446 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The secretary's report, besides statistics, will give much valiiublc information rc- 

 latinij to the nianasonicnt of fairs. 



Alihoiigli the objects of the association are specified in an article of the constitu- 

 tion, and are in themselves very lil)eral and general, still its influence is exerted for 

 the promotion and advancement of the greatest and most important of all human 

 industries. 



Agriculture is the basis of the wealth, strength and growth of the American re- 

 inibiic. It is not only the first, but the most important interest and principal 

 occupation of its citizens. It is the Iruit of this industry that gives them independ- 

 ence as individuals and commands for the nation respect and consideration abroad. 



Within the limits of the United States are found climates favorable and soils cap- 

 able of producing all the cereals and fruits, grasses for grazing, cotton, hemp, and 

 flax for manufactures, rice and sugar, and many of the tropical fruits; also forests of 

 timber and mines of almost inexhaustible minerals. These are the true and bounti- 

 ful sources from which is drawn the wealth, support, and luxuries of our people. 



Farming in the United States generally may be considered to have made very 

 great advancement within the last half century; it is still very far from perfect, and 

 has not kept even pace with the discoveries and improvements in the other sciences 

 and arts. 



Of the many influences that have contributed to this great advancement, not the 

 least in force may be mentioned the strong desire of the farmer to become the inde- 

 pendent possessor of the soil; the conviction that he was obtaining and improving 

 propertj', the complete possession of which is secured by the strongest legal guaran- 

 tees; another, to the better cultivation of the soil and the application of improved 

 machinery by the educated, as well as practical agriculturist, in all the operations 

 of husbandry. 



I have said farming in the United States was far from being perfect, for it is found 

 upon comparison with the productions of countries that the average yield per acre 

 of wheat is less in the United States than in any of the £urope:vn States except 

 Hungary and Portugal. In some of the German states the average yield is as iiigh 

 as 391^ bushels; in Great Britain it is 29, while in the United States it is only 133^ 

 bushels per acre. I fear the same unfavorable results would be found were a compar- 

 ison made as to live stock, especially in their higher improved types, if not in num- 

 bers. We may and undoubtedly have larger herds of cattle, but they are of inferior 

 grades. 



It is now estimated that the United States produces about one-fifth of the total 

 cereals of the world, an amount equal to 40 bushels per capita of the population of 

 the United States. 



The money value of three of the principal grains raised in the United States in 

 1877 was— corn, §4S0,G43,400; wheat, §395,158,375; oats, $118,GG1,550. 



It maybe interesting to know what was the highest and lowest price of each of 

 them in the New York market from 1825 to 1879, a period of 54 years. Statistics show 

 the highest price of corn to have been in the year 1SG4, $1.97, and the lowest price in 

 1876, 38c. a bushel. The highest price of wheat in ISGG, $3,45, and the lowest price to 

 have been in 1825, 75 cents. Of oats the highest price in 1864, $1.02, and the lowest 

 price in 1877, 12c. a bushel; and the approximate average price of each during the 

 same period was of corn, 74c; wheat, $1.4G; oats, 47c. The highest price of mess pork 

 during the same period was in 18G4, §43.25 per barrel, and the lowest in 1842, $G.75. 

 Of mess beef, highest price 18G7, $28, and the lowest in 1872, $4 per barrel. 



One of the most striking evidences of our rapidly increasing growth in agricultural 

 Industry is found in the amount of our annual exportation of domestic productions. 



Besides producing what was suflicient for all wants of the people at home, there 

 was exported in the year 185G, of domestic productions, the value of $281,219,423, being 

 $29,212,887 less than of imported articles tlie same year. While in the year 1878 the 

 exports of domestic productions amounted to the sum of $691,848,496, an excess over 

 importations the same year of $257,821,314, showing the balance of trade to be now 

 largely in favor of the United States, and equal to seven-eighths of the total exports 

 of 1856. 



About 82 per cent of the total exports was of agricultural productions. 



A comparison between tlie exports of the products of the soil for the years 1830 

 and 1879 shows an increase of $511,686,380 during the 49 years. 



This shows that our great agricultural i-esources and bounteous crops have enabled 

 us to supplj' our own people with cheap food and largely to meet the wants of foreign 

 countries. 



The nation is youthful and vigorous; it cannot now suffer long and deeply from any 

 cause, for it has too great recuperative powers; its productive resources are too great; 

 its people too intelligent and enterprising; its inventive genius and skill too diver- 



