Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-05-25
MARYLAND
FARM STATE
Agricultural Department Shows
Great Progress In The
Yield OF Cereals.

In the great staple crops corn. wheat,
hay and rye MARYLAND Is making sub
stantial progress from year to year. and
annually the farmers of this State are
becoming more progressive. according
to Secretary of Agriculture Wilson and
his assistants in the crop review of the
year 1911, which gives special attention
to the progress made by the Maryland
farmer.
The review, which was issued Satur-
day, also discloses the facts that in dairy
and truck farm products Maryland has
made strides in the past u months
equaled by few other States in propor-
ton to population. In cattle raising
and the production Of wool the State is
taking a higher rank with each year.
while in truck farming the proximity Of
its counties to the large centres of popu-
lation is giving this industry higher rank
each year.
Over $40. 900 acres were in corn last
wear. an increase of 10000 acres over
1910. The crop of 1911 was valued at
SIS. i07, 600 or more than 81, 500, 600
greater than that of 1910. The produc-
ton of corn during 1911 was "a. 455, 900
bushels, as compared to p, llO.OOO BUSH
els in the previous year.
The wheat area Of 1911 was in excess
OF sos. 900 acres, as compared to a little
over SOB, 600 acres in 1910. the value of
the crop being 1878. 900, slight de-
crease from the value of the 1910 crop
due to general decline in the price.
Nearly iO7, 900 bushels of rye was
Maryland's production from the Is, 900
acres utilized for that staple last year.
The value Of the rye crop appropriated
S349, 900.
Among the Is States producing buck
wheat Maryland ranks sixth. Last year
II, 900 acres were sown, which produced
over 2i0, 900 bushels of value of $751;
900, as against Z, 600 bushels less in 1910.
MARYLAND farmers had 80, 900 acres in
potatoes in 1911. the yield amounting TO
/, 1855. 900 bushels. of a value of 1884,
900. The value of the crop of last year
per acre was not as high as in 1910, but
the acreage was larger by over 2, 700.
Over 1893, 900 tons of hay. worth S4,-
ass. 900. was produced from 276. 900 acres
last year, the value per ton being below
that of 1910, although the entire prod
uct was estimated TO be worth $l34, 900
more, because of the increase in acre
age.
OF tobacco Maryland raised last year
81. 1873, 900 worth, the average yield per
acre being 735 pounds. as compared to
$50 pounds in 1910. The average price
Of the best Maryland leaf on the Balti-
more market was l3 cents pound. which
was considerably lower than in the Gin
cinnati and Hopkinsville markets, but 3
cents a pound higher than the best price
brought by Virginia tobacco at Rich
mond.
The figures for cattle are known up
to Nav LIST, 1912. The State has now
over l6s. 900 mich cows, valued at So
PIC. 900, slight decrease in both value
and number as compared with 1911. OF
other cattle the State now has ll9, 900
head. valued at S2.5i7, 900. which are
about the figures for last year.
The price Of Maryland butter ranges
from % cents pound in July to %
cents in December. In only three other
States Tennessee. North Carolina and
Texas does the price vary as little and
remain as low.
The price Of eggs ranges from l5cents
in July 70 80 cents dozen in December
The statistics showing the amount and
value of the egg and butter production
are not yet completed.
MARYLAND made handsome advance
as a wool producing State. There are
now 23S, 900 head of sheep in the State,
az compared TO 227s000 head last year.
The value of the wool was estimated at
81, 0l2. 900 on May lst.
A fraction over 50 per cent of the
native white farmers of Maryland own
their farm properties. of the foreign
born farmers 500 per cent. own their
property.
OF the eight North Atlantic States
Maryland ranks fourth in this respect
About so per cent of the negro farm
ers own their property. There are in
Maryland 40. 669 farms operated by ma
tive white farmers. only l,sS2 farms
being operated by foreign-born farmers.
Negroes cultivate 6.372 farms.