REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 13 



creographic divisions — from 5.9 to 6.6 per cent in the South Atlantic; 

 from 5.2 to 9.7 in the South Central; and from 13.5 to 14.9 in the 

 Western States. 



OATS. 



Easily the fifth crop in point of value is oats, a position that it has 

 long occupied. The value this year is probably over $380,000,000, 

 and has been exceeded in this respect only by the crop of 1909. 

 Compared with the average value of the five preceding years, this 

 year's value is 12 per cent greater. 



In quantity the crop of this year is a magnificent one. For the 

 second time in the history of this countrv^ the crop exceeds one billion 

 bushels, the precise estimate standing at 1,096,396,000 bushels, or 

 about 90 million bushels above the great crop of 1909. The crop 

 of this year is 22 per cent greater than the average of the five previous 

 years. 



The production of this crop has sliifted somewhat into the South 

 Central and Western States in comparison with the National produc- 

 tion since 1889. The share of the North Atlantic States has declined 

 from 10.8 to 8.6 per cent; of the South Atlantic States, from 2.9 to 2 

 per cent; of the North Central States, from 79.7 to 77.2 per cent; the 

 South Central States gained the difference between 4.7 and 6.5 per 

 cent; the Western States the difference between 1.9 and 5.7 per cent. 



POTATOES. 



Next in order of value is the potato crop, which was exceeded in 

 only two or three former years. Compared with the average value 

 of the five previous years, the value for this year is 1 per cent greater. 

 With the exception of the crop of 1909, which was in a degree an over- 

 production, the crop of potatoes this year was the largest ever grown 

 in this country, the preliminary estimate of this Department being 

 328,7-87,000 bushels. Tliis quantity is 8 per cent greater than the 

 average for the preceding five years. 



SUGAR. 



Beet-sugar production in 1910 has been subject to vicissitudes of 

 climate and other influences. A smaller acreage of sugar beets was 

 planted in Colorado; there was a lack of moisture necessarj^ to a full 

 crop in Utah and Idaho; whereas the production of California, 

 Michigan, Wisconsin, and other States considerably exceeds that of 

 last year, partly due to three new operating factories. Five new 

 factories will be in operation in 1911 — two in California and one each 

 in Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. All acreage planted this yeai' 

 returned beets excellent in both quality and quantity. 



