Broadly speaking, the farming types of New Hampshire, like those of 

 most of New England, are ones which are influenced by large population 

 centers. ^ 



The accompanying map (Figure 11) is adapted from New Hampshire 

 Circular 53.- Although the original study was made in 1935, the broad 

 picture of what is produced and where it is produced is still fairly accurate. 

 The type-of-farming map was made by locating each farm on a township 

 map and showing the size and kind of farming carried on there. The changes 

 on this map are based on the information contained in the Census and by 

 personal observations as to where the changes have taken place. 



Some general changes since 1935 may be mentioned for readers who 

 want to refer to the original type-of-farming map. 1. Poultry farms are 

 relatively more numerous and widely scattered in the southern part of the 

 State than they were in 1935. Broiler as well as egg production is now more 

 important. 2. Fruit and potatoes are relatively less important than in 1935, 

 although still ranking high as sources of dollar income. 3. Retail milk 

 farms are considerably less numerous than they were 20 years ago. 4. 

 There are fewer farms in the areas where the soils are less fertile, and the 

 present farms in all parts of the State are now larger. 



There are two principal areas in the State where there is a considerable 

 amount of farming. One is along the western border of New Hampshire and 

 is made possible by the level, stone-free soils of the Connecticut River Val- 

 ley, its tributary valleys, and the adjoining benches and slopes. In this 

 Connecticut River belt, the farms are more nearly continuous than in 

 other parts of the State. Specialized dairy farming is the prevailing type 

 of farming, although in places there are considerable numbers of poultry 

 and miscellaneous types of farms. Physical conditions are relatively favor- 

 able to hay and pasture production, and the Greater Boston area provides 

 a market for fluid milk. Potatoes and pulpwood add to income on some 

 dairy farms in the northern part of the area, and a few farmers specialize 

 in producing potatoes. 



The other large area with considerable farming is in the southeast one 

 fourth of the State. This includes the fairly level coastal areas of the ex- 

 treme southeast and the valleys of the Merrimack River and its tributaries. 

 In a few places the commercial farms are nearly continuous, but for the 

 most part they are scattered. The scattering of the farms is due to two in- 

 fluences. One is the varying character of the soil; the other is the presence 

 of rural residences, part-time farms, and other forms of land use that al- 

 ways compete with fanning near large centers of population.*^ 



Fruit and vegetable production is of importance in an area south of 

 the city of Portsmouth and in a larger area comprising eastern Hillsborough, 

 southern Merrimack, and western Rockingham counties. A combination of 

 soil, climate, and markets is favorable for fruit and vegetable production 

 and consumption. Many of the fruits and vegetables are sold within short 



1 There are several studies which picture and explain the type of farming of New 

 Hampshire. Of most direct interest are: Type-oj -Farming Areas in New Hampshire, 

 New Hampshire Circular 53, by H. C. Grinnell, and Dairy Opportunity Areas in New 

 Hampshire, New Hampshire Station Bulletin 340, by H. C. Woodworth and J. C. Holmes. 



- Type-of -Farming Areas in New Hampshire, ibid. 



^New Hampshire's Idle Farm Land, W. K. Buikett, New Hampshire Agricultural 

 Experiment .Station, Bulletin 399, 1953. 



75 



