Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-05-31

A census bulletin was issued the
ether day treating on agriculture in
New Mexico. The statistics given are
very interesting as well as the notes
accompanying them. The bulletin
says:
New Mexico forms part of the great
table land which is the foundation Of
the Rocky and Sierra mountain ranges.
The territory slopes gently southwark,
spreading into a broad. level, treeless
plain. apparently barren.
The land produces a variety of ma
tive grasses, the most common and
valuable being the mesquite. This
grows during the rainy season in July
and August and ripens in the fall, dries
on its stalks and furnishes a luxuriant
and nutritious forage. This cheap food
supply and the mildness of winter rem
der stock raising especially profitable.
THE number of farms June 1, 1900,
was more tnan three times as great as
that reported in 1850. 1t is probable
that The gain of 1852 farms or 49, per
cent between 1890 and 1900 exaggerate
the actual growth in that decade. wv
ing to the fact that in 1890 many small
farms and ranges operated by natives
were not enumerated. The statement
that the eleventh census was defective
in this respect is confirmed by refer
ence to the Farms and Homes volume
of that census, which shows that in
1890 there were 9.51S farm families in
New Mexico, or $3.50 more than the
number of farms given in the report on
agriculture for the same year.
The total acreage of farm land has
fuctuated greatly from decade to de-
cade and is now about eighteen times
as great as in 1850, and more than six
times as great as in 1890. The varia-
ton in the area of improved land have
been less marked. the increase since
1890 being 63,767 acres or 24.2 per cent.
AS this increase is mucn less than that
in the total farm area. the per CEN of
farm land improved shows a decided
decrease since 1890. This circumstance
together with the increase in the aver
age size of farms bears out the state
ment that the raising of live stock is
rapidly increasing in Importance, and
that, as a consequence, large additions
are being made to the area used for
grazing purposes. At the same time
the great reduction in the percentage
of improved land may be in some de-
gree due to a s~tricter Interpretation of
that term By the twelfth census.
The value of farm property in 1900
was nearly seventeen times as great as
in 1890. With the exception of the de-
cade from 1860 to 1870, Arizona being
created out of New Mexico in 1863. the
increase in the values of the different
forms of farm property have been con-
tinuous. The remarkable increases in
the last decade are due, in part, to a
more detailed enumeration in 1900
than in 1890.
In'1SS0 and in 1890 domestic animals
on ranges were not enumerated. hence
the values shown in the table are def
cient for both these years. The value of
animals on the range in 1890 has been
estimated at SIG, 1898 ,666, which would
make the value of all live stock on
farms and ranges s24, 043 1854. Assam
lhS Iulo Ndlut " Ot 1obl apiN "ANh
that report in 1900, there has been an
increase in the last decade of over 80
per cent.
The average size of farms outside of
the Indian reservations. ranges from
74.9 acres in Taos county to 2,936.s
in Colfax county; the average value OF
farms from $5S2.05 in Taos county to
RE mo % =. roifav an,ntu. tka avaroO a
value OF live stock per farm from
S597.56 in santa Fe county to $14, 10S.79
in Eddy county. and the average value
of farm products of 1899 not fed to live
stock from $34S.96 in Santa Fe county
tc s2,699.S7 in Chaves county.
Increases in the number, acreage and
value of farms have taken place in all
counties except Valencia and Taos and
certain others which have undergone
territorial reduction in the decade, but
all counties, regardless Of such changes
show great increases in the total value
of live stock and farm products.
The number of farms operated 10y
owners was 1888 less in 1890 han il
1880. In the last decade, however, Their
was an increase of $500, making thu
q number on June |, 1900. more thai
double the number reported twent,
years before.
This apparently large increase, how
ever, is due principally to a much NOR
complete enumeration in 1900 than /
1S9Gfof certain classes of small farms
Cash tenants increased in number /
both decades. The number of shar
tenants decreased between 1880 an
1890. but increased rapidly in the las
ten years.
OF the farms of the territory SS.5 pc
cent are operated by white farmer
and lis per ent by colored farmers
OF the farms of white farmers, SO.
Ter cent are operated by owners O
part owners; for farms of colored IA
mers. practically all of whom are II
dians, the corresponding per cent
1913.
No previous census has reported III
--H. - g,-rD- annratnl nv ma