24 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



because of the increasing prices, yet the value of packing-house ex- 

 ports has increased since 1910 and reached the amount of $104,000,000 

 in 1912. So with grain and grain products, the quantity in the aggre- 

 gate is diminishing as well as the value, and the high export values 

 of five and six years ago have not since been equaled. In 1912 the 

 export group known as grain and grain products had a value of 

 $123,000,000. 



IMPORTS. 



Agricultural imports are steadily increasing in value, subject to 

 some fluctuations. They reached their highest value in 1912, when 

 they amounted to $784,000,000. This was an increase of about 

 $100,000,000 over 1911 and 1910, the years of highest import values 

 preceding 1912. Notable increases are found in the imports of coffee, 

 sugar and molasses, tobacco, wool, and packing-house products, in 

 which hides and skins are very prominent. 



LARGE BALANCE OF TRADE MAINTAINED. 



It is apparent that since 1908 the balance in the foreign trade in 

 agricultural products has not kept up to its former figure, but, as 

 has already been said, this is not because of diminished export 

 values, but is due to a greater increase of imports than exports. Not- 

 withstanding this, the balance in favor of exports of farm products 

 was as high as $278,000,000 in 1912, and this was higher than the 

 amount for 1910 and also for 1909. 



At no time before 1912 have farm products been hard pushed, nor, 

 indeed, closely approached, by products other than agricultural ones 

 in contribution to the balance of trade in favor of all exports. It 

 was not until 1898 that products other than agricultural had a bal- 

 ance in favor of exports, but twice since that time — in 1903 and 1910 — 

 the balance was in favor of exports. The balance in favor of the 

 exports of these commodities was only $5,000,000 below the agricul- 

 tural balance in 1912. 



EOREST PRODUCTS. 



Forest products were exported in 1912 to the value of $108,000,000, 

 and this was greater than the amount for any preceding year. This 

 is partly due to high prices, yet there were increases in the quantities 

 of the exports of boards, shocks, rosin, and turpentine. 



The imports, as well as the exports, of forest products exhibited a 

 marked tendency to increase in value in recent years, and during 

 these years the imports have very much exceeded the exports in 

 value. In 1912 the imports of forest products were valued at $173,- 

 000.000, or $58,000,000 more than the foreign and domestic exports. 



