grew, but to develop new
varieties Of crop plants and to domesticate in
the vegetable and animal life Of the farm that
normal balance of species which Is the ten
dency throughout nature.
Secretary Wilson has now been head OF
the Department for IL years, and there is
hint Of his retirement in the fact that he
makes his report review of agricultural
progress, not only during the year, but of the
period of his official career.
The Secretary illustrates the enormous
value of the years products of the farm by
a comparison with the mineral products of
the year. The farm production Of ST, T78,-
10000, he says, was four times the value Of
the output of the mines, including John d.
Rockefellers oil and all the precious metals.
The gain in value of farm products in 1908
over 1907 is $3.50, 900, 900 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 1908 stands at l25; for 1904, at
l3l for 1905, at 1874; for 1906, at l43 for
1907, at 1859, and for 1908, at 1876. During
the last ten years the wealth production on
the farms Of this country has exceeded the
fabulous sum Of SEQ, 900, 900, 900.
The Secretary is not Malthusian. He
does not fear the time when the country's
population will be greater than It's capacity
to support life, for In his review of IL years,
he says the farmers are already demonstrating
| hat ha,, MI a for a tins llu
ing population. Taking the average for the
ten years ending with 1906 and comparing it
| with the average for ten years ending with
1896, cotton production has increased ii per
cent.
Other crops join hands with cotton to swell
the average increase. The production of corn
pc, acre in Ohio and Virginia increased ls
per cent; Of oats, 10 per cent in Indiana of
wheat, 46 per cent in Nebraska of barley
per acre, IA per cent in Wisconsin Of rye,
"a per cent in Pennsylvania; of buckwheat,
20 per cent in Pennsylvania Of potatoes, 80
per cent in Maine. The increase in hay per
acre was IA per cent in Kentucky, 20 per cent
in Minnesota, 10 per cent in North Carolina,
20 per cent in Georgia, l8 per cent In Ala
bama and 81 per cent in Oregon.
The natural increase OF the population Of
the United States, native born of native par
ents, that is, by excess of births over deaths,
is now regarded as about II per cent. per
year or about l2i per cent for ten years. | t
is about per cent for ten years In Europe,
excluding Russia and Turkey. Therefore 1t
is inferred that no one need fear that the
farmers will ever be unable to provide for this
country's population, the assumption being
that the disturbing element Of immigration
will eventually cease.
The greatest of all crops is In Indian corn,
whose production last year reached the enor-
nous total Of 2,643 100000 bushels, with a
value Of 81, 1915, 900, 900. This wealth, grown
out OF the soil In four months Of rain, sun
shine, and some drought, Is enough to cancel
the interest-bearing debt of the United States
and to pay for the Panama Canal and so bat
tleships. This crop is worth this year nearly
as much as the great crops of cotton, hay and
wheat combined. Compared with the aver
ages of the preceding FIVE years the quantity
Is two per cent. higher and the value 43 per
cent. higher.
The second crop in value was cotton, last
years being one of the highest three ever
produced, but with value next to the high
est or perhaps more, although the farm price
Of cotton this year is below the price OF last
year by more than one cent.
For the rst time in the history of the
country's agriculture, the value Of the cotton
crop, including seed, has apparently exceeded
l
fore held second place.
Il OF the other crops and products the report
says:
Hay-The greatest hay crop In history has
been gathered this year, SO, 900, 900 tons, oil
II per cent. above the average of the proceed =
ing five years. Its price is 50 per ton less
than it was year ago, but still the farm val
ue Of the crop is 1921 900, 900, or per cent.
above the Eve year average.
I 10 ahA~ al,
fye-year average in production and 20 per
cent. above in total value. The 500, 900, 900
: bushels OF this crop are estimated TO be worth
1920, 900, 900 TO the farmers, or $4,000, 900
more than the most valuable wheat crop here
. tofOre produced.
Oats and Other Cereals-Although the oat
crop suffered from the drought the value Ia
1871 900, 900 for 789, 200, 900 bushels.
The barley crop, 1877 900, 900 bushels, Is ID
!. per cent above the five-year average and its
value, $3.50, 100000 10 20 per cent. above
: Both have been exceeded only once
Rye remains In the notch occupied In re-
cent years, but Its value, $22, 900, 900, 10 II
|, DER cent. above the average.
The largest crop of rice ever raised, 49,
. 900, 900 bushels, is this years, with a value
of about $l8, 900, 900, the crop being 40 per
: cent. above the fve-year average and its VAL
7 ue 23 per cent. above.
, All Cereals-All cereals aggregate 4, 329,-
100000 bushels, a total that has been exceed
cd three times, but the value reaches 81, 1914, =
900 900, or more than $500, 600, 900 above
thai Of 1907, and exceeds still more the totals
of former years Compared with the pre-
ce1ng Eve years the value Is higher by 80
per cent. >,
Potatoes Tobacco and HopJ-Unfavorable
weather made the potato crop only 275 900, =
: 600 bushels, or per cent. below the FIVE
wear average, although the value, $3.50, 0O0,-
: 900. Is 10 per cent. above and was never
equaed by any former crop.
J Tobacco production is still low In compar-
: Ison with recent years, but the price 10 pro-
bably little above that Of 1907. The value
of This crop is about the same as for 1907
: and is higher than at any time before that
year. ,-
All Farm Products-For the first time this
year the value Of all farm crops equals 50,
: 900, 900 900, and Of this total the value Of
} the corn crop Is about one-third; wheat, hay
and cotton combined make more than an
. other third and the smaller crops the re-
| mainder, or nearly one-third. Never before
, has the hay crop been so large In quantity.
Animal Products-Although the farmer
T pets hardly 20 cents pound for his butter,
, between 3 and A cents quart for his milk,
! and about II cents for each egg. yet the value
of the farm products Of the dairy COW Is
getting close 10 $500, 900, 900, and the value o.
The eggs and poultry produced on the farm is
, worth as much as the cotton crop, seed IN
cluded, or the hay crop, or the wheat crop
Tho aggregate value Of animals sold and
slaughtered and Of animal products at thu
farm amounts TO about three eghths of thu
value Of all farm products, estimated upor
the census basis, and Is getting nearer AM
nearer TO So, 900, 900 900.
1 I .
All soc Chocolates 40c now at Reisinger'
We are jobbiog Candy now and will b
pleased to have storekeepers to call on u.s.
| o. an va unn frainhia Ii nnfhInn Alaa