Show agricultural statistics the startling figures prepared by the government the report of the statistician of the agricultural department contains the result of the investigations of deficiencies and surplus of each european nation especially in their pro auction of american agricultural pro ducts that seek foreign markets the question of a possible enlargement of exportation in quantity and variety is canvassed and opportunities for displacing any importation by enlarged production are pointed out the in vesti gation was made pursuant to a resolution passed at a meeting f the national grange held in topeka kansas last fall some of the figures given in the statement prepared by dodge are startling as to what it says europe is practically the only market america can have for this cereal and she imports only bushels a year raising bushels herself more than half of the worlds crop and twice that of all america of european deficiencies the united states supplies bushels in oats and barley there is a very small international trade europe importing only bushels of oats and the united states exporting bushels of barley this country imports seven and a half million bushels rye is the great bread gram of eastern and central europe and russia alone produces more than does the united states europe imports not less than three million bushels the receipts of european countries requiring maize do not make a sum half as large as the product of dlin ois or iowa or missouri great britain takes nearly three fourths of the total or bushels and this country exports bushels the deficiency of france could be supplied by mclean county BL and germany requires still less russia and roumania have a surplus and southern europe grows enough for home consumption europe imports over one billion pounds of rice but none of it comes from the united states of potatoes europe grows more than she needs the united states supplies a deficiency from canada and germany only great britain belgium and portugal of all european nations do not produce enough butter and to make up the deficiency pounds the united states exports pounds of cheese to supply the european deficiency fici ency of which are furnished by the united states of course europe has to import all her cotton the annual average imports being pounds the united states sends pounds europe gets from south america asia africa and australia two or three times as much wool as she imports from the united states the net deficiency of europe is pounds slightly more than pro 1 deuced there the united states produces four fifths of the wool mauu fractured here the aim of the wool growers of this country is to supply home manufacture and if possible never to export raw wool if there ever shall be a surplus it will bring more money to the wool growers if sent abroad in manufactured form the united states imports net 69 pounds of wool every year i europe produces about as much tobacco as the united states pounds annually and could easily produce all she needs but american tobacco is desired for two reasons it is cheap and very desirable for fortifying the european product the united states furnishes pounds of an annual deficiency fici ency of pounds in conclusion the statistician says about one tenth of our agricultural products are exported no other nation exports so large a proportion yet the articles shipped abroad are few they anro cotten tobacco meats butter and cheese all other articles together are about three per cent of the exports the enlargement lar gement of the surplus must inevitably reduce prices both at homo and abroad in response to an inquiry what agricultural ri products are now imported that our country and climate are capable of producing sugar is first sugar flax and hemp should be more extensively grown displacing foreign fibers costing millions of money and furnishing material for bagging for cotton wool and hops of our fibers of the subtropical sub tropical region should be produced along the gulf coast imported fibers with their manu facture altogether amount to a valus of more than two thirds as much as tho munificent and boasted cotton exportation of the united states there is an importation of fruits of half of which should at least be produced in this country |