51^ 



Bulletin 280. 



In many sections of New York cattle are regularly pastured at 50 

 cents per month. In other sections the cost is $1.00 per month. Nea: 

 large cities it is more. The only place where cheaper pasture land seems 

 to be available is in the South. The change has been so recent that it 

 can scarcely be realized. Land that was free range in i860 in Illinois 

 is now selling at $100 to $200 per acre. In Iowa, land that was free 

 range in 1870 is now selling at $100 to $150 per acre. Land that was 

 free range in 1880 in Kansas is now selling at $50 to $100 per acre. 



It will be seen that the most expensive pasture land in the United 

 States is in the Middle West. This is the land that was most largely 

 responsible for the decline in animal production in the East. Even the 

 arid land is no longer cheap pasture. The rich lands of the Middle West 

 are so valuable for the production of corn and wheat, that they are not 

 likely to be extensively used for grazing. Their use for this purpose 

 was a matter that could last only while population was scarce. On the 

 other hand the great natural crops of New York are trees and grass. One- 

 third of our improved farm land is in hay and one-third in pasture. 

 These natural crops, together with our large city population, will, 

 in the long run, determine our agricultural products. We will ultimately 

 sell large quantities of hay, milk, potatoes, apples, butter, wool, meat, 

 lumber and horses. 



The first demand is, of course, for milk and hay for our cities, since 

 these products cannot be shipped long distances; but these demands 

 require only a part of the area of the state. The trouble during the 

 past generation has been that land that should have been producing 

 sheep, horses and lumber, was driven out of these industries by com- 

 petition with free land, and it also was used for producing hay and milk, 

 with the subsequent over-production and low profits. The recent rise 

 in the price of western land seems to indicate that the time is near at 

 hand when the production of sheep, horses, butter and lumber will 

 occupy a much larger place as profitable industries in New York. 



COST OF PASTURE LAND 



From several stations two men reported so that we have a check on 

 their accuracy. For instance, for Central Illinois one man reported 

 land worth $200 per acre that would pasture one cow six months for 

 each 1.5 acres. The other reported land worth $150 per acre with two 

 acres required per cow. In each case it would cost $50 to buy land 

 enough to pasture one cow one month. The results, therefore, check 

 exactly, although one man had better land in mind. 



