172 MISCELLANEOUS FARM SUBJECTS 



first place in 1908 and 1909. Each of the grand divisions, with one 

 exception, Africa, shows an increase as a source of imports of farm 

 products in 1909 as compared with 1908. 



Farm products valued at $214,000,000, or nearly one-third of 

 the total farm products imported, came from Europe, $152,000,000 

 from North America, $135,000,000 from Asia, and $137,000,000 

 from the other three grand divisions. The largest increase in value 

 in 1909 over the preceding year was in imports from Europe ; farm 

 products from this grand division amounted to $177,000,000 in 

 1908, and $214,000,000 in 1909, which was $10,000,000 more than 

 in 1907. 



In imports of forest products South America, compared with 

 other grand divisions, showed the greatest decline in 1908 and the 

 greatest increase in 1909, both of which were due to India rubber. 



In each of the three years mentioned the imports from Cuba 

 exceeded those from any other country. In 1908 the imports from 

 that country were $75,000,000, which was $14,000,000 less than in 

 1907, and in 1909 they were $89,000,000, which was $15,000,000 

 more than in 1908, the variations being due principally to ship- 

 ments of sugar. Other countries showing large increases in 1909 

 over 1908 were as follows: United Kingdom, $20,000,000; Argen- 

 tina, $11,000,000; Brazil, $9,000,000; Dutch East Indies, $9,000,- 

 000; France, $6,000,000; Chinese Empire and Italy, each $5,000,- 

 000; other countries having an increase of more than $4,000,000 

 were British India and Japan. 



Imports of forest products in 1909 were valued at $124,000,000 ; 

 of this amount $80,000,000, or nearly two-thirds, came from three 

 countries, Brazil, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Brazil occupied 

 first place in 1907, fell to second place in 1908, and rose to first place 

 in 1909 these changes being due to imports of india rubber from 

 that country. Other countries showing increases which were due 

 principally to the same article were the United Kingdom, $7,000,- 

 000; Germany and Mexico, each with increases of more than 

 $1,000,000. 



The aggregate value of the six principal groups of farm prod- 

 ucts imported in 1909 was $437,000,000, as compared with $353,- 

 000,000 in 1908 and $443,000,000 in 1907. The value of the lead- 

 ing groups in 1909 was nearly $98,000,000 for sugar and molasses, 

 $92,000,000 for packing-house products, $80,000,000 for silk, $79,- 

 000,000 for coffee, $45,000,000 for wool, and $43,000,000 for vege- 

 table fibers, chiefly cotton, sisal, manila, and jute. Other important 

 imports in 1909 were tobacco, $25,000,000 ; alcoholic liquors, $23,- 

 000,000; and fruits, $22,000,000, of which bananas were valued at 

 $11,000,000. The principal groups of imports of forest products were 

 india rubber, $62,000,000; lumber, $21,000,000; and wood pulp, 

 $9,000,000. 



Shipments of farm products to the United States from its island 

 possessions and Alaska in 1909 were valued at $71,000,000, a de- 

 crease of $2,500,000 compared with 1908 and an increase of $13,- 

 000,000 compared with 1907. In 1908 and 1909 sugar from Hawaii 



