PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION. 365 



Waste and Loss in Agriculture. 



The greatest farm waste of the American farm comes from 

 the loss of fertilizers, careless feeding, and improper care, breed- 

 ing and shelter of animals. 



The greatest losses to agriculture in the United States are 

 caused by insect pests and animal diseases and inferior methods 

 of farming. 



The following figures is a conservative estimate based on re- 

 ports made by government experts to show the magnitude of the 

 tremendous losses sustained annually by the agricultural and 

 business interests of the country: 



We are losing $2,000,000,000 annually on account of loss in manures. 



We are losing $1,000,000,000 annually on account of insect pests. 



We are losing $1,000,000,000 annually on account of poor drainage. 



We are losing $1,000,000,000 annually on account of improper rotation. 



We are losing $400,000,000 annually on account of poor dairy cows. 



We are losing $300,000,000 annually on account of animal diseases. 



We are losing $200,000,000 annually on account of poor seed. 



We are losing $100,000,000 annually on account of rodents. 



We are losing $45,000,000 annually on account of improper care of 



eggs. 



We are losing $500,000,000 annually on account of weeds. 



We are losing $1,000,000,000 annually on account of bad roads. 



We are losing $50,000,000 annually on account of forest fires. 



We are losing $400,000,000 annually on account oi poor shelter and 



improper feeding. 



1. According to the foregoing statement what is the sum total of the 

 losses sustained, by the farm interests of the nation? 



2. What per cent is the above loss of the total production of the United 

 States, which is valued at nine billions of dollars annually? 



This estimated loss to the agriculture of the United States 

 is not overdrawn when considered in the light of the estimate 

 made by Dr. Seaman A. Knapp when he summed up the possible 

 increase in productive power of the Southern States. He es- 

 timated it was possible to increase the production of the South 

 fully 800 per cent as follows : 



300 per cent to the use of more and better mules and farm mach- 

 inery. 

 200 per cent to the production of more and better stock. 



