Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-12-08
DECLINE IN VALUE
Of FARM PRODUCTS
LESS FOR 1911 THAN FOR PRE-.
CEDING YEAR, SAYS SEC
RETARY WILSON.
CROPS ARE WORTH MUCH MORE
Loss ChargeabIe to Animals and Their
Products-Pertinen Paragraphs
From the Annual
Report.

Washington, Dec t. According to
the annual report of James Wilson,
secretary of agriculture, just made
public, for the first time in many years
the total value of farm products has
declined from that of the preceding
year. The estimate for 1911 is based
on the census items, and is $8,417 ,000,-
600, or SPIT 100000 under the total for
1910. The loss is chargeable to the
general classes of animal products and
animals sold and slaughtered. Dairy
COWS are the only farm animals for
which increase Of price is indicated.
Eggs, wool, butter and poultry have
suffered in farm price during the year
In consequence of the decline of prices
OF farm animals and their products,
this group is estimated as having pro-
duced value of $2,913, 100000 in 1911,
of 1921 100000 below the amount for
1910
On the other hand, the crops are
worth more than those for 1910, the
estimate of their farm value being
$5,504 100000, a gain of $44 900, 900 over
| 1910. Farm prices of all crops are
higher than for 1910 except for cotton,
cotton seed and flax seed, and this
| general fact, Notwithstanding the 9TH
er general fact that production was
| low, makes about ten crops of 1911
| the most valuable ones of the same
kind that the farms of this country
| have ever produced
Corn the Leading Crop.
! With a value of more than twice
that Of the cotton crop this year and
but little less than the combined val
ules of the cotton, wheat, and oats
crops, corn is by far the leading crop
as wealth producer. The estimate
of 2,776,000,000 bushels indicates
| production that has been exceeded in
only two years. The farm price of
corn is now higher than it has been
since the records of the department
began in 1866, except in 1888 and this
establishes a total value for the crop
that reaches ST. 100000 and breaks
the record.
So pre-eminently is corn the leading
crop of this country that about three
fourths of the worlds crop is grown
here. But the exports of corn con-
stitute one-third of the worlds export
of corn.
The year 1911 was a poor one for
mountaineering crops, since the list
includes only cotton and sugar beets.
Apart from these two crops, not crop
hat ic 10 I,o
highest production of former years;
corn and rice win third place, and
buckwheat third place since the six
ties; the total of all cereals occupies
fifth place, and the other crops are
farther down the scale.
The tale is reversed when the value
of the crops are considered. The
a formidable list in spite of the fact
that they have previous very high
alues to exceed. The list is corn,
barley, rye, buckwheat (since the six
ties), potatoes, hops, faxseed, sugar
beets Cor beet sugar., and cane sugar.
Some Pithy Paragraphs.
Mr.. Wilson's report begins with a
series of short, pithy paragraphs, some
of which are as follows:
The og-cholera serum developed in
this department is successful where it
is properly made and applied.
After years of experimentation we
find we can grow. Egyptian cotton in
southern California and bulbs in the
state of Washington
The finest dates from the Sahara Des-
ert succeed in our southwest.
Seven hundred and fifty million dol
estimate
products this year.
We are sending explorers to the ends
of the earth for new plantS-and get
The phosphates are abundant in our
country, for all possible uses. Florida.
Kentucky. Tennessee, and Idaho may
be mentioned as repositories
If good roads from the producer to
the consumer were general, the benefits
The experiment stations of the several
states are doing better work each sue
ceeding year, the scientists are matur-
ing and the people approaching.
The object lesson in agriculture is the
best teacher; had 10000 of them at
work last year.
Six hundred thousand short tons of
beet sugar were made last year in 81
worlds shortage of 100000 long tons
of sugar this year
The consumer pays a dollar for food
the farmer gets less than fifty cents for
1t. Who gets the rest?
Ali government agencies that con-
serve public health should be grouped
together in one bureau.
Irrigation will bring maximum crops
while the land is new and full of plant
food; but where the crops are sold year
by year irrigation will not of itself as
sure good results.
The corn crop is moving northward
by seed selection.
Our foresters are learning by expert
ments how to reforeSt 80, 900 acres in a
year. 10 times as much must be planted
annually to cover all the bare acres in
a generation. 1t will be done.
DRAINAGE OF SWAMPS URGED.