The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-16

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production Of both wheat and corn has beer
giving place to meadows. oatnelds. anc
dairy farms. as Is the case In the eastern
parts OF Minnesota, Nebraska, and Kansas
Tho wheat area OF Minnesota is still ex
banding slowly. while the Dakotas auc
hansas, Notwithstanding their enormous
additions. have been unable. although aid
ed by Oregon and Washington. to pre-
vent reduction Of nearly 100000 acres In
the nations wheat area during the ten years
ending with 1899.
Forty years ago wheat culture employed
only some $4,000 acres upon the Pacific
coast. OF which about 1000 acres were in Cal
| nornia and the residue In Oregon. Now the
Coast boasts an area OF over 1000, 900 acres,
| ana this continues to increase In Oregon
and Washington, even ifsuch augmentation
Is at greatly reduced rate. Californian
wheat farms are now slowly converting
into orchards and vineyards, but the In
crease In Washington will probably make
good such losses for decade.
The eight mountain States and Terri
tories had 1000 more acres under wheat
In 1850. than had those OF the Pacific
slope; yet 30 small has been the develop
ment Of agriculture In this vast region, that
the area employed in this culture in 1889
reached but $4,000 acres. and this area,
small as 1t is. does not seem likely to be
doubled In another forty years unless the
Abandonment OF silver mining so reduces
the requirements for fodder as to permit
the employment In wheat growing Of the
lands now devoted to forage. As O factor
in cereal culture on broad scale. the entire
mountain region is Of trifling Importance:
and 1t Is very questionable II 1t will ever
provide sufficient grain for its own popu-
lation. The population OF the eight noun
tain States and Territories Is now some
100000. the annual requirements for -four
being equal to the product OF nearly twice
as many acres as are there employed in
wheat growing. Owing to the appropria-
ton OF most Of tho water available for irri-
CATION, the constantly augmenting require
ments for bulky forage products, and the
small amount Of land which it is possible to
bring under cultivation. the contributions
OF the mountain areas to the bread supply
OF the world will always remain insignitl-
cant: and but that 1t Is desirable to show
how little has been accomplished in this
immense district, and how little is to DO
expected. 1t would be as we'll to deal with
the whole as part Of the Pacific area.
While political ends may have been served
in enumerating the population OF some Of
the larger cities. there being no possible
motive for the Justification Of the agricul-
tural returns. we may assume that they
fairly represent the cultivated acreage and
products of the country In 1889. This as
sumption is warranted. as the census re-
turns accord very closely with State re-
ports In the more important Rrain-growing
districts. If, as We aseume, the census de-
examinations are reasonably accurate.
comparison OF the areas under wheat, by
groups OF States. in 1879 and 1889, cannot
but be interesting to all. and may prove in
structive to those who assume that. as we
have heretofore shown a great increase OF
acreage at the end Of each decennial period,
and greatly increased production Of all
the more important agricultural staples.
We shall continue to do 30 for all time. and
that we have the ability to feed the world.
During the ten years ending with 1889,
the wheat-bearing area Of tho north Allan |
tic States. Maine to Maryland. declined Is |
per cent. every acre Of the diverted wheat |
fields being employed In growing crops |
that arc more profitable. because such |
products are required for local use. and are |
not 30 readily or cheaply transported as the |
displaced grain.
In the Lake group. Ohio. Michigan, In
diana. Illinois. and Wisconsin, which held
The first place In wheat growing from about
1855 to 1882, the decline was even greater,
squalling 23.3 per cent. ALI of these acres
IAN be readily traced to the meadows, oat-
ields. and new pastures rendered necessary
1y the phenomenal growth Of the town
whose requirements for beef
mutton. dairy products. and the services OF
lraught and pleasure animals could be met
u no other way.
That 1t should be necessary to devote all
he new acreage Of these States to forage
rops. and then divert to such products part
Il the corn area and % per cent. of the
within ton years, shows how
cry rapidly the home requirements in
rease. and how fast we are trenching upon
he acreage devoted to the growth Of grain
or expectation. In what was but yesterday
he granary Of the continent.
The Southern States. 30 we'll adapted to
otton culture. and producing but mini
num crops Of grain, have. since 1880, con-
erted more than million acres OF wheat
snds into cotton fields: and these diverted
ores are likely to be 80 employed. for the
'orld's requirements Of fibre increase
ute as fast as does the area under cotton.
Though the extraordinary yields OF tho
otton fields in 1890 and 1891 have so added TO
ne worlds supply as to cause the acreage
D appear in excess Of requirements, as did
he extraordinary yields OF our wheattields
!, 1891 and 1892.
The areas employed In wheat growing
! the several groups OF States In 1879 and
,s9. as shown by the census. and In 1884,
5 estimated by the Department of Agri-
llture. have been as follows:
1879 1884.
d~rss |
North Atlantic States ....... 8O6s 900 g. $50 600
Lake sthtss. IL $4,000 II xyO OOO
southern states ..........,... b,S32 900 ak7aOm
Missouri Valley states ....1l. $4,000 Is 8ob'00o |
Pacific StateA,.,.,.......... 2360,OOO xkAbOO0 4
Mountsin stAtes and Terri
tories ....................... $4,000 $4,000
Totals oS.4so.ooo s047o.oOo
Five HearS