Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-12-12

World leadership in individual produce
ton of crops belongs to the American farm
er, Secretary Houston. of the Department
of Agriculture. declared in his annual re-
port.
While countries such as Belgium, under
intensive farming, get a higher acreage
yield, Mr.. Houston said, taking both acre
age and yield per acre into account, the
American agriculturist produces two and
one-half times as much as his Belgium and
German rivals. two and three-tenth times
as much as the British farmer, three and
two-tenth times as much as the French
and more than six times as much as the
Italian.
The result of this and of the American
farmers war work is shown in the 1919
American crop production. placed at three
times greater in value than the average
annual output during the five-year period
preceding the European war. The aggre-
gate value Of all crops this year is placed
at $l5,87S. 100000 as compared to $14.-
222,000,O00 during the five-year period.
Live stock on farms this year was figured
at $8.830,000.00O. as against $8,284,-
100000 in 1918.
The average yield for all crops for the
decade ending in 1918 is about l6 per
cent greater than for the average for
the decade ending with 1890, the report
said. The average rate of increase for the
past twenty-five years is about one-half Of
per cent year.
Estimates in the report put the 1919
wheat production at 918.471,000 bushels.
and corn at 2.9lO. 100000 bushels. Cot
ton is expected to reach 1O.696,0OO bales
and tobacco 1915. $500 pounds.
THE farmers of the nation in 1919
planted an acreage in leading cereals
greater by 33.000,000 than the pre-war
annual average. which. it is estimated.
will yield 635,O0O.OOO more than the
pre-war average" Mr.. Houston said of war
work on the farms. They increased the
number of mich cows over 1914 by 2.700,-
900. of other cattle by 100000. Of swine
by IS. 100000 and of horses and mules
by 100000. or total of 28.900.000.
THE planting operations of the year
began before the fighting ceased. and the
call was still for more wheat. The depart
ment suggested maximum fall acreage
of 47,208,000 acres. an increase of IL per
cent over 1918. There was actually plant
ed 49,261. 900. the largest acreage in the
nations history, 100000 acres more
than in 1918.
THE spring wheat acreage was %, $685.
900, while the winter and spring paintings
combined amounted to T,S54,000 acres.
or 100000 more than the preceding
records.
ut is estimated that the yield will ex-
coed that of 1918 by 100000 bushels and
will be the nations second record wheat
crop. The estimated corn crop Of 2.910.-
900 900 bushels will be 300,000.000
greater than that of 1913"
The nation can further expand its out
put of commodities by cultivating unused
tillable land, estimated at more than so
per cent of the total. the report states. Ex-
pansion is limited, however, by the supply
of capital and labor.
No step to promote farmers cooperative
associations along the right lines should
be omitted, the Secretary said. 1t is es-
timated that these organizations market
annually approximately $l,500.000.000
worth of commodities.
Included in Mr.. Houston's recommended
tons are the following:
The building up. primarily under state
law. of a system of personal credit unions
for farmers whose financial status and
operations make it difficult to secure ac-
commodations through the ordinary chan
nels; expansion of facilities for aiding in
market. especially extension of the mar
ket news and food products inspection ser
vices; continuation of federal participa-
ton in road building through an appropri-
alton of S10O,000,000 for each of the
next four years. regulation and control of
stock yards and packing houses; federal
legislation to protect consumers against
adulterated feeds and fertilizers; increased
State support for rural schools and more
definite instruction as to rural problems and
conditions; legislation to improve rural
sanitary conditions and provide hospital
and medical facilities.