The sun., 1894-04-01

GLADSTONE had led to victory.
How and Why the Areas Employed In
Growing Wheat and Corn Diminish.
The belatsd census figures In relation TO
areas undor hay in 1889 at last enable US to
see where and In what measure the areas
devoted to the production Of wheat and
corn shrank when all supposed they were
rapidly expanding. 90 they make plain the
cause Of the diminution. Tho decrease.
| plus the new acres brought into cultivation.
was In the measure of the requirements for
other farm staples needed for home con-
sumption: aud. aside from the areas em-
ployed In growing rye. barley. buckwheat.
| potatoes. and tobacco. It was closely pro-
| portioned to the additions made to tho
| numbers Of animals added to the stocks In
town and upon the farms, "a the new acres
added and the old ones diverted from the
production Of grain for export were en-
ployed In growing such forage crops az hay
and oats for home consumption. neither Of
these crops being exported In any consid-
cradle volume In primary form. and hay
alone In secondary form.
The changes In crop distribution, follow
ing from Increasing homo consumption Of
forage and the minor cereals, have been
progressively continuous since 1879. and are
far greater than generally believed. For
instance. the grain acreage Of the New Eng
land States shrank 10000 acres between
1879 and 1889; and here alone the area en-
ployed In growing forage diminished. the
meadows shrinking $1,000 acres. while the
area devoted to oats Increased a. 900 acres.
and the areas under farm staples showed
q diminution Of $4,000 acres. Doubtless
much Of this land was employed In gar
dening aud was laid out as additions to the
growing towns.
In New York the area under all cereals
decreased 10000 acres. but the area under
oats augmented by $4,000 acres. while that
devoted to wheat shrank 274,0Oo acres. and
that under corn 2S6.0OO acres. In the EN-
pire State 6SO.O0o acres were added to the
meadows. Of which 10000 were acres then
first brought under cultivation.
In Pennsylvania the meadows were ex-
tended over 7s7.00O acres. and the oat fields
increased by the addition OF $1,000 acres. OF
these additions to the area employed In
growing forage, $4,000 acres were In the
form of accretions to the cultivated acreage
and the yemainder came from the wheat
and corn fields.
Like diversions from wheat and corn cul-
ture to hay and oats obtained. and In much
the same ratio, In New Jersey. Maryland.
and Delaware. the virginias. Kentucky. and
Tennessee. but 1t 10 only when We reach the
grain-producing States Of the lake basin and
the great central valleys that 1t is seen how
great and significant Ia the change effected
In crop distribution. q change dictated by
the yearly increasiAk OF the added popula-
ton for forage and Its secondary products,
Between 1879 and 1889. Ohio is found to
have added sO5.OO0 acres to the area under
oats and 1.0la0O0 acres to the meadows. OF
these l.8la.Oo0 acres, $4,000 were reclaimed
from forest and swamp and the remaining
$4,000 acres were taksn from the wheat and
corn fields
Indiana wss able to add x7s.ooo scres to
the area under oats and l.iss.ooo acres to
the meadows. by reducing the wheat and
corn fields OF the State no more than $4,000
acres. the lands newly brought under culti-
vation making up the residue.
Prior to 1879 the prairie surfaces of Illinois
had been very fully reclaimed and less new
land was available; and here we find that
the area employed In growing corn shrunk
AsAoosooo oNhOo IA Soh gooAcs ouu tlhb uCNOtou
to wheat decreased In the measure OF $4,000
acres. while the meadows augmented by
additions sggregating l.ols.OOO acres. and
tho oat-bearing lands increased as much
as $4,000 acres. OF the additions to the
two forage crops. amounting to 2.ss7.0O0
acres. but T2a.0OO acres were new fields. tho
remainder having been taken from the
areas previously devoted to the production
of wheat and corn for expectation.
In Michigan. additions OF $4,000 acres to
the area under oats and ss4. 900 acres to that
employed In growing hay were made by re-
ducing l.sss. 900 new acres to cultivation and
drawing upon the wheat fields for 5000
acres; and 27k.0OO other acres were taken
from the wheat fields TO add to the homo
supply OF rye barley. buokwheat. and pota-
toes. the result beinR that at the end of the
ton years the wheat fields Of the State had
shrunken $4,000 acres.
An expansion OF $4,000 acres occurred In
the meadows OF Wisconsin. and the area un-
der pats widened by the addition OF 6T2.OO0
acres the aggregate additions to the forage
crops equalled 100000 acres.
After absorbing the $1,000 acres now first
reduced to production. it was found neces-
sary to make drafts upon the wheat fields
OF Wisconsin for $4,000 aores to grow the |
needed forage: 10000 other acres for corn.
and some 4ls.OO0 acres for the minor cereals |
and potatoes required at home. The wheat |
area of 1889 was l.SOI. 900 acres leas than |
that OF 1879.
Missouri shows similar changes in crop |
only in lesser degree.
In Minnesota there was q small increase |
OF the area employed in growing wheat and |
q very considerable increase Of that under |
corn. the new acres added sufficing TO meet |
the increasing requirements for forage and |
minor crops and TO make such additions to
the wheat and corn fields; but 1t Is no |
longer practicable TO do this and supply the |
needed forage and minor products required |
by the rapidly increasing urban population.
Although comparatively new State. Iowa |
affords remarkable evidence OF the changes |
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