84 BOARD OF AGRICULTUKE. 



stronger iucliuation for such argument. In contemplation of the many- 

 advantages offered by our great and resourceful State, I realize that there 

 are still greater possibilities for the future. Let not the measure of our 

 success in 1901 be the end of our stride toward the goal that can, and will 

 bring us ultimate and gi-eater success. Our broad and fertile fields, our 

 almost boundless pastures, and the marked improvement in methods have 

 made Indiana famous as an agricultural community. Our other indus- 

 ti-ies and interests, vast in their aggregation, have always been and always 

 will be overshadowed by the product of the brain and brawn of the hus- 

 bandmen. 



This Board is just closing the first fifty years of its existence; the half 

 century has meant much to Indiana and Indiana institutions. It tells an 

 interesting story of remarkable advancement. In 1850, the number of 

 farms under cultivation in the State was 93,876, with an average acreage 

 of 130 acres; or in all, 5,046,543 acres of improved land, with 7,746,870 

 acres of unimproved. Today the acreage of improved land, used in farm- 

 ing, is 16,311,226, while the unimproved is but 5,485,034, and the farms 

 number 202,801. Measured in the commercial measure of dollars and 

 cents, the value of lands, fences and buildings fifty years ago was $136,- 

 385,173; implements and farming machinery, $6,704,444; and of live stock, 

 $22,478,555; or in round numbers, a grand total of $165,570,000. Fifty years 

 later statistics have changed,, showing that the farm values are repre- 

 sented by the following surprising figures: For land and improvements, 

 $874,324,110; improvements and machinery. $21,867,528; live stock, $115.- 

 ,654,086, or a total of $1,031,845,624. This is not a fair estimate of values 

 today, for since these figures were gathered, all property of this character 

 has rapidly and substantially increased in value. 



In 1850 there were 315,000 horses in the State. In 1900, 859.000. In 

 1850, 6,600 mules were listed, while the returns of the last enumeration 

 shows 67,500 of these sturdy and now valuable animals. Milch cows in 

 1850 numbered 284,544, and in 1900, 664,000, while cattle of other classes 

 were given as 689,891 in 1850, and 987,270 in 1900. Swine reported in 1850 

 were 2,263,176, and in 1900, 3,320.000. In 185<J there were 1,112,500 sheep 

 in Indiana; fifty years later we find but 1,081,133. These figures are inter- 

 esting at this time, when we are celebrating the semicentennial of the or- 

 ganization of this body, full of significance of the changes that have come 

 to the great interests that go to make up the wealth and stability of our 

 great commonwealth. 



The product of the soil has added almost untold wealth to our State 

 in the fifty years that have marked the great progress of the community. 

 During that time, we have seen wonderful improvements in methods and 

 a marked increase in acreage. Crops are now almost a certainty, and pro- 

 duction only measured by nature's laws. Since 1850 the increase in the 

 production of wheat as compared with 1899 was 25,142,641 bushels; of 

 corn, 98,282,441 bushels; oats, 26,146,172 bushels; barley shows an increase 



