Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-09-19
Greatest Value Ever Grown.


come The pests. the drouths, the floods.
the frosts and the baek-aches, we are
learning rapidly how to meet every one
of the problems. And we are learning
also that everyone of these problems
is the result Of human sins and igno-
rance For one example. we slaughter
birds. toads, snakes, etc, and then
question the Providential scheme that
permits of insect pests.
But we are learning and gaining.
The sum total of agricultural wisdom
is multiplying rapidly, and, what is of
more Importance, we are overcoming
snobbery and the sneer at farming.
This years crops in the United
beyond grasp of the human mind. Just
contemplate for a moment the meaning
of SIS, coo, coo tons of hay at SIS ton, or
a return to farmers of ssa5, 900. 600. Then
consider potatoes, 2s9.e0o,oo0 bushels at
sc a bushel, or s22400o.o00; then corn
1900, 900, 900 bushels at .7e per bu.. or
81 $40 ,o0e, 900: wheat, 7s5. 900 bushels
at II per bu, or 1904. 100000; oats, l.
060,0o0,000 bushels at .45 per bu., or
sa55,00o.50o.
In substance, the aggregate re-
turn for the American crops of
1913 is estimated at upwards of ten
thousand million dollars. The Orange
Judd Co, publishers of the American
home papers give the following sum
mary of their Investigations, compari-
sons and estimates:
Five thousand million dollars will be
paid to the farmers of the United
states for their eight staple crops pro-
ducetl this year. compared to S4.78,ooo,-
900 for the same crops last year. Here is
an increase of 1868, 900 in farmers
gross earnings upon only eight crops
this season over last year
Yet the total weight of these crops
for 1913 will be only 1se,0oo000 tons,
compared to 230,000.000 tons for the
same crops last year.
In other words, TOTAL VALUE OF
these staples this year is 6 per cent.
GREATER than last season, although
their QUANTITY is % per cent. LESS.
These amazing results insure magm-
fjcent prosperity to American farm
ers as whole The wealth the farm
ers will receive for their decreased ton
mage also has these two decided ad-
vantages
/. That less labor ard expense Will
he required for harvesting and mar
keting the crops this year. at a time
when farm help is scarce and high.
g Only the decrease of about 50,0O0,-
900 tons in the weight of these staples
|, will enable American railways to move
the crops of 1913 without veritable
breakdown Of the transportation sys-
tenn, in view of the heavy tonnage Of
other freight and of passenger traffic
caused by the resumption of good
times.
The outcome of the agricultural sea-
son. therefore, is profoundly beneficial
to industry, commerce and finance,
taking the country as Whole, al
though certain individuals and limited
sections have been hard hit by the
drouth.
Although the corn crop will be only
1900 millions of bushels, or 20 per cent.
less than last year, an average IN
crease of AZ per cent in its value per
bushel will make the corn crop of 1915
the most valuable one ever produced
in the history of the United States.
Indeed, American farmers will receive
for this years corn upward of $780,
100000 more than they got for the crop
of 1912. The corn deficit in the South
west is partially offset by the unpiec-
edented production in Minnesota and
the Southeast.
The shortage in new corn is not
disaster. 1T is a blessing in disguise
For with over 400 millions of old corn
on hand October /, the aggregate sup
ply Of maize this autumn will be some
1850 million bushels. This just about
equals the corn supply following the
harvest of 19lf-only two years ago.
when the yield was 1850 millions, and
the supply OF old corn was then only
about one fourth as large as now.
Likewise, although oats yield - per
cent less bushels this year than last,
the increase of Al per cent. in their aV-
erage value per busfIel makes the ag-
gregate value of this years oats crop
greater than ever before in this coun-
trys history.
The total production of 1860 million
bushels is greater by over 20 per cent
than the crop Of 1911. and somewhat
exceeds that of 1910 according to Orange
Judd returns With the single excep-
ton of 1912. the United States has pro-
duced more oats this year than eve
before,
Likewise the minor grains barley
rye, buckNheat, fax, riee--thcugh col
lectiveIy 20 per cent less in quantity
are worth so much more per unit that
their aggregate value is is per cent
greater and more than any previous
crop.
Tobacco will make about the SAM
quantity or weight as last year, but
will net farmers somewhat higher
prices and greater total value
Even more remarkable than the fore
going IL the present promise Of the cot
Ion ers9 Although peariy a million