IS ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Dor. 



by liaiul, t licit' was soinc excuse foi' avoidin.o; this crop on account 

 of its bcin^- so unpleasant to handle. J>ut with the excellent varie- 

 ties of smooth barley, fi-om which we may select our seed, and the 

 improved harvesting;' machinery that we have at the present time, 

 it seems stranj>e that so little of this valuable cereal is grown. 

 In the northeastern i)arl of the State, where most of the barley 

 grown in Pennsylvania is produced, the yield is but 3.'> per cent, less 

 per acre tlinii I he yi<']<l of oats, while the price per bushel is 50 per 

 cent, greater than that of oats. The total yield of barley in the 

 State in 1!)U:J was 18,951) bushels, valued at |1{)5,8T3.()(). 



Another valuable farm crop (hat is extensively grown in Penn- 

 sylvania is the potato crop. Jlverywhere in the Slate the Irish 

 l)otato yields well, while the quality produced is unsurpassed. In 

 1!)0;> the total production of potatoes was 22,217,923 bushels, valued 

 at .f 13,7-75,112.00. The average ])roduction was 91 bnshels per acre. 



During the last Iwenty-five years the business of ])roducing vege- 

 tables and flowers in winter time, under glass, has grown to very 

 large proportions. This business is conducted on small farms close 

 to large cities. It happens, however, that in some purely- agricul- 

 tural districts, and particularly in the southeastern corner of the 

 State, there is a large development of the business of producing 

 vegetables under glass. On farms in this same section mushroom 

 production is an important interest and quantities of this highly 

 priced product is shipped daily during tlie season to the markets 

 of all of the large eastern cities. The principal flowers that are 

 produced are roses, carnations and violets. This business is still 

 growing at a rapid rate and is becoming an important feature in tlie 

 agriculture of Pennsylvania. 



An article on agriculture of Pennsylvania would be incomplete 

 that made no reference to the amount of maple sugar produced. 

 Although the nmnufacture of maple sugar is limited to small areas, 

 there is, nevertheless, a comijaratively large amount made in the 

 State. In recent years great improvement in methods is noticeable. 

 The old-styled furnace, with its heavy cast-iron kettles, has disap- 

 peared and the galvanized iron evaporating pan, with furnace at- 

 tached, has taken its ])lace. liy the improved methods, a better 

 (piality of both sugar and synip is produced, and while there seems 

 to be a decliiK' in I he anniml jM-oduction, owing to th<> fact that 

 many farmers seem to think that greater profits can be realized 

 by turning their sugar orchards into Imuber and devoting the 

 grounds to other purpos(^s, thei'e will, no doubt, remain for many 

 years to come, farms on which these delicious luxuries are produced 

 and from which those who are willing to 7)ay a fair price may receive 

 at least a limited sujiply. The total yield of sugar in the State re- 

 ported Uii Hie year 1S9!>, the last year for which we have any report, 

 was 1,429,540 j.ounds. 



