The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-02-10
AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS.
A Record of the State Of Farm Pro.
dusts from 1851 to 1908.

dusts from 1851 to 1908.
Washington, d. c., Jan. 6.-The
last half century has seen great
increase in the exports of farm pro-
ducts from the United States. From
an average of $15O,O0O,000 a year in
the five-year period, 1S511S55, the
agricultural exports rose to an av-
erage of 1915, 1000 year in 1901
1905, and in two subsequent individ-
ual years 19O7-19OS) surpassed a
billion dollars.
Not only have such exports increas-
ed, but they have increased much
faster than the population. In 1851
1855 the average value per capita of
the agricultural exports of the Unit
ed States was $5.S5, in 1901-1905 it
was $10.SS, and since 1905 it has been
still greater.
A report on the annual exports of
farm products from the United States
from 1851 to 1908, inclusive, is about
to be published as Bulletin rs of the
Bureau of Statistics, United States
Department of Agriculture. Ave1-
ages are given by five-year periods,
so that it is possible to perceive the
general drift of the trade.
The chief agricultural products ex-
ported in the past half century have
been U cotton, (2) grain and grain
products, and CD packing house pro-
ducts.
In 1S51-1S55, cotton made nearly
two-thirds of the value of all agricul-
tural exports, but in 1901-1905 be-
tween one-third and one-half only,
although the average quantity eX-
ported increased from 100000 600
pounds in 1S51-1S55 to 3,577 100000
pounds in 19O1-1905, while in 1907,
the highest year, 4,519,000,000 pounds
were sent out. In the period 1861
1865 the quantity Of cotton exports
was only about per cent of that for
| 1S56-1S60, Increases occurred after
ward however, until in 1876-18S0
the average quantity exported was
somewhat greater than in the period
just prior to the Civil War In guam
| tity exported per capita, the five-yeaT
period, 1S56-1S60 was highest; there
were then exported AS pounds OF
cotton per capita. The nearest APP
proach to this was 44.5 pounds per
capita in 1901-1905. Cotton seed pro-
ducts, such at cotton-seed oil, oil
cake, and oil-cake meal have assum-
ed considerable Importance in the
export trade of the United States in
recent years, that is, beginning about
1876. The value of cotton-seed pro-
ducts exported averaged during tbs
past several years from $25,00000t
to $30,0O0,000 year, the highest be-
ing in 1907 about $34,000,000.
Grain and it's products come sec
ond in order of value. They In
creased from a yearly average Of
$25 100000 in 1S51-1S55 to $4,000,
900 in 1901-1905, and in 1908 were
$215,000, 900, The chief items are
wheat Cincluding wheat -FOUR, corn
and oats. Exports of these cereal.
during 1S51-1S55 were equivalent u
about 20,O000O0 bushels of grain an
nually, and fifty years later to abou
100000 bushels. The period o
largest grain exports was 1S96-190O
since which time there has been ;
decline. The per capita exports o
wheat and flour were largest in 1881
1885, when they were equivalent :,
2.6 bushels per capita; in 1901-190
the average exports per capita wei
two bushels, and since 1905 have bee
less than two bushels. In corn tn
. maximum limit was reached in 1896
1900 when an average of "a bushel
per capita was exported. Then cam
a downward tendency, the exports il
the next five-year period being onl
IL bushels per capita, and in sue
, bushel. Compared with corn an
wheat, exports of oats have bee
small, the largest average for au
fve-year period being 3S,000,000 bush
els year during 1S96-1900, or somt
; thing more than one-fifth the CORES
, ponding exports of corn or of whea
: including flour.
Exports of packing house Pre-
ducts, a third leading group, have II
creased much more rapidly in tn
, last half century than cotton or Gel
calls. The average value of packin
: house products exported in 1S51-1Sl
: was $10,00O,000 a year, and in 800
4 1905 it was $3.50, 100000, while
: 1908 the value was $196,000,000 I'll
: principal items of this group al
pork, lard, beef, and oleo oil. AS
n the case of grain, the greatest e!
ports of lard and pork were in IL
/ five-year period, 1S96-1900. The e.
Y ports of lard have increased near
e eight times as fast as the populate
of the United States The averal
, per capita in 1S51-1S55 was IL pound
a. year, while fifty years later.
i 1901-1905, the average reached
$ pounds per capita Another gre
r increase occurred in per capita e,