Hoiv the Eastern Farmer Has Fared. 123 



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plants, nursery products, small fruits, grapes and nuts. 

 The value of these products in 1890 was estimated by the 

 statisticians to be $829,000,000. The value of all prod- 

 ucts (formerly omitted) in 1900 was not far from $1,741,- 

 000,000. What the value was in 1890 could have been 

 little more than a guess on the part of the statisticians. 

 Whether the guess was near or far off for the nation as 

 a whole, no one can tell. In the returns of the various 

 states the estimated part is not added to 1890 returns. 

 The great percentage of gain shown by the states in the 

 value of agricultural products for this reason is only 

 apparent, not real; made to appear so by comparing a 

 portion of the value of agricultural products of 1890 with 

 the full value of 1900. 



The case of Massachusetts is an illustration of how 

 erroneous is the impression given. The national census 

 indicates a gain in value of nearly "51% from 1890-1900; 

 whereas the State reports show a gain of less than 11% 

 from 1885-1895. A no inconsiderable part of the increase 

 shown by the State census came from a far more minute 

 search than ever made before. As indicating a more 

 searching examination is the far greater number of prod- 

 ucts specified by name. To illustrate : under the general 

 heading of ''Fruits, Berries and Nuts," but four prod- 

 ucts are named in 1885 ; in 1895, twenty-four. Under the 

 head of ''Vegetables" in the former year fifteen are 

 named; in the latter year, thirty-four are specified. 

 Under the general headings of "Animal Products," 

 "Food Products," "Wood Products," "Wooden Prod- 

 ucts," and "Other Products," the number of products 

 named in 1895 is double that named in 1885. 



A class not included in the latter year, but entered in 

 1895, comes under the general head .of "Products from 



