The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-09-21
Names Agricultural Bulletin.
Interesting Census Data not Previously
Announced.

Interesting NeHSuS DdId HOT TIeSlOuSIy
Announced.
WASHINGTON, D. c., September 8,
I911.-The Thirteenth Census bulletin on
agriculture for Maine has been issued by
Census Director Durand.
1t is stated that Maine ranks thirty
ninth in area and thirty fourth in popula-
ton among the States and territories of
continental United States. From the
standpoint of agricultural development it
has passed out of the class of States
having large area of land suitable for
cultivation and not yet SO utilized, with
out having definitely entered the class
of those whose available land has all
been converted into farms. As regards
adaptability for agricultural operations,
the character of the State is not uni
form. The river valleys are quite pro.
ductive, but a considerable part of the
State is rugged and barren. One of
these valleys is the largest area of fertile
farming land in New England.
THE AREA IN FARMS.
About 80 per cent of the entire land
area of the State has been converted in
to farms, and in three counties over
fourffth of the total land area is in
farms, while in only two counties the
proportion falls below one-ffth.
During the 10 years Q9OO-191W the
increase in population was about as, 900
and the number of farms increased III.
During the same period there was a de-
crease of over 5000 acres of farm land,
accompanied by a decrease of l.3 acres
in the average size of farms, the average
being 1862 acres in 1900 and 104.9 acres
in 1910. 1t should be noted that during
the decade the percentage of increase in
population was about six times that in
the number of farms.
INCREASE IN VALUE OF FARM PROPERTY.
Perhaps the most notable fact brought
out by this bulletin is the remarkable
increase in the value of farm property
that has taken place in the State of
Maine within the last 10 years. The
total value of farm property, according
to the census, is Sl99, 271, $685. and this
represents an increase since 1900 of &c.,
900, 600, or 62. s per cent. The value of
farm property, as returned by the CEN
sus, includes the items of land; buildings:
implements and machinery; and domes-
tic animals, poultry and bees. In round
numbers, the value of farm land is $780,
100000; that of farm buildings, S73,-
800, 000 that of implements and ma
chineYy. Sl4 500. 000 and that of domes-
tic animals, poultry and bees, S25, 900, 600.
All these items of farm property have
shared in the increase which has taken
place. Of the total increase in the value
Of farm property, S37, 12l, 945 represents
the increase in the value of farm build
ings, and S25, 995. 531 the increase in the
value Of farm lands; the item of nipple
ments and machinery increased by S.,
6S7, 813; and the item of domestic ami
mails, poultry, and bees by S., 055, sO5.
On a percentage basis, farm land in
creased 1872 per cent in value, farm
buildings 55.1 per cent, implements and
machinery 64.6 per cent, and domestic
animals. poultry and bees All per cent.
The greatest percentage of increase,
therefore, as we'll as the greatest abso-
lutte increase, was in the value of farm
lands. In considering the increase of
values in agriculture The general increase
in the prices of all commodities in the
last 10 years should be borne in mind.
The bulletin gives the farm values as
returned at each decennial census begin
ming with that of 1850 The figures,
therefore, cover period of 60 years.
But in no decade within that period did
the increase in the value of farm proper
ty equal that recorded by the census just
taken. From 1850 to 1860 there was an
increase of 45.7 per cent in the reported
value Of farm property; this was follow
ed by ar increase of ~ per cent at the
census of 1870, and further increase of
Is per cent at the census of 1880. For
the next 20 years, or down to 1900, TIE
value OF farm property in the State of
Maine showed no further advance. Then
comes the increase of 62.S per cent re-
corded by the census of 1910.
This increase in the value of farm
property has not been accompanied by
any appreciate increase in the number
of farms or by any increase whatever in
the acreage of farm lands The number
of farms, according to the census lust
taker, is 60,016. This is only TIT, or
little more than per cent, greater than
the number reported in 1900. The acre
age of farm land is 1926, s59 acres, which
is slightly less than the acreage reported
in 1900
FARM ACREAGE AND VALUES.
The land in farms represents about
one-third, or 1928 per cent of the total
area of the State.
inc tOldl farm acreage mas not changed
materially within the last 80 years, or
since 1880, when the total acreage was
6, 552, 578 acres. The improved acreage,
on the other hand, although about the
same as it was 10 years ago, has greatly
decreased since 1880. The present i'm
proved acreage is 2, 800, 657 acres. Thirty
years ago it was 3, 49,, 1903. In 1880 more
than half, or 53.z per cent of the total
farm acreage was reported as improved
land. In 1870 with total farm acreage
not much less than was reported in 1880,
the improved acreage was hardly more
than one-third, or 37.5 per cent of the
total farm acreage. The census bulletin
says that this decrease doubtless repre-
sents change in the Interpretation of
the census classification of land by many
farmers, who now report as unimproved
land much acreage which they formerly
called improved
The average size of the Maine farm,
according to the census just taker, is
1919 acres, and the average value of the
farm, including land, buildings, nipple
ments, machinery, and domestic ami
mails, is So, 800, of which land and build
ings represent $3.50, implements and
machinery S241, and domestic animals
S419. The number of farms not having
materially increased, the large increase
in the value of farm property has re-
suited in great rise in the average
value per farm. The average value of