384 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



prospects for forestry 

 This naturally brings us to tlie matter of forestry, something 

 well worth the attention of every one interested in the develop- 

 ment and conservation of our state resources and of those who 

 have funds to invest, but not calling for an immediate income. 

 According to figures recently presented by Dean Baker of the 

 State College of Forestry, the present average income from New 

 York agricultural lands is from four to six dollars per acre. The 

 Black Forests of Germany return from two to four dollars per 

 acre; Saxony receives as high as six dollars per acre from her 

 forest lands. New York shows an area of idle lands greater than 

 the combined area of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode 

 Island. There are nearly two million acres in the Adirondacks and 

 Catskills. A recent survev of forest conditions in four hill counties 



kJ 



in the southern part of the state showed half of their area covered 

 with woodland, yet the farmers were paying a high price for 

 lumber from the Pacific coast and other territory nearly as remote. 

 The lessons and deductions are obvious. 



NEW York's real place in agriculture 



Thus far we have contemplated the less pleasing side of the 

 picture, yet one most necessary to have very clearly defined. Hav- 

 ing this as a background, it is pleasant to consider other facts much 

 more attractive. In the past decade there has been an increase of 

 35.7 per cent in the value of farm property. Land shows an 

 increase of 28.4 per cent and buildings 41.6 per cent, indicating 

 that farmers have the funds to make improvements. Even more 

 significant is the increase in the value of implements and 

 machinery, of 49.3 per cent. Domestic animals show an increase 

 of 45.8 per cent. The value of all property per farm is $6,732, 

 an increase of -42.7 per cent. 



JSTew York ranks first in the value of hay and forage — $77,- 

 360,645. 



New York ranks first in the production of potatoes, with 

 48,597,701 bushels, valued at $20,338,766 — an increase in ten 

 years in value of $5,319,631, or 35.4 per cent. 



New York ranks first in the value of vegetables (excluding pota- 

 toes), with $15,963,384. 



