Census of Production in the United States

Many mining industries are combined with manufacturing processes, such as the mining and smelting of copper, or the mining of coal and production of coke. These processes have been separated in the census returns as far as possible, the mining operations being covered in the census of mines and quarries, and the manufacturing operations in the census of manufactures. In certain cases where the mining is a very simple process, the whole process is included in manufacturing. This is done for the mining of clay, limestone, etc., when combined with the manu facture of clay products, lime, cement, etc.

Agriculture.

A beginning was made in the collection of statistics of agriculture at the census of 1840, when data were presented for the output of principal farm products, and for the number of live stock and poultry on hand. At the census of 185o, the inquiries on agriculture were materially extended, data being added for the acreage of farms, value of farms and implements and value of animals slaughtered, the schedule containing 46 items in all. The census of agriculture has been taken at decennial periods since 185o, and the number of items had been gradually increased until 415 inquiries were carried on the schedule for the 1920 census. That census contained information concerning ten ure, acreage, uses of land, value of land, buildings and equipment, mortgage debt, farm facilities, co-operative marketing, drainage and irrigation, besides the usual data on crops, live stock and live stock products. Data on crops grown in 1919 covered 247 in quiries, while live stock held on farms on Jan. 1, 1920, and animal products produced in 1919 took up 114 inquiries, most of which call for quantity or value. Farm facilities were covered as to tractors, automobiles, motor trucks, telephones, piped water, gas and electric light, and the reports also contained inquiries regard ing the value of supplies purchased and products sold through farmers' co-operative organizations. In connection with the de cennial census of agriculture, statistics are also gathered on live stock not on farms, so as to obtain total figures for all live stock by including data for live stock kept in cities and towns.

In 1925 a five-year interval was established for the agricultural census, this mid-decennial census being reduced in scope from the regular decennial census, and containing only 178 inquiries. A new item included in this census was the number of radios on farms, while information was also secured on farm population, which at the decennial census is included in the population in quiries. The agriculture census presents a complete picture of the agricultural resources of the nation, excluding tracts of less than three acres unless agricultural products of at least $25o in value were produced thereon or the continuous services of at least one person were required for operation. However, a total

value of all agricultural products is difficult to obtain. Total values are shown for all crops and also for animal products. Animals slaughtered on the farm or sold for slaughter in regular packing houses also represent farm products but to add these data to the others would create an inflated total, since corn and other crops which are fed to animals would be counted both in the crop values and in the animal values. It is not possible to ascertain accurately the proportion of crops fed to animals, though some studies of the department of agriculture have resulted in estimates of this duplication. Even the total output of crops, while accurate for a particular year, may not be representative of conditions generally, on account of the large variations in crop output from year to year owing largely to weather conditions. In manufacturing, the abnormal years are fairly few and are apt to affect most industries at the same time, but in agriculture, good seasons for some crops may be accompanied by poor results for other crops. The department of agriculture makes annual esti mates through surveys by crop reporters, based on the census returns, and through these reports comparisons may be made from year to year of the approximate crop out-turn: the estimates, however, grow less accurate the farther they are removed from the previous census base.

The agriculture census figures are particularly useful to those selling articles used by farmers. in that the statistics on farm values, number of farms operated by tenants, kind of crops grown, etc., show the extent of the potential market by counties. Such figures enable manufacturers of corn-planters, for instance, to direct their sales efforts into the territory where corn is the major crop and to avoid sections farmed mainly by small tenants. Manufacturers of general articles also find these data of particular benefit in planning sales programs. Where the average value of farms is $30,000 to $4o,000, for example, it will be possible to market a fairly expensive type of automobile, while in a section where the average value of farms is only $3,000 to $4,000, even the least expensive type of car may sell with difficulty. Bankers and mortgage companies use the census data to determine limits of territory or limits per acre for their loans. Location of the production of the various agricultural products, as shown by census returns, also plays a part in the location of manufacturing plants using these products, such as canners, manufacturers of condensed milk, etc.