442 



AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 



irrigation will not exceed that of Illinois. The staple grains and food 

 animals will always be raised on lands for the most part already 

 occupied. 



Proof that the home demand for the products of the soil is out- 

 stripping the home supply is to be found in the figures of imports. 

 Note these comparisons: 



The value of the agricultural exports of domestic products for the 

 year ending June 30, 1909, was $903,000,000, or $151,000,000 below 

 the highest record of 1907, and $114,000,000 below the next highest, 

 in 1908. The imports of agricultural products were never so high in 

 value as they were in 1909, the amount being $637,000,000. 



In 1899 the United States planted about 157,600,000 acres of corn, 

 wheat, oats, barley, and rye. The yield averaged 22 J bushels to the 

 acre, aggregating 3,519,000,000 bushels, of which we exported about 

 356,240,000 bushels. In 1909 the acreage of these cereals had increased 

 to more than 197,000,000 acres. The yield to the acre was slightly 

 larger than in 1899; the aggregate production, 4,719,000,000 bushels; 

 but our exports were only 112,140,000 bushels a decrease of 68J per 

 cent. Although the yield of the cereals to the acre as yet shows no 

 widespread lessening, it is certain that we have passed the point of 

 unaided fertility in the case of much the greater part of our soil. In 

 New England we passed it years ago. The proof is to be found in 

 the abandonment of farms and the reduction in the amount of 

 improved acreage. The reduction in this acreage in New England 

 from 1880 to 1900 was: 



