192 



EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



[Vel. 35 



Unprofitable acres, J. C. McDowell (U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 1915, pp. 

 l/f7-15Jf. pis. 4). — Among the causes for unprofitable acres are mentioned that 

 the area cultivated by a farmer may be too small to gh'e him profitable em- 

 ployment, or the area may be so large that the farmer can not cultivate the 

 land to the best advantage; the holding of land capable of profitable agricultural 

 use out of cultivation for land speculation ; and the prohibitive cost or lack of 

 capital to properly drain land or clear it of stumps, stones, etc. 



The author summarizes his article as follows : " To meet the growing demand 

 for farm products we must farm more acres or make each acre produce more. 

 Land not now in farms should be made into farms, and unimproved Innd now 

 in farms should be improved, only in so far as this can be done profitably." 



Monthly crop report (U. S. Dept. Agr., Mo. Crop Rpt. 2 (1916), No. k, pp. 

 29-40. figs. 2). — This number estimates the condition of winter wheat and rye 

 on April 1, the condition of farm animals on the same date and losses during 

 the previous year, prices paid to producers of farm products, estimated farm 

 value of important products on March 15 and April 1, range of prices of agri- 

 cultural products at important markets, the final estimate of the United States 

 beet sugar production, maple sugar and sirup production in Vermont, the pro- 

 duction of important crops in the leading five Statea during 1913-1915, a 

 special report on tbe condition of truck crops and the early potato crop, and^ 

 miscellaneous data. 



An estimate of the apples harvested by months showed that 3 per cent is 

 harvested in June, 11 per cent in July, 15 per cent in August, 26 per cent in 

 September, and 45 per cent in October. 



An inquiry sent to flour mills and grain elevators is summarized as follows : 

 Of the 1915 wheat crop, 14.4 per cent was unfit for milling and 7.3 per cent was 

 used for feed. About 4 per cent is usually fed. 



An inquiry into the causes and extent of live-stock losses indicated that the 

 anual loss of cattle from disease amounts to .$177,750,000, swine $66,466,000, and 

 sheep ?21,184,000. The following table gives the percentage of loss by causes : 



Estimated annual live-stock losses in the United States, by causes. 



Cause of losses. 



Hog cholera 



Texas fever and cattle tick . 



Tuberculosis 



Contagious abortion 



Blackleg 



Scabies . 

 Internal parasites. 

 Anthrax. 



Exposure 



InsuflTicierit or irregular feeding. . 



Pre<Iatory animals 



Miscellaneous live-stock diseases. 



Total. 



Cattle. 



Per cent. 

 0.0 

 5.9 



10.8 

 9.2 



15.5 

 0.7 

 3.0 

 1.7 



12.2 



15.3 

 2.4 



23.3 



100.0 



Swine. 



Per cent. 



48.9 

 0.0 

 2.6 

 0.9 

 0.0 

 0.0 



10.4 

 0.2 

 8.2 



10.0 

 1.1 



17.7 



Sheep. 



Per cent. 

 0.0 

 0.0 

 2.4 

 2.0 

 0.2 

 7.3 

 13.0 

 0.5 

 22.1 

 1.3.7 

 18.1 

 20.7 



100.0 



10). 



Information is given concerning apple pro<luction and value, showing that 

 there were 70.350,000 bbls. of apples producod in 1915, of which 49,487,000 were 

 sold at an f. o. b. price of $1.78 per barrel. A table is included shov.ing the 

 distribution by varieties. 



A special inquiry as to tlie changes in value of farm lands indicates that the 

 value of farm lands in the United States in 1915 was $45.55 per acre, compnred 

 with $40.85 for the year previous. The census reported the value of farm lands 



