TYPE-OF-FARMING AREAS IN MASS. 



259 



of jjlentiful pasturage, because many of the hill pastures are relatively un- 

 productive. In general, however, there actually is more available pasture in 

 these rough sections. Land too rough to till frequently grows a fair crop of 

 grass. Available pasture is a factor which is significant in determining the 

 most profitable tyj^es of farm organization. For example, it nuiy be worth 

 while to grow young stock with plentiful pasture when otherwise it would 

 be very unprofitable. 



Farm land values in an industrial state are affected liy many factors. The 

 accompanying map (Figure 7) shows a much higher valuation in the eastern 

 part of the state. Values in western Massachusetts with the exception of 

 the Connecticut Valley are lower, due to greater distance from tlie cities as 

 well as to differences in natural productive capacity of the land. Land near 

 cities is often valued for urban use as well as for farming. 



Figure 7. Value of Land and Buildings per Acre of Plowable Land. 



< *.'«<( 



MASSACrtJSt S 



□ S 0-200 

 200-4-00 



400 ;\ND OVER 



^"'^t.'t.^tx^' 



Type-of-Farm:ng Areas. 



A single enterjjrise, such as dairying, might l)e used as a basis for dividing 

 the state into areas marking different kinds of farming. Farmers, however, 

 generally carry on several lines of production at the same time and so a 

 single enterprise map is usually not sufficient for such a division. In this 

 study the relative proportions between the several principal crop and live- 

 stock enterprises in the towns of the state have been used as the basis for 

 division, due consideration being given to tiie underlying natural and eco- 

 nomic factors. 



The method used was to express census figures for individual crops and 

 livestock on the basis of so many acres or so many head of stock per farm 

 and per 100 acres of plowable land. These were calculated for each town." 

 Similar towns were then grouped on the basis of acreage or numbers of the 

 more important crops or livestock. In this fashion the areas shown in 

 Figure 8 were finally determined. 



It must be made clear at the outset that the boundary lines are only aj)- 

 proxinuite, for in many cases a change in type of farming comes as a gradual 



- "Town" in this sense in New England has the same meaning as "Township" in 

 other parts of the United States. 



