A RACE, WHILE “WAKO” SAT ON THE FENCE.
“I had ‘crops’ so I found that peanuts are the chief agricultural wealth of Madras, India. In 1916 there were over 1,700,000 acres planted and the yield of peanuts was estimated at about 600,000 tons. This last year the peanut crops from every country where they are grown are said to be double the harvest of any previous year.”
“Ha! That’s good news, for I love the plebeian nut!” laughed Zan, as Mildred sat down.
“Who’s next to read?” continued the Chief, glancing at her list.
“I wrote up a paper about fruit, O Chief!” said Frances, now standing.
“Good! Let’s hear it.”
“The strawberry crops of 1916 were worth over $20,000,000 to the growers. This was considered a record breaker but the crops of 1917 exceeded those of the previous year about a third.
“The total fruit crops of this country amount to about $250,000,000 value annually and the 1917 products are said to be the heaviest yield for many years past. The census for canning and drying fruits and vegetables was taken from 3199 establishments in 1914 and the products were valued at $158,000,000. If such an enormous sum was invested in this work in 1914 we may well consider the tremendous wealth of the products of 1917, with such wonderful yield of crops and with everyone eager to preserve the bounty of fruit and vegetables given us by Nature.
“One of Portugal’s exports is dried figs. Since the markets of Germany and Russia have been closed by the war, the largest trade held by the Portuguese is suspended. The only good market still open for these figs is the United States. Last year Portugal shipped over 10,500,000 pounds, valued at $400,000, to this country.