REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OP AGRICULTURE. 21 



six months. They make possible the economical and fuller use of 

 labor. They are of assistance in keeping the farm free from weeds. 

 The sheep farm is usually a weedless farm. 



Extension of industry. — In the United States only one in seven 

 farms of over 20 acres now supports sheep, with an average of one 

 sheep of shearing age to 3 acres of land. The 300 million pounds 

 of wool now imported annually could be secured from 50 million 

 sheep, and this number could be added to our stock if a fourth of 

 the remaining farms sustained one sheep for each 3 acres. 



In 1914 the Animal Husbandry Division of the Bureau of Animal 

 Industry and the Bureau of Crop Estimates canvassed crop re- 

 porters in 36 States in reference to sheep on farms. The replies 

 indicated that the number could be increased 150 per cent without 

 displacing other animals. It is to our settled areas, particularly 

 in the Central, Southern, and Eastern States, that we must look for 

 an increase in the number of sheep. 



THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. 



The profits of agriculture ultimately depend on the intelligent 

 cultivation of the soil and the preservation of its fertility. Dairy 

 farming is increasing in almost every section of the country, largely 

 because it is the most economical form of agriculture so far as soil 

 fertility is concerned. A ton of butter removes from the soil less 

 than a dollar's worth of fertilizing elements. Dairying also is grow- 

 ing because dairy products are an important part of our food supply. 

 Opportunities for dairying are found in every agricultural dis- 

 trict. The different sections of the country h ive characteristic pecul- 

 iarities, but all need milk and its products. 



Cheese production. — In 1909 this country produced 1,622 million 

 pounds of butter and 321 million pounds of cheese. In 1870 our 

 cheese exports amounted to 57 million pounds. They steadily 

 increased until 1881, when the total was 148 million pounds. After 

 that date they decreased rapidly until in 1914 they had dropped to 

 less than 2^ million pounds. On the other hand, our imports of cheese 

 amounted to 2^ million pounds in 1870 and advanced slowly until 

 1900, when 13^ million pounds were imported. From 1900 to 1914 

 the imports increased to 64 million pounds. Much of this cheese 

 could and should be produced in the United States. 



