News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1909-12-22
A Big Year for Farmers

II Inc year 1909 has been the most pros
porous and productive for the farmer il
the whole history of the United States
says Secretary James Wilson of the De
partment of Agriculture, in his annua
report just made public. 1t is a mos
gratifying public document to read ant
tends to create a very agreeable ant
comfortable emotion in the breasts O
everybody who gives it a careful and in
telligent perusal. We can justify the Sec
| rotary for the use of enthusiastic excla
nation when he says
Eleven years of agriculture, beginning
with a production of $4,417 ,0OO.00C
and ending with $780, 100000! 1t has
paid off mortgages, it has established
banks, it has made better homes, it has
helped to make the farmer a citizen of the
world, and it has provided him with
means for improving his soil and making
it more productive"
This is the thirteenth report made by a
| Secretary of Agriculture. 1t opens with
the statement that the value of agricul-
tural products in the United States for
1909 was So, 76O, 100000, or 1860, 000,-
900 more than in 1908.
The corn crop leads all the rest this
year, being valued at $1,72O, 900, or
nearly>as much as the clothing and per-
sonal adornment of 100000 people
1t has grown up out of the soil and out
of the air for 12O days, at $15,0OO,000
day. The crop exceeds the average for
the five preceding years by nearly Sc per
cent.
Cotton is second in value; it is the best
cotton crop since 1868, and the valuation
comes third, with production of 1885,
100000 bushels, valued at $725, 100000,
The hay crop is valued at $685., 0O0;O00;
oats at $40,OO0,0OO; potatoes at $212,-
100000, and tobacco at nearly, $780,
100000. Beet and cane sugar and mo-
lasses and syrup, from farm and factory,
will reach the total of about 500, 900, 900.
The barley crop is worth SIS, 900, 900,
pounds of rice $25, 100000.
The combined prodution of all the
cereals is All 100000 bushels, which is
very much greater than for any year
except 1906. 1t exceeds the average for
the past five years by 6.5 per cent. The
valuation of all cereals in 1909 has never
been equalled. 1t is almost exactly $3,-
OO0, 0O0 600 or 81 per cent. above the five
year average.
All the principal crops were greater in
quantity this year, except cotton, flax
seed (the production of which is steadily
declining) hops and cane sugar, but we
must remember that every one of these
is worth more to the producer than ever
before, on the five year average.
The highest crops ever are recorded
this year, for corn, oats and all cereals.
Compared with 1908 gains in value are
found all through the list, except barley,
rye, buckwheat and milk The increase
in cotton valuation is $20S, 000, 900;
wheat, $107, 00o, 600; corn, sos, 000, 900;
hay, sos, 900, 900; oats, 500, 100000; to-
bacco, SIS, 0OO, 900; potatoes, SIS, 900, 900.
The increase in the value of farm pro-
ducts this year over 1908, 1869, 000, 900,
is enough to buy new equipment OF
farm machinery for over 100000 farms.
The value of the cereal crops to the far
mer would pay for all of the machinery,
tools, and implements of the entire man
ufacturing industry: The value of all
crops, So, zoe, 900, 900, would make half
payment on the value of all steam rail
roads, according to the valuation of
1904.
Secretary Wilson concludes his review
of the production of 1909 as follows
"The agricultural production of 1909
must add much to the prosperity of farm
ers The record is unexampled in wealth,
production and tells of abundance in
quantity. Year by year the farmer is
better prepared to provide the capital
and make the expenditure and to educate
his children for farm life and work"