xliv BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



years, although there has been a sHght tendency toward higher 

 prices, with several exceptions in the case of individual crops. 

 Seventy-seven correspondents report prices in general as normal, 

 25 report them above, and 17 as ranging below. Prices of 

 potatoes, apples and onions are reported low in a large num^ber 

 of instances. Tomatoes and cauliflower are spoken of in some 

 instances as below the normal in price. The tendency of mar- 

 ket prices has been somewhat irregular throughout the season. 



It is unavoidable that there be a wide difference of opinion 

 as to the most profitable crops of the year, this difference con- 

 forming to the specialties of the different sections, to the 

 activity of the farmers in each section, and to the varied con- 

 ditions obtaining in different localities. A compilation of the 

 returns, however, reveals the following facts: the five most 

 profitable crops, together with the number of times each was 

 included in the selected list, were as follows: corn, 92; hay, 

 90; potatoes, 67; apples, 55; and tomatoes, 14. As to the 

 five most profitable, taken in order, the largest number unite 

 upon the following list: first, hay, 53; second, corn, 37; third, 

 potatoes, 28; fourth, apples, 16; and fifth, tomatoes, 5. Fig- 

 ures as to the least profitable crops were compiled in the same 

 manner as above. That corn, potatoes and hay appear in 

 both lists is due to the fact that they were universally reported 

 upon, and they must be balanced against each other in order 

 to get a correct idea of their status. The least profitable crops, 

 according to the returns, together with the total number of 

 times each was included in the selected list, were as follows: 

 potatoes, 27; cabbages, 19; pears, 18; peaches, 15; root crops, 

 15; and vine crops, 15; the last three were tied for fourth 

 place. As to the least profitable, taken in order, the largest 

 number unite upon the following list: potatoes, 14; peas, 8; 

 cabbages, 7; vine crops, 5; hay, 2; corn, 2. 



Crops, in general, were very good, but so many other prob- 

 lems enter into the problem of a "profitable season," that 

 many report unfavorably. The scarcity and high price of 

 help, low prices for certain products which were abundant, 

 excessive cost of repairs to tools and buildings, high prices of 

 grain and feeds, the high cost of living, — all these were cited 

 as militating against a profitable season for the farmer. 



