“What a heart-touching affliction,” said the good lady, as she placed half a dollar in the poor fellow’s outstretched palm, and passed on.[Pg 54]

[Pg 55]


THE NEWS OF ALL NATIONS.

More Money for Farmers.

The important farm crops of the United States this year are worth $104,000,000 more than the value of the same crops last year. The total value of the important crops is given as $5,068,742,000 by the government authorities. Adding the value of the other crops, to be announced later, will make a record figure in the nation’s production.

This year’s wheat and corn crops are the most valuable ever grown, the wheat and apple crops are record harvests, and the potato crop is the second largest ever raised. The huge wheat crop and the increased price of that cereal, the large corn and apple crops, and the increased price of oats, barley, and rye more than offset the loss in the value of the cotton crop resulting from the war.

The values of the important crops, based on the average prices paid to producers on November 1, and their values last year, follow:

1914.1913.
Corn$1,885,867,000 $1,730,021,000
Wheat858,056,000587,863,000
Oats484,390,000425,150,000
Barley100,839,00097,469,000
Rye34,387,00026,153,000
Buckwheat13,297,00010,444,000
Potatoes219,396,000230,741,000
Sweet potatoes42,751,00044,706,000
Hay803,353,000786,062,000
Cotton462,483,000880,360,000
Flaxseed18,960,00021,192,000
Apples144,963,000124,470,000

A corn crop of 2,706,000,000 bushels is estimated by the government. This yield compares with 2,447,000,000 bushels a year ago, or an increase of 150,000,000 bushels. The crop has turned out much better than was expected early in the season.