MONTHLY EEPORT. 



Depae,t]\ient of Agricultuee, 



Statistical Division, January 26, 187-4. 

 SiK : I herewith submit for publication my report of agricultural sta 

 tistics for the present month of the current year, including an investi- 

 gation concerning prices and yields of farm crops, and comparative 

 numbers of domestic animals in the several States on the 1st of Jan- 

 uary, with the average prices of each kind for each State, together with 

 a review of recent advances in agricultural science in its practical ap- 

 plication, and a record of current work of the several branches of the 

 Department service. 

 Eespectfully, 



J. E. DODGE, 

 Statistician. 

 Hon. Eredeeick Watts, 



Commissioner. 



PRICES OF FARM PRODUCTS AND FARM ANIMALS. 



The annual investigation concerning yields and prices of principal 

 farm productions, and of numbers and prices of the animals of the farm 

 has been completed, with results as indicated in the following i)ara- 

 graphs. 



Yield. — Corn. — There is no State in which corn is a crop of any 

 general importance which reports the yield of last year. Only Massa- 

 chusetts, Florida, West Virginia, Oregon, and California maintain their 

 previous rate of production. The decline is considerable in all sections 

 of the country, but is greatest in the heart of the corn-growing region. 

 The lowest rate in the Western States is 21 bushels in Elinois. The 

 estimated average in Kansas is 22.5; in Missouri, 23.5 5 in ]Slebraska, 

 2.5.7; Iowa, 29; Indiana, 29.6: Wisconsin, 30; Michigan, 31. In the 

 Gulf States the usual yield is less than in other portions of the country; 

 the decline from last year is generally heavy. The yields of Arkansas 

 and Tennessee, which ordinarily produce more heavily than any of the 

 other Southern States, are, respectively, 23.5 and 22.5. The rates in the 

 following States bear an increasing ratio from east to west: South 

 Carolina, 9.5 ; Georgia, 12.3 ; Alabama, 11.5 ; Mississippi, 15.5 ; Louisi- 

 ana, 16.5 ; Texas, 19. The corn-fields of these States have undoubtedly 

 some of the richest soil in the country, yet the product is small in com- 



