15 



These examples teach us what is possible in the future of Agri- 

 culture in America. 



The importance of the grass crop may be, and we think gen- 

 erally is, overlooked by most people. The value of our hay crop 

 in New York State was, in 1888, more than three-fourths of a 

 million dollars greater than that of all the corn, wheat, rye, barley, 

 oats, buckwheat and tobacco crops combined. Counting all these, 

 [including hay] at 100 per cent., the hay crop comprised 53.2 per 

 cent., and all the others only 46,8 percent. 



But more striking even than this is the rate at which the nay 

 crop has been falling off while the most important of the other 

 crops have nearly or quite held their own. 



This steady decline in the hay crop has gone on, in part, no 

 doubt from the fact that the average farmer uses his manure on 

 the cultivated crops, which the hay crop has thus been regularly 

 contributing to support, while itself neglected. Not only is the 

 value greater, but the acreage of the hay crop stands to that of 

 all the others, as 55 to 45, 



This showing does not include pasture grass, which supports 

 almost the whole of our dairy, sheep and growing stock about half 

 the year, and is second to no other than the hay crop itself, if in- 

 deed it is second in value to that. 



It seems desirable that some special attention be given to im- 

 proved methods of culture to finding out the best species for hay 

 and grazing and finally, for diffusing a better knowledge of some 

 of the forage species of this great family of useful plants. 



