Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-05-11
THE HAY AND OATS AREAS
REPLACE THOSE or WHEAT AND
cony.
Remarkable cbanges In Crop Dis
tribution shown by Census rig
ures, Illinois and Adjoining
states Being Very Noticeable.

1
The belated census figures in rela-
ton to areas under hay In 1850 at last
enable us. says the New York Sun. to
zee where and In what measure the
areas devoted TO the production OF
wheat and corn shrank when all sup
posed they were rapidly expanding. as
they make plain the cause of the dim
| mutton. The decrease. plus the new
acres brought into cultivation, was In
the measure Of the requirements for
other farm staples needed for home
consumption. and. aside from the areas
employed IN growing rye. barley, buck
wheat, potatoes and tobacco, It was
ciofely proportioned to the addition
made to the number OF animals added
TO the stocks In town and upon the
farms las the new acres added aud tn,
old ones departed fiom the produc-
ton OF grain for export were employed
In growing such forage crops MS hay
and oats for home consumption
neither OF these crops being exported
In any considerable volume In primary
form. and hay alone in secondary form.
The changes In crop distribution. fol-
lowing from Increased home consump-
ton 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 England
states shrnnk lG6. 900 acres between 1879
ana 1883; and here alone the area en-
ployed In growing forage diminished.
the meadows shrinking $1,000 acres.
while the area devoted TO oats in.
creased 2l,0OO acres. and the areas.
under all farm staples showed a dim
mutton OF 100000 acres.
Doubtless much Of this land was en-
ployed In gardening, and was laid out
In additions TO the growing towns.
In New York. the area under all ce-
reals decreased 10000 acres. but the
area under oats augmented by 10000
acres, while that devoted to wheat
shrnnE 21AOO0 acres, and that under
corn $4,000 acres. In the Empire state
100000 ucIes We're added to the mead
owH, Of which $4,000 were acres then
first brought under cultivation.
In Pennsylyani .the. meadows were
extended over $4,000 acres, and the oat
ields increased by the addition OF 7g.-
900 acres. OF these additions to tho
area employed In growing forage, 46l.-
700 acres were IN the form OF accre-
tons to the cultivated acreage and tho
remainder came from the wheat and
corn fields.
Like diversions from wheat and corn
culture to hay and oats obtained. and
IN much the same ratio in New Jersey.
Maryland and Delaware the virglnlas.
Kentucky and Tennesaee. but It IL only
when we reach the grain-producinr
states OF the lake basin and tho great
central valleys that 1t is seen how
great and significant ia the change eff
fcctcd In crop distribution. a change
dictated by the yearly increasing OF
the added population for forage and It's
secondary products.
Between 1879 and 1889 Ohio is found
TO have added 100000 acres to the area
under oats and I,Ois,OOo acres TO the
meadows or these l.sls.OOo ucres.
10000 were reclaimed from forest and
swamp and the remaining 37s, 900 acres
We're tuen from the wheat and corn
fields.
Indiana was able TO add $4,000 acres
TO the area under oats and 1.lso 900
acres to the meadows by reducing the
wheat and corn fields or the state no
more than $4,000 acres, the lands new
~ brought undpr culttvntt,,, ,,ot,t,