Imperial Valley press., 1914-12-11
Secretary Houston Tells
Of American Farm Needs

Houston OF the department OF agrl-
culture, in discussing rural credits i'll
his annual report to President Will
son, takes the stand that there is no
emergency which justifies government
assistance to farmers
The new bank law, in the secre
tary's opinion, takes just knowledge
of the farmers needs. If there is to
be any additional aid the secretary
suggests that it be. done through CO.
operative credit associations with pri-
vate funds. -.
The report lin discussing the mar
keting and distribution system urges
"a reorganization I'M distribution. Sec
retary Houston says; that steers raised
in California by an Oregon operator
have been shipped through Denver to
Omaha and their beef sent to, the At
lantic coast.
The secretary says hogs raised in
Illinois and sold at indianapolis have
been slaughtered in Boston and part
of their bacon sent to Los Angeles.
Congress, in the report, is asked
for an additional emergency gappropri-
Aatiohsof several amiffionssaof dollars for
use on account of the foot and mouth
disease. 49,
The agricultural department, the re-
port says, is purchasing the diseased
cattle: slaughtering and burying them
The erdepartment has been active in
establishing standard grain grades.
Recommendation is made for legisla
ton to establish warehousing sys-
tenn for grain, and cotton.
The secretary declares that if the
warehouses now. in existence were re-
modelled so as to meet the underwrit
ers' requirements and were bonded the
financing of the cotton crop would he
improved. ~.
Secretary Houston believes such y
plan would prove beneficial in times
of need. t-.-5.
The reports show that while the
grain crop increased in 1914, the pro-
duction of corn shows no gain ami
the meat production is growing much
less.
The wheat crop of 1914 totaled S92.
100000 bushels, the greatest ever
produced in the history of the ma
ton. The crops of oats, barley, rye,
potatoes, tobacco and hay are also
large.
The cotton crop is placed at 15,-
$4,000 bales. The apple crop is esti-
mated at 259,OOO,OOO bushels, the lar
gest ever harvested.
The six leading cereals are. esti-
mated to have been about 5OOO,OOO.-
bushels, greatly in excess of. the 1913
crop.
For the county at large the cereal
crop yields were 2.3 per. cent better
than for the average of the past ten
years. The staple crops show an av-
erage of 9.4 per cent greater than
1913. With the exception of corn,
cats and flaxseed, the yield was
greater than the ten-year average.
Although there is an increase in
wheat, fruits, dairy products and poul-
try, decrease in staple food products
such as corn and meats is noticed.
In cattle there has been decline
from 1899 to 1909 of from $4,000 900
to 41,OOO,OOO.
Sheep have declined from 81 900 900
to 52,O00,000 in the same period. Hogs
have decreased from $4,000, 900 to S.
100000 In the meantime the popu-
lation has increased 2OO0O,O0O. ac-
cording to the report.
OF the 935,OOO,OOO acres of arabic
land the report says, only 100000
COO, or 40 per cent, are under culti-
walton.
The secretary urges farmers to Fdi-
versify their products to beef, swine
and poultry, at least for home con
sumption.