THE POPULATION OF COLORADO 215 
This represents the period during which alfalfa was introduced. The 
enormous profits resulting from it stimulated greatly the farming 
industry. Flouring mills greatly increased at the same time and as a 
consequence a strong local market was created for wheat. Wheat was 
formerly not so profitable, as the costs of transportation tended to reduce 
the price to the seller. But when the milling could be done at home 
there was an added value. Some idea of the development of agricul- 
ture during this period is indicated by the following table. 
INCREASE OF PRODUCTION OF CEREALS IN COLORADO* 
1884 1879 Per Acre in U.S. |Per Acre in Colorado 
Barleywecs6 on: 234,085 107,116 22.02 23.08 
Buckwheat....... 2,688 IIo 13.93 19.47 
G1) a Ee anor 653,064 455,968 28.13 27.80 
Oatseaci steal ares 1,644,083 640,900 25.206 26.99 
LS Gn aspienee aoe 35,982 19,462 10.76 14.22 
Wiheatey ices 3). 2,220,530 1,425,014 12.97 20.71 
* First Biennial Report of the Bureau of Labor, 1887, pp. 384-85. 
During the decade from 1890 to 1900 the number of males in agri- 
culture increased from 36,134 to 43,145, but the percentage of increase 
was not as great as in either of the three preceding decades, being but 
19.4. This was to be expected owing to the large number already 
engaged in the industry. Among the other causes of the decline in the 
rate are the depression in the years following 1890, and the fact that 
most of the land irrigable at moderate expense had been taken up. It 
is estimated that the cost of getting water on to land in sufficient quantity 
to make it valuable for agricultural purposes is from $25.00 to $40.00 
an acre. In the earlier days of agriculture in Colorado much land was 
watered for considerable less per acre, and as time progresses, the ex- 
pense of watering increases; more expensive canals have to be built to 
enable water to be placed on the more inaccessible lands. Thus it comes 
that agriculture requires more capital now than in the earlier decades. 
This of course, would tend to check the movement of the poorer classes 
to that occupation. 
A glance at the table showing the number of farms would seem to 
show that they do not tend to increase in size. It appears that the per- 
