LXVm REPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS. 



While the wonderful growth attending the exportation of domestic 

 manufactures has, it is true, somewhat reduced the relative proportion 

 of farm products comprised in our total exports, the increase in our 

 agricultural exports during the period covered by the present Admin- 

 istration has nevertheless been most remarkable. 



Our total sales of domestic farm products to foreign countries dur- 

 ing the four fiscal 3'ears 1897-1900 aggregated the enormous sum of 

 $3,186,000,000, or close to $800,000,000 in excess of the export value 

 for the preceding four-year period. In other words, we received on 

 an average during 1897-1900 for products of domestic agriculture 

 marketed abroad nearly $200,000,000 a year above the annual amount 

 paid us for such products during 1893-1896. 



The agricultural exports of the United States for the fiscal year ended 

 June 30, 1900, amounted in value to $844,000,000, exceeding all other 

 records except the phenomenal one of 1898, when a valuation of 

 $859,000,000 was attained. During the past four years, 1897-1900, the 

 farm produce exported had an average annual value of $797,000,000, 

 as compared with only $598,000,000 for the prior four-year period. 



EXPORTS TO THE ORIENT. 



One of the most striking features of our foreign trade during the 

 last few years has been the rapid growth of exports to the Orient. In 

 1896, five years ago, our total shipments of domestic merchandise to 

 Asia and Oceania Avere ' valued at $43,000,000, and these exports 

 included agricultural products to the value of $9,700,000. During the 

 following year, 1897, the total export value rose to $62,000,000, while 

 the amount received for products of the farm increased to $15,000,000. 

 Each succeeding year, in like manner, has witnessed further striking 

 gains, until in 1900 our export trade with the Orient exhibited an 

 annual value of $107,000,000, including shipments of farm produce 

 worth $30,000,000. The growth of our agricultural exports to that 

 quarter of the globe— from $9,700,000 in 1896 to $30,000,000 in 1900— 

 was especialh- marked, showing a gain that amounted in the brief space 

 of four years to over 200 per cent. 



One of the most striking examples of increase among our agricul- 

 tural exports to the Orient is afiorded by the great Southern staple, 

 cotton. Of this product, we shipped across the Pacific in 1896 only 

 38,000 bales, valued at $1,500,000, whereas our exports to the same 

 destination in 1900 were nearly ten times as large, amounting to 

 325,000 bales, valued at over $13.000.00(J. 



It is interesting to note that, with the increased shipments of the 

 raw fiber, there Avas also a marked growth in the exports of cotton 

 manufactures. During 1900 our cotton manufacturers shipped over 



