Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-01
RECIPROCITY HELPS FARMERS
One Reasonably Expected Result of
the Agreement with Canada.
OPENS A NEW AND WIDE MARKET
Growing Demand Across the Border
for the Products Of American Agri-
culture Proves Contention Of
Promoters.
From a staff CorrespondentJ

~
! WASHINGTON. March 3l.-(Special)-
The fact that the reciprocity agreement be-
tween Canada and the United States Is in
tended to enlarge the market for the agri-
/ cultural products Of the United States is
sometimes lost sight Of in the general dis
/ cussion Of the benefits arising from the
/ improved trade relations between the two
countries. But the American negotiatofs
had the market for the farmer in view
| all along The fact is that Canada is not
only growing market but II has almost
unlimited possibilities for many products
of the American farmer which heretofore
have had a limited sale, owing to the
j tariff duties. =.
The Canadian market is especially lvaIul
able for the products Of mixed farming.
The greatest opposition that has been
( aroused in Canada has come from the
fruit and vegetable growers. Under the
new conditions which will be created when
the reciprocity agreement is made effective,
the United States will be certain to sell
( Canada very large quantities of fresh veg
| etabcs, since these articles already form
an important export commodity, reaching
something like $1OOOOOO. This includes an
classes Of vegetables from potatoes to what
is generally known as garden truck. In
! llt5lA AlhAAn the duNduAdBt ~ NHIy ibIAGiy
in favor Of the United states and this
covers every section Of the country. Last
year the United States sold to Canada
under various rates of duty, fresh fruits to
the value Of $l,27l,OOO while the exports of
fresh fruit from Canada to the United
States were only $2SS,OOO. 1t is a safe pre-
diction that the first year after the rec
! iproclty agreement goes into force the cN-'
ports Of fresh fruits to the United States
will amount to $2,OO0,OOO while fresh veg
etables will approach nearly the same
! figures.
Cotton on the List.
The benefit which farmers who grow
cotton will receive from the free listing of
cottonseed oil are notable The present
duty, which Is 171h per cent ad valorem,
is heavy one, yet the figures are climb
ing, so that the exports to Canada of cot
tonseed oil. which now reach $l1OO,OOO and
upward, are likely to be doubled when
the duty is removed.
There is a pretty general agreement that
the free listing of live stock is one of the
most important features of the agreement
! Secretary Wilson of the Department Of
| Agriculture has explained how the western
corn growers will have the opportunity to
fatten Canadian cattle But since the
terms of the agreement were published IL
has developed that the free entry OF
horses on both sides of the line is going
to be one of the most advantageous fea-
lures. Nobody objects to this free entry,
yet heretofore heavy duty has hampered
a trade which is most important one.
Out in Montana It has been found that a
very great advantage will be derived by
the farmers from the opportunity to drive
NI.afr @ha "a.
seasons and then bring them back across
the line without the payment of duty.
! Market for Seeds.
The market for grass seeds and other
seeds in Canada Is one which the farmers
along the border are in a splendid posi-
ton to supply. Glover and timothy seeds
can be raised profltably in many sections,
and in certain seasons, IL they can be
sure Of a market not too far away. Canada
takes much larger quantities Of clover and
timothy from the United States than 1t
sends to this country, but heretofore 1t has
levied a duty Of 10 per cent on these prod
ucts They will now go in free, as will
garden and field seeds generally.
Some decided advantages are received by
nurserymen under the terms of the agree
ment. The negotiators found that a
mutual lowering of duties on grape vines,
gooseberry, raspberry and currant bushes
would be beneficial in both countries, and
this was done. The American negotiators,
however, went farther than this, and per-
suaded the Canadian commissioners to
lower the duty on horticultural stock from
the United States This includes apple
cherry, peach, pear, plum and ounce trees.
Canada imports more than $4,000 of these
trees from this country, and under the re-
duced duties the importations are pretty
| certain to increase.