REPORT 



OF THE 



SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 



Mr. President: 



I respectfully present my Sixteenth Annual Report, covering the 

 work of the Department of Agriculture for the year 1912. 



BRIEF COMMENTS. 



The most effective move toward reduced cost of living is the pro- 

 duction of greater crops. This is attributable to the work of the 

 Department of Agriculture, the agricultural colleges and experi- 

 ment stations, and the help of the press in publishing every movement 

 to help the farmers. Demonstration work in Southern States in the 

 fields has been of immediate benefit. The South has increased the 

 food supply very much in the last few years. The movement ordered 

 by Congress to take farm demonstration into all Northern States 

 will bring more food into our markets. Our fields can and will 

 steadily increase their output in coming years as ways and means of 

 growing heavier crops become better understood. The Nation forgot 

 its farmers in the general scheme of education of past years; few 

 philanthropists thought of them when giving for education. Con- 

 gress is good to them. They are waking up and thinking for 

 themselves. 



The crop of sugar from the beet was 600,000 tons a year ago; it 

 is 700,000 tons this year. The sugar comes from the carbon-dioxide 

 of the atmosphere, taking no valuable plant food from the soil. The 

 process of growing is intensive agriculture, something new to all but 

 our gardeners, and prepares the soil for increased yields of all other 

 crops. 



One hundred and sixty-four thousand square miles have been 



cleared of the fever tick in the Southern States, equal to the area of 



three States. The farmers there are bringing in improved stock 



and will soon contribute materiallv to the meat supply. 



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