Evening star., 1933-10-28
land ECONOMISTS
MAP AREAS IN j. 5.
Prepare Guide as Aid to
REGIONAL Adjustment in
Agriculture.

The physical basis for the agricul-
tura1 use of land In the United States
has been described and mapped by
land-use economists Of the Bureau Of
Agricultural Economics as an aid to
regional adjustment in agriculture and
as a guide to national policy in the
utilization Of land resources.
The problems which arise from uncer-
tainty as to the soundest or most eco
nomic use of land are closely related
to the character Of the land. says the
bureau, since the use of land depends
in an important measure upon its
physical characteristics. In many cases
specific land-use problems. have been
found to coincide with areas that are
fairly homogeneous in physical char
acter
A colored map showing areas with
uniform land patterns has been pre-
pared by the bureau for use in studying
regional trends In fand-use. Within a
few areas it is explained, the proximity
of urban centers has resulted in dis
similarity in the use of lands which are
otherwise similar, but in most in
stances the whole extent Of an area has
been affected similarly as to the in
tensity or character of land-use prob
lens resulting from changing economic
conditions.
REGIONS Shown in ColOrs.
The bureau says that although there
are areas easily classified as pre-
eminently suited to agriculture and
others in which crop production is i'm
possible or very difficult because Of
aridity or extreme ruggednesS, there are
also great areas whose best use as be-
tween farming forest production, ex-
tensive grazing. or combinations OF
these uses, has not been thoroughly
demonstrated. In some cases the land
In such an area may need to be dralneo
or cleared If it is to be brought into
production, but the desirability OF max
ing such improvements may be uncer-
tain; in others the land may itself
show in one way or another-by aban-
donment Of farms. by rural poverty,
or by destructive erosion-that success
full farming is too difncult
The various regions are shown on
the new map in colors that indicate the
principal physical characteristics OF the
| land for agricultural use IN each area.
! A distinction is made as between areas
having much land whose best use Is
uncertain, and areas having little or
| no land the best use Of which Is profile
matical.
The most important Of the areas in
which the best use Of land has oeen
| fairly well demonstrated, 1t Is stated
is the mid-continent area OF demon :
strated agricultural quality. largely IN
| farms. and supporting relatively remu-
| nerative agriculture"
Grazing Lands Shown.
Other areas in this class are the
great plains and hills areas, largely IN
| native grass and wild hay. and used
! for grazing; and the California-typ
| mixed areas in which land Of demon
strated agricultural quality, largely 10
! farms and supporting intensive or ex-
! tensive agriculture, are lntersperseo
with lands suitable only for grazing
and by occasional lands the best use OF
which is problematical.
| Plains-type mixed areas, in which
lands Of demonstrated agricultural
quality supporting fairly extensive
| farming. are mixed with rough. MONITOR
ested grazing lands. are represented on
! the map. The northeastern diverse
areas are characterized by much diver
sity in physical character-with lands
ranging from high to low in natural pro-
ductivity-in long-settled regions near
large urban centers. Land use here is
fairly well adjusted to land character
| through specialized and intensive uses
Tes Western grazing lands are shown
as areas that are mainly too arid or
rough for crop farming, but which in
clude occasional bodies OF irrigated or
drV- farming land