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AGRICULTURE

1895 to 1899. For the first ten years the numbers increased 32'6 per cent., and from 1890 to 1899, '2 per cent. The total value of milch cows increased each year until 1884, then decreased until 1891, with a gradual increase until the end of the period. The farm price of milch cows rose from $23.27 in 1880 to $31.37 in 1884, then fell to $21.40 in 1892, after which there was a steady increase to $31.60 in 1899. No marked changes in the-numbers of sheep have taken place. During the period 1880-90 there was an increase in numbers amounting to about 8'8 per cent. Since 1893 there has been a rather steady decrease, with fluctuations amounting to a marked depression after 1894. This industry is very susceptible to adverse influences, and felt keenly the depression in the price of wool. The increase -commenced again in 1898, and numbers have gone up for two years. The numbers and values of swine constantly fluctuate with the movement and value of the corn crops. The returns for 1890 showed a numerical increase of 51-6 per -cent, over those of 1880; then followed a steady decrease in numbers down to 1897, since which time there has been a slight increase. The movement in values was similar to that in numbers. From $4.28 in 1880, the average farm price of hogs increased steadily to $6.75 in 1883. The lowest figure, $4.15, was reached in 1891, and after numerous fluctuations it became $4.40 in 1899. The total value of farm animals had a steady increase from 1880 to 1890, with slight variations in 1885 and

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1886. Following 1890 there has been a steady decrease down to the present time, with the exception of slight increases in 1892 and 1893. In 1880 the total value of farm animals in the United States was $1,576,917,556. In 1890 it had increased to $2,418,766,028, or 53’4: per cent. In 1896 the value had decreased to $1,727,926,084, or 28‘6 per cent., from the 1890 values, and an increase of 9‘6 per cent, over those of 1880. The exports of live stock and its products have increased enormously in recent years, both in quantity and value. This is especially true of the exportation of beef, cattle, and meat products. The exports of cattle increased from 182,750 in 1880 to 331,720 in 1895, or 81^ per cent., and values from $13,340,000 in 1880 to $30,600,000 in 1895, an increase of 129 per cent. The average value of cattle exported has increased from $19 in 1870 to $73 in 1880 and $92 in 1895. It must be said, however, that only the best and heaviest cattle are exported, which command a much higher price than the average of the country. The total value of farm animals exported from the United States has fluctuated greatly. On the whole, however, the value has increased from $16,000,000 in round numbers, in 1880, to nearly $36,000,000 in 1895, or 125 per cent. The following table (No. XIY.), compiled from statistics of the United States Treasury Department, shows, by years, the number and value of each kind of live animal exported between 1880 and 1895, inclusive. The exports of meat products of all kinds, including

Table XIY.—Number and Value of Farm Animals ex orted from the United States, by years, 1880 to 1895.

canned meats and oleomargarine, are subject to considerable fluctuation, both in quantity and value, rendering it impossible to describe them in a few words. The exports of beef products, which amounted to 241,000,000 pounds, in round numbers, in 1880, increased, with fluctuations, to a maximum of 507,000,000 pounds in 1891, since which time they have decreased to 345,000,000 pounds in 1895. The values of beef products exported from the country fell from $26,000,000 in 1880 to a minimum of $15,000,000 in 1887, and reached a maximum value of $35,000,000 in 1891. The value of beef products exported in 1895 was $27,000,000, in round numbers. The exports of hog products have varied in a similar manner from 1,230,000,000 pounds in 1880 down to a minimum of 715,000,000 pounds in 1884, reaching 1,160,000,000 pounds in 1890. The exports for 1895 were 1,090,000,000 pounds. Values have varied in a similar manner from a maximum of $105,000,000 in 1881 down to $57,000,000 in 1886, and back up to $93,000,000 in 1894. The exports of mutton show a marked decrease, both in quantity and values. Starting

from a maximum of 3,380,000 pounds in 1881, they have decreased, with many fluctuations, to 101,000 pounds in 1892, but increased suddenly to 2,200,000 pounds in 1894, since which time they have fallen off again. The values of these exports fell from $258,000 in 1881 to $9000 in 1892, and increased to $174,000 in 1894. The exports of oleomargarine were first regularly reported in 1884, and have increased, on the whole, from 40,000,000 pounds in 1884 to 127,000,000 pounds in 1894, and in values from $4,800,000 in 1884 to $12,400,000 in 1894. The total value of exported meat products, including canned goods and oleomargarine, has increased from $111,000,000 in 1880 to $134,000,000 in 1894 and $125,400,000 in 1895. The increase for the entire period was about $14,480,000, or 13 per cent. The facts with regard to the production, imports, exports, and consumption of wool in the United States are presented in Table XV., compiled from estimates from the Department of Agriculture and the reports of the bureau of statistics of the Treasury Department. The production of wool shows an increase, with fluctuations,