28 



RKADIXGS IN RURAL ECONOMICS 



The agricultural situation of to-day is novel in many respects. 

 In previous trade cycles of the past forty years, agricultural con- 

 ditions in the West and the South have often tended to act as 



(WO 



550 



500 



450 



400 



350 



300 



isxo 



1885 



1890 



1895 



1900 



1 '. ><>.-> 



COTTON PRODUCTION 



Pounds (0,000,000 omitted) 



Dollars ( 000,000 omitted). 



(For the year in 'which the crop 

 was raised.) 



250 



800 



700 



600 



500 



1880 



1885 



1890 



1895 



1900 



1905 



WHEAT PRODUCTION 



Production in Bushels 

 Production in Dollars 



drags upon the resources of the industrial and commercial centers 

 of the East. The farming population was poor and heavily 

 mortgaged. They had to work very largely on credit, and to wait 

 until the harvest before making the current year's expenditures. 

 They had not means sufficient to harvest their own crops, much 



