REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE. 17 



acre in the 10-year period, 1891-1900, with those in 1901-1910, we find 

 that in the United Kingdom there has been an improvement of 6 per 

 cent, that is, from 30.1 to 31.9 bushels; in the Netherlands, of 19 per 

 cent, or from 27.7 to 33 ; in New Zealand, of 28 per cent, or from 24.6 

 to 31.5 ; in Sweden, of 14 per cent, or from 24.2 to 27.6 ; in Grermany, 

 of 23 per cent, or from 23.6 to 29.1 ; in Ontario, of 12 per cent, or 

 from 19.4 to 21.8 ; in Manitoba, of 7 per cent, or from 17 to 18.2 ; in 

 France of 8 per cent, or from 18.1 to 19.5 ; in Hungary, of 3 per cent, 

 or from 17.3 to 17.8 ; in Japan, of over 2 per cent, or from 17 to 17.4 ; 

 in Poland, of 3 per cent, or from 15.5 to 15.9 ; in Roumania, of 21 per 

 cent, or from 14 to 16.9 ; in the United States, of 8 per cent, or from 

 12.9 to 13.9 ; in India, of 16 per cent, or from 9.7 to 11.3 ; in Caucasia, 

 of 18 per cent, or from 9.5 to 11.2; in Russia, excluding Poland and 

 Caucasia, of 14 per cent, or from 8.3 to 9.5 bushels. These countries 

 are given in the order of their relative rank in yield per acre during 

 the period 1891-1900. Satisfactory comparative data are not avail- 

 able for Argentina. Similar gains have been observed in other crops. 



The average yields in the United States are frequently compared 

 with the much larger yields in some European nations. In Belgium 

 the average yield is about double that in the United States; in the 

 United Kingdom, more than 60 per cent greater, and in France, 

 nearly 15 per cent. It should be borne in mind, however, that 

 the energy of each American farmer is spread over a larger area 

 and that, although he produces less per acre, he produces much 

 more per man. The total output of the average farmer is prob- 

 ably greater in the United States than in any other country in 

 the world. Thus, in Belgium, with its intensive system of farm- 

 ing, only about 5.3 acres are cultivated for each person engaged 

 in agriculture, whereas, in the United States, the corresponding 

 figure is 27 acres. Taking both acreage and yield per acre into con- 

 sideration, the average American farmer produces 2.5 times as much 

 as the average Belgian farmer; 2.3 times as much as the English; 

 3.2 times as much as the French ; 2.5 times as much as the German ; 

 and over 6 times as much as the Italian. 



For many years to come the average yield per acre in the United 

 States may be expected to increase, although the total output per 

 man may diminish. This country has a long distance to go before 

 it comes in sight of its limit of farm production. It can further 

 increase its output of commodities by continuing to secure increased 



