HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



37 



out very forcibly by Risler's experiments, that hay crops depend 

 more on the quantity of rain than on temperature; thus, in 1867, 

 when the temperature of the two months was the lowest but the 

 rainfall high, the meadows yielded abundantly, while in 1868, 

 with a high temperature aud medium rainfall, the crop was satis- 

 factory because the soil had water in reserve, the drains con- 

 tinuing to How until the end of May that year. 



Taking into account the foregoing data, the writer prepared a 

 table giving the per cent that each crop actually raised in 1850, 

 was of the total area in the county assigned to forest area, 

 fallow hind, etc.. each in its proper area. Similar data have 

 been prepared for each census period to 1890, inclusive. From 

 such tabulation it was learned that in 1850 the area in wheat, 

 rye, oats, barley and buckwheat was 10 per cent of the whole; 

 Indian corn, 2 per cent ; potatoes, 0.7 of one per cent; long grass, 

 16 per cent; short grass, 20 per cent; fallow land, orchards, peas, 

 beans and miscellaneous, 11 per cent; and forest, 40 per cent. 

 Without giving the details of 1860. 1870 and 1880, we may pass 

 to 1800, in which year the following percentages were found: 

 Wheal, rye. oats, barley and buckwheat. 7.9 per cent ; Indian 

 corn, 0.7 of 1 per cent; potatoes, 1.6 per cent; long grass, 20.8 

 per cent; short grass, 33.5 per cent; fallow land, orchards, peas, 

 beans, miscellaneous. 25 per cent; clover, 1.5 per cent, and 

 forest, 9 per cent. It will be noticed that the forest area had 

 changed from 40 per cent in 1850 to 9 per cent in 1890. Taking 

 Risler's data as a basis, it was then easily computed that wheat, 

 rye, oats, barley and buckwheat would require 9.2 inches of 

 water on the actual area cropped to fully supply their demands; 

 Indian corn would require 12.2 inches ; potatoes, 4.3 inches ; long 

 grass, 19.3 inches; short grass, 15.4 inches; fallow land, peas, 

 beans, orchards and miscellaneous, 12 inches; clover, 12.9 inches, 

 and forest, 3.6 inches. Proceeding on this line it was ascer- 

 tained that in 1850, the total depth of water over the entire 

 area of Wyoming county, required to fully support vegetation 

 as it existed in that year amounted to 10.17 inches; in 1860, it 

 amounted to 11.15 inches; in 1870, to 11.89 inches; in 1880, to 

 13.24 inches, and in 1890, to 13.57 inches. Hence, the conclusion 



