LAND USES 5 



TREND OF LAND UTILIZATION IN MASSACHUSETTS 



The first factor that comes to the attention in a land utilization study in Massa- 

 chusetts is the general trend in the amount of land used for agricultural purposes. 



Land in Farms 



In 1880, when agricultural land utilization was still high, about two-thirds of 

 the total area of the State was included in farming, as compared with the present 

 farming area of only 38 percent. This means that more than 1,400,000 acres of 

 land, representing almost 26 percent of the total area of the Commonwealth, 

 went out of agricultural use. In 1880 the highest proportion of land included in 

 farms was found in Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties, each having 

 about 80 percent of its total area in farming. (Table 2) At the present time 

 Hampshire and Franklin counties maintain their lead, but the proportion of land 

 in this classification amounts to about 50 percent only. The smallest proportion 

 of land in farming in 1880 was in Barnstable County, which retains the same 

 position at the present time, but the percentage now is only 13.9 as compared 

 with 29.5 in 1880. 



Improved Land 



The changes in total land area included in farms present only a partial picture 

 of the situation. Of much more significance is the trend in improved land which 

 is actually being utilized for agricultural purposes. In this direction the decline 

 has been much more pronounced. From 2,128,311 acres or 41.4 per cent of the 

 total area of the Commonwealth, it has declined to 787,815 acres or 15.5 percent. 



Chart II. Land Classification in Relation to Suitability for Agricultural Utilization 



