The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-04
FARMING IN RHODE ISLAND.
RccapituIntion Contained in "A
Census Bureau Bulletin.

/. G.. Powers. Chief Statistician for
Agriculture Of the Twelfth Census. has
submitted 20 the Director Of the Census
statistics relating to agriculture in the
State Of Rhode Island. which were con-
tanned in special bulletin issued today
The report shows that the farm lands Of
Rhode Island have an area of 10 square
miles. or 60 per cent OF the total land
surface Of 1853 square miles. NaUagan-
sett Bay divides the State from north
10 south. and furnishes the greater part
of coast line 2l5 miles long. The coast
Is nearly everywhere bor3ered by sand
beaches and extensive salt marshes. thus
greatly reducing the area available for
cultivation Newport and Bristol coun-
tics, comprising the islands and PENN
sulas east Of Nara GausCtt Bay, have a
total land surface of 1I2 square miles, Of
which S. square miles are included in
farms. These two counties contain the
largest relative percentages OF improved
land and have the most fertile soil The
land west Of the bay is generally billy
especially in the north. There are uu-
mcrous streams, but owing 10 their small
size there is little alluviaI soil Most Of
the land Is slaty and more suitable for
grazing than for cultivation. About one
fourth II the total area is woodland.
The value of the 5sgS farm, Of tine State
is 5.l25.25U. Of which 50 7a3,4g5 or y per
cent. represents the value Of buildings
and Sl5.421771. or ~ per cent, the value OF
land and improvements, exclusive Of
buildings The average value Of land per
acre, exclusive Of buildings. ranges from
SASS in Washington county TO S0S.23 in
iristol county. For the state the aver
age value is SO per acre
The value Of the farm products Of 1850
y rs eN.aea-obl- a gain since 1859 Of s. Il5.-
800, Or 5'.2 per cent II the value of
products led 10 livestock Ssfg.Isr BE- de-
quoted from the value of all farm prod
N.i-. there remains a gross income Of So
ast-.-t, equal 20 1919 per cent OF the total
capital invested In farm property As no
u. ports % expenditures for taxes futsrsrt.
insurance. feed for stock. and similar
items have been obtained by any census
~ statement of net farm income can be
The value of farm property" ircIud-
luS land lmDrOVem' uts and buildings i'm
PIGMENTS and maChiUery and live stock
was June ], 1890 S2E.H.S1Sg. OF - FER cent
greater than on the corresponding date i'm
The receipts from animal products in
ls-' amounting lu the H1grr Kate 90 81
. -.i-.--'l, constitute ola per cent o. the total
value 81 products not fed 10 live stock
referred 10 elsewhere as the gross farm
income Dairy products had a value Of
Sl'-5-'oi. or s5-S per cent Of the gross in
come Of farms. and poultry and eggs
yielded an income Of 81 U55. E85 Market
gardening has in the past twenty years
advanced 20 a leading position The area
used IN 1893 in the production of vegeta-
hles, including potatoes. sweet potatoes.
and onions. was 1889 acres and the value
Of products obtained therefrOm was Sgs2 %
45s- Hay and forage and the cereals are
I no longer the sources Of any considerable
direct income, their cultivation being al
most wholly incident 20 the dairy and
I live stock industries This IS shown by
the fact that On 1888 farm products aggre-
eating 1G-2 per cent Of the years produc-
/ ton Of hay and grain were fed 20 live
stock on the farms Of the producers Tn"
area devoted 20 cereals decreased from
/ 1888 acres In 1879 TO l0J5c acres in lsg9
and the total production from 81 $50
: bushels 10 &sUIlo bushels.
/ The gradual abandonment Of cereal
production has been attended 10y q CORE
/ spending growth iu other branches Of ag-
3 riculture. notably dairyinG poultry rails
( iE@. the culture of small fruits. and gen.
+ eTai market gardening. The area utilizeI
/ ga the production Of vegetables was only
I slightly larger than that devoted 20 ce-
I reals but the products had "a value more
/ than five times as great. the average in
[ come per acre from vegetables having
/ been Sgp27. and from cereals. SlLgI