The searchlight., 1912-12-13
BIGGEST CROP EVER
THAT OF 1912 rs EASILY WORTH
$s,5s2. .ooo,o 900. SAYS Mr..
WILSON,.
FIGURES ARE ACCURATE
Interesting Facts and Figures That
Are Found In the Annual Re-
port sf the Secretary Of
Agriculture.

Washington. Dec THE most pro-
ductiye year in the history of the
United States has drawn to a close,
according TO the annual report of Sec
retary of Agriculture Wilson to the
president, just made public.
Basing his figures on the census
items of wealth production on farms,
Secretary Wilson values the grand to-
tai Of the 1912 crop at $685., 900, 900.
Besides the productions of the soil.
this amount includes the live stock
output.
In commenting on the productive
ness of the past year in relation to
those preceding, Secretary Wilson
said:
Doubled In 13 Years.
The enormous sum represented by
the crop output of the United States
for 1912 is more than twice the value
OF the wealth produced on farms in
1899, according TO the census. and II Is
about one-eighth more than the wealth
produced in 1909. During the past. 16
years the farmer has steadily in
year, with the exception Of 1911, when
the value declined from that of the
preceding year"
The report of the secretary was one
OF the most bulky ever submitted by
the department of agriculture. II oc-
cupied 25s pages and contained about
100000 words. Most of this space was
fnI 10
technical work of the department,
covering such subjects as the cpl
demic OF disease among cattle. the
campaign Of the department against
insects injurious to crops. reports on
soils, and a detailed statement of the
operations OF the weather bureau.
In addition to information of his
nature. Secretary Wilson included
crop statement which showed that the
corn yield held the lead The estimat-
ed value Of this product was $l,75O,-
100000. The yield reached the high
water mark OF 3,l69. .O00. 900 bushels.
Hay was given second place in the
estimated figures. The yield was a.
425,o00 tons. which was held to be
worth $s6l.O00,000. The importance
OF this crop" says the report. lis bet
ter realized when il is observed that
It's value is greater than that OF the
cotton crop and nearly as great as the
combined values Of the wheat, tobac-
CO and potato crop"
Cotton Crop Estimated.
The report states that It is too early
IN h.
this year. but $500. 900. 900 was placed
as a possible figure for this crop.
The wheat yield. as estimated by the
department. will be worth to the farm.
er $3.50. 100000. Oats were placed as
the fifth crop in order. the value being
estimated at 47S,O00,0 900. The value
OF the potato crop was placed at $780,
00O,ooO: the barley crop at SIPS. .OOO..
900. and tobacco at s97 900. The
value OF the 1912 haxseed. rye. rice.
buckwheat and hops crops were set
at SIS. .OOO. 900. s24 .00O. 900. $40. .OOO. 900.
$l2, 100000 and sll 200, 900 respective
ly. The production Of sugar from the
beet was set at 100000 tons.
Decline In Prices.
rhTm prices 1T ~hich tne crops OF
1912 are valued have declined from
the prices OF 1911 In the cases OF some
important products. Barley has de
clined SO per cent. corn 10 per cent,
oats 25 per cent, rye IL per cent.
wheat 5k per cent, hay ls per cent.
potatoes 43 per cent. hops 43 per
cent, fiaxseed q per cent and beet
sugar and cane sugar about 22 per
cent. The price of the cotton crop
Of 1912 has gained about i3 per cent
and for the tobacco crop az per cent.
Butter has increased II per cent and
milk nearly per cent. Eggs have
gained l6 per cent and poultry about