20 P.D. 123. 



In spite of the moisture deficiency, the season was one to produce crops 

 of high quality. Temperatures also were below normal and this in con- 

 siderable measure counteracted the deficiency of rainfall. Insect pests and 

 plant diseases were less troublesome than usual. The supply of farm labor 

 at wages which farmers could afford to pay was very short and this tended 

 to limit the operation of all farms with small profit margins. It has tended 

 to hasten the trend out of general farming into more specialized and more 

 profitable lines. As a result, there was a slight increase in the number 

 of farms not worked in 1923 as compared with the number not worked in 

 1922. This trend is greater on farms that require more hired labor and at 

 the same time return relatively less profits. 



The whole movement is a part of the readjustments following the recent 

 war. The United States has had a relative over-production of agricultural and 

 other food crops and at the same time an under supply of urban products, 

 including houses. During and for some time after the war, influences were 

 such as to cause notable increases in the areas planted to crops and a series 

 of favorable years has produced generous crops. With the lessened demand 

 from Europe for such crops and with a stationary home demand, prices have 

 necessarily been unsatisfactory in some eases. In comparison with some 

 other parts of the United States, New England farmers have been in a 

 much better position. There has been no burdensome over-production and 

 high transportation costs from the west have helped to lift prices here. 

 The movement of population out of unprofitable lines of farming into types 

 of farming whose products are in better demand, or into urban industries 

 is a sound one. The demand for manufactured goods is very elastic and 

 expands into many new products, in contrast with a relatively stable demand 

 for many food crops. Since the war, we have had a period of rapid in- 

 crease in demand for the products of urban industry. This in large measure 

 explains the movement of population to the towns and cities as well as the much 

 higher wages offered the workers there. Sooner or later a new balance will 

 establish itself between the products of urban industries and those of the farm. 

 Meantime, a free flow of population to the points of greatest demand best 

 serves the permanent interests of all. It tends to lessen crop production and to 

 increase urban production, thereby raising prices of farm products and lower- 

 ing prices of things the farmers must buy. The majority of problems con- 

 fronting farmers are economic rather than political and the remedies in clear 

 analysis and understanding of them. Then the steps to be taken will appear. 



Crop Areas, Production, and Values in 1923. 



According to the latest available figures the total land in cultivation in the 

 state Avas about the same as in 1922 — 572,620 acres against 572,633. Tame 

 hay with 439,000 acres formed about 76% of the total and its farm value 

 was $14,012,880 compared with $13,501,000 in 1922. Its value is about 30% 

 of the total value of farm crops, not including market garden crops. In point 

 of value potatoes, with 26,000 acres in 1923 against 29,000 in 1922 and a 

 production of 4,550,000 bushels against the small crop in 1922 of 2,610,000 

 bushels, take second place. Their estimated value was $6,734,000 compared 

 with $2,480,000 in 1922. This large gain in value is due to a change in 

 acre yield from 90 bushels in 1922 to 175 in 1923 and to a higher price for 

 the larger crop. Tobacco had 10,000 acres in 1923, compared to 9,379 in 

 1922 and estimated production was 14,550,000 pounds as against 11,254,800 

 the year before. Better yields in 1923 and better prices give a total value 

 of $6,500,000 as against $4,952,112, the value in 1922. This crop held third 

 place in values of individual crops. 



Fourth place, in farm values, fell to the apple crop with an estimated 

 value of $4,698,630 compared with $4,364,500 in 1922. Estimated production 

 in 1923 was 3,132,420 bushels compared with 3,010,000 bushels in 1922. Of 

 this total 531,000 barrels were rated as commercial in 1923 and valued at 

 $2,124,000 compared with 461,000 barrels valued at $1,797,900 last year. 



