18 THE FARMER'S OUTLOOK 



realized during the eighties, and the necessary 

 machinery had been set in motion. While 

 the eighties may be described as a period of dis- 

 organisation, the experience gained enabled the 

 American farmer, aided by the energetic help of 

 the Department of Agriculture, to solve the 

 difficulties which the further fall in prices ren- 

 dered even more acute. The main object in 

 view was the diversification of Agriculture, not 

 only in the U.S.A. as a whole, but in each district. 

 This in effect meant the production and export 

 of the more concentrated and therefore more 

 valuable products ; cattle, either on the hoof or as 

 chilled meat, hog products, cheese and butter. 

 Another item in the agricultural policy was the 

 production of such articles as sugar, which were at 

 that time imported from abroad. The first step 

 was to ensure the health of the farmers' live-stock 

 and freedom from contagious disease. An ela- 

 borate system of examination of all meat products 

 was organised which enabled any shipment alleged 

 to be unhealthy to be traced to its source ; so 

 far as cattle, sheep and beef were concerned, these 

 measures seem to have met with success, and in 

 1892 the prohibitions against American bacon 

 and ham exports were withdrawn by many Euro- 

 pean Governments. The control of dairy pro- 

 ducts was not, however, so completely successful, 

 for though large quantities of cheese were ex- 



