AGRICULTURE 



Carolina and a number of the other Southern 

 states cotton constitutes the chief source of 

 revenue (see COTTON). Fodder crops, includ- 

 ing corn for ensilage, clover, timothy and 

 alfalfa, are also of great importance in those 

 localities where live stock is raised or dairying 

 is the chief line of agricultural industry. 



Horticulture. Horticulture is that branch of 

 agriculture which includes the raising of flow- 

 ers, garden vegetables and fruits. Tin- growing 

 of vegetables and other garden produce for 

 market is usually called truck janmntj. and this 

 branch of horticulture is very common near 

 large cities and in those localities where soil 

 and climate admit of raising two or more crops 

 a year. The raising of fruit is probably the 

 most extensive branch of horticulture, particu- 

 larly in those regions which depend upon irri- 

 gation for their supply of water. All forms of 

 horticulture are intensified farming that is, 

 the thorough cultivation of small tracts of land 

 that is highly fertilized. 



Stock. Some localities are especially 

 adapted to raising live stock. Iowa and Illi- 

 nois, for instance, raise large numbers of hogs, 

 which are fattened on corn. Iowa also raises 

 beef cattle. Kentucky is noted for its fine 

 horses; Montana, Wyoming and several other 

 states contain extensive grazing lands where 

 thousands of sheep find pasturage, and in 

 Texas beef cattle are raised in large numbers. 

 See CATTLE; HOGS; HORSES; SHKKP. 



Dairy Husbandry. Sections of the country 

 :ng a cool climate, an abundance of pure 

 water and soil adapted to growing alfalfa and 

 other ensilage crops are suited to dairying, and 

 this branch of agriculture is of great im- 

 portance in those states. See DAIRYING; BUT- 

 KSE; Cow; MILK. 



Poultry. The proceeds from the poultry 

 raised in the United States exceed those r< - 

 ceived from the wheat crop; strange as this 

 statement may seem, the hen is a mighty asset. 

 Some poultry is found on nearly every faun. 

 but there are numerous small farms which are 

 devoted entirely to raising chickens, and when 

 riirhtly managed, they prove a profitable in- 

 vestment. While poultry raising is a branch of 

 agriculture, it is so nearly a distinct industry 

 that the reader is referred to the article POUL- 

 t or a detailed account of it. 



The Outlook. Increase in Value of Land. 

 vcen 1900 and 1910 the value of United 

 States farm lands more than doubled, in- 

 exact increase being 117.4 per cent. The chi. i 

 this rapid rise in value was the with- 

 7 



97 AGRICULTURE 



drawal of all free government lands from 

 settlement on the old basis. Another cause 



1850 

 I860 

 1870 

 I860 

 1890 

 1900 

 1910 



10 15 20 25 30 35 



WKALTH OF THE FARMS 

 Value <>f farm himls and buildings, in billions 

 Of dollars, in the t'nitt-,1 States, from 1850 to 

 1910. 



was the increased production per acre, due to 

 better methods of tillage, a more thorough 

 knowledge of fertilizers and more careful selec- 

 tion of seed. This increase in value of the land 

 has been an advantage to the farmer, and has 

 also led men and women from the city to 

 invest in and occupy farms. Since there is no 

 more free land, and since the population of the 

 country is constantly increasing, the value of 

 land is destined to increase from year to year. 

 Canada farm lands between 1901 and 1911 

 increased nearly 140 per cent in value. 



Demand for Farm Products. The demand 

 for food products is constantly on the increase, 

 and, notwithstanding the increase in the pro- 

 duction of com, wheat, oats, and numerous 

 other crops, the price of these commodities 

 has advanced from year to year. The United 

 States and Canada feed not only their own 

 population, but the peoples of other countries 

 as well. Present facilities in transportation 

 enable fruits, vegetables and fresh meat to 

 arrive in European cities in as good condi- 

 tion as when they leave American ports. These 

 products, as well as flour, wheat and other 

 grains, now constitute an important part of 

 agricultural exports. These conditions assure 

 the farmer a good income, and are likewise a 

 guaranty against over-production. 



Assistance from the Government. Every 

 .n the United States may receive valu- 

 able information and aid from the Depart i 

 of Agriculture at Washington free of charge, 

 and the Canadian farmer may have the same 

 service from the Department of Agriculture at 

 Ottawa. His state agricultural college and 

 state experiment station are also at his dis- 

 posal. They will analyze his soil, help him to 

 combat diseases of plants and domestic ani- 

 mals, and to exterminate insect pests. The 

 agricultural colleges are constantly studying to 

 improve the condition of the farmers, and 

 the Departments at Washington and Ottawa 



