AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 



proved land of the United States (1900), and, in 

 1903, they produced over two-thirds of our maize, 

 wheat, and barley crops and nearly three-fourths 

 of our oat crop. 



It is true that vast areas of the unimproved 

 land of this country are not capable of being 

 brought under cultivation, yet there is certainly a 

 much greater opportunity for agricultural expan- 

 sion here than in Europe. It would be interest- 

 ing to know what share of the unimproved areas 

 of the United States might be cultivated. It is 

 certainly true that much of the land included in 

 the "unimproved area" of farms might be plowed 

 or mowed if this form of treatment would bring 

 larger net returns to the farmer than he can ob- 

 tain in other ways. Our rich pasture lands, 

 which produce an enormous amount of wealth 

 each year with a minimum expenditure of labor, 

 are included under the head of unimproved land. 

 The area which is not included in farms consists, 

 in part, of timber lands which form the basis of 

 the lumber industry, and, in part, of valuable 

 grazing lands which supplement the farms in the 

 production of meat and wool. 



Irrigation is proving an important means of 

 extending agriculture in the arid regions. To 

 quote Professor Elwood Mead: "The uninhab- 

 ited and mismanaged areas of the arid region are 

 full of opportunities. A realization of the possi- 

 bilities of this region and of what man can accom- 



14 



