By the Associated Press
Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 2—The value and number of horses decreased since the World War, according to a statement issued by F.J. Parker, State Agricultural Statistician, here yesterday. In the South they are not as useful as mules, it was said. It appears that the decrease has been about 2 per cent, during 1923, leaving a total for the State of approximately 163,000 heads, with an average value of $103 for those over two years old, says the statement. The number listed for taxation in 1922 was approximately 187,000 for the State as a whole.
“The old saying that the two toughest things in the South are the mules and cotton is probably true,” said Mr. Parker. “This accounts for the gradual replacing of farm work by horses with mules. There has probably been no decrease in the estimated 260,000 mules on farms the first of this year. The number taxed in the state in 1922 was 272,000, while the total number of work stock enumerated in the Farm Census for last June was 260,000 mules were reported to average $130 each for this month.”
“The number of milk cows appear to remain the same as one year ago, the estimate being 365,000 with an average value of $43 per head. Other cattle seem to have decreased in number, according to the crop reporters’ estimates and to the number on a great many farms reported to the Department of Agriculture. The decrease during 1923 appears to be about 3 per cent, making the present number on farms 270,000, with an average value of $19. According to the tax returns, 642,000 cattle were enumerated during the summer of 1922 while 334,000 milk cows of milking age were reported on the Farm Census last June.
“The 1,260,000 hogs estimated to be on the farms the first of the year represented a decrease of 1 per cent during the past year. The average value is estimated at $13 per head. The number of taxed hogs listed was 1,068,000. According to the reports on the Farm Census also made by the tax listers, there were 144,000 sows of breading age on the farms. Both of these latter figures are probably less than the actual figures.
“The sheep area of the state is distinctly in the northwestern mountain counties. According to the reports of that area the number is probably unchanged form that of a year ago. Due to the United State Census making incomplete enumerations in 1920, the official estimate of 82,000 sheep has been low since that time. The average value is estimated to be $7.50 per head. This value is much lower than that for the better grades found in the mountain counties. According to the tax returns, there were listed 110,000 sheep in the state for 1922. There were 68,000 enumerated in the Fard Census as being ewe sheep. Lambs were reported to have a value of $4.75 per head, and ewes $6.50 per head.
There was an increase of 3 per cent in the poultry on the farm during 1923. There has been a steady increase in poultry for the last two or three years. The average value is estimated at 75 cents each.
Farm wages continue at $27 per month with and $37 without board, while the daily wage without board is $1.80. The farm labor supply appears to be about 20 per cent, less than normal, while the demand is practically equal to the normal for this period.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, Saturday, Feb. 2, 1924
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