520 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



unimproved area was 164,307 acres in 1850, and only 30,960 acres in 1890, of which 

 26,960 was woodland and forest, and 4,000 miscellaneous unimproved area. 



Again the tables show that in 1850 there were 50,035 acres in clover seed and 

 grass seed, wheat, rye, corn, oats, peas, beans, potatoes, barley and buckwheat, while 

 in 1890 the same crops showed 71,915 acres. In 1850 the area in oats amounted to 

 18,132 acres, while in 1890 it amounted to 29,083 acres. Barley in 1850 covered 

 2,409 acres, and in 1890, 14,164 acres. Again the area in hay amounted in 1850 to 

 62,563 acres, and in 1890 to 80,446 acres. The total tons of hay in 1850 were 75,076; 

 in 1890, 105,134 tons. Probably the statistics as pertinent as any to the case in hand 

 are those relating to changes in live stock. For instance, in 1850 the total number 

 of milch cows was 10,022, while in 1890 the total number was 22,919. The total 

 number of horses, mules, milch cows, oxen, and other cattle in 1850 was 40,812, 

 while the total number of all these classes of stock in 1890 was 44,810. Considering 

 the total of hoof cattle, we might say that the increase had not been so great, but when 

 we consider the total of impro\'ed area in comparison with the unimproved area in 

 1850, and also in comparison with the amount of stock then and in 1890, we see at 

 once that in 1850 the principal pasture area of the country must have been in forest, 

 whereas the pasture in 1890 must have been, as in fact I know it to have been, largely 

 in permanent meadows. Referring to Risler's results as to the amount of water 

 required for crops we learn at once the great increase in water demand for supporting 

 crops from 1850 to 1890. 



Taking into account the foregoing data I further prepared a table giving the per 

 cent, that each crop actually raised in 1 850 was of the total area in the country assigned 

 to forest area, fallow land, etc., each in its proper area. Similar data have been 

 prepared for each census period to 1890, inclusive. From such tabulation I learned 

 that in 1850 the area in wheat, rye, oats, barley, and buckwheat was 10 per cent, of the 

 whole; Indian corn, 2 per cent.; potatoes, 0.7 of one per cent.; long grass, 16 per 

 cent.; short grass, 20 per cent.; fallow land, orchards, peas, beans, and miscellaneous, 

 II per cent.; and forest, 40 per cent. Without giving the details of i860, 1870, and 

 1880, we may pass to 1890, in which year the following percentages were found: 

 wheat, rye, oats, barley, and buckwheat, 7.9 per cent.; Indian corn, 0.7 of one per 

 cent.; potatoes, 1.6 per cent.; long grass, 20.8 per cent.; short grass, 33.5 per cent. ; 

 fallow land, orchards, peas, beans, miscellaneous, 25 per cent.; clover, [.5 per cent.; 

 and forest, 9 per cent. It will be noticed that the forest area had changed from 40 

 per cent, in 1850 to 9 per cent, in 1890. Taking Risler's data as a basis it was then 

 easily computed that wheat, ,rye, oats, barley, and buckwheat would require g.2 

 inches of water on the actual area cropped to fully supply their demands; Indian 

 corn would require 12.2 inches; potatoes, 4.3 inches; long grass, 19.3 inches; short 



