LIFE ZONES AND CROP ZONES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



PART I. 



EELATIONS OF THE BIOLOGICAL SURVEY TO PRACTICAL 

 AGRICULTURE. 



The Biological Survey aims to define and map the. natural agricul- 

 tural belts of the United States, to ascertain what products of the 

 soil can and what can not be gi-own successfully in each, to guide the 

 farmer in the intelligent introduction of foreign cro^js, and to point 

 out his friends and his enemies among the native birds and mammals, 

 therebj^ helping him to utilize the beneficial and ward off the harmful 

 kinds. 



No fact is better recognized by thoughtful students of our resources 

 than the need of diversifying our agricultural products, with a view 

 not only to remedying the present unequal apportionment of stand- 

 ard crops throughout the United States, but also with a view to the 

 introduction of new kinds. This is the more important because of 

 the varying market values of standard crops from year to year, 

 prices frequentlj' falling so low as barely to cover cost of production, 

 bringing hardship if not financial ruin to the producer. In order to 

 obviate so far as possible the disastrous effects of such years it would 

 seem the part of wisdom to be prepared with two or more crops, so 

 that if one fails bj' reason of unsuitable seasonal conditions or low 

 price the other can be depended on for sufficient revenue to bridge 

 over the period of loss from failure of the first. 



Farms so favorablj' situated tliat absolute reliance can be placed 

 on a single crop, or so little diversified that all parts are equallj^ fitted 

 for this crop, are few and far between ; and even in such cases there 

 is danger of overproduction. As a rule, if the major part is well 

 adapted for corn, wheat, cotton, sugar, or tobacco, the crop chosen is 

 subject to material fluctuations in j^ield and value, and minor areas 

 are better fitted for some other use. 



NEED OF DIVERSIFICATION OF CROPS. 



The Statistician of the Department, in his last report to the Secre- 

 tary, calls attention to the marked geographic concentration of agri- 

 cultural productions, and points out that "twenty-five States, or just 

 half the total number, produce 98 per cent of the cotton, 95 per cent 



