6 BULLETIN 177, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
RELATION OF IMPROVED LAND TO POPULATION. 
By comparing the improved land with the population we get some- 
what of a measure of available food in each geographic division. 
For the United States as a whole there was 0.3 of an acre more per 
person in 1910 than in 1870, but nearly 0.5 of an acre less than in 
1880. For the last three censuses the number has been growing 
smaller. The number of acres of improved land per person in New 
England was nearly 3.5 in 1870, but in 1910 it was slightly over 1.1. 
For the Middle Atlantic States it had decreased from 3.3 to 1.5 acres. 
The decrease in the East North Central States began in 1880 and in 
the South Atlantic in 1870. The West North Central States com- 
prise the only group showing an increased number of acres per person 
for every census since 1870. 
RELATION OF DAIRY COWS TO POPULATION. 
The number of dairy cows per 1,000 persons gives us a rough 
estimate of the available supply of dairy products, but since there is 
such a marked variation in the average yield of milk per cow it is 
only an approximate measure. For the United States, as a whole, 
the changes between 1870 and 1910 have been but slight, amounting 
to 7 cows per 1,000 persons. The maximum number was reached 
in 1890. However, the maximum number of cows in the New Eng- 
land States was in 1880, and in the Middle Atlantic and Pacific in 
1870. The number in the other geographic divisions has not shown 
a steady tendency in any one direction. 
In considering the changes in dairy cows, it must be realized that 
the census definition, the conception of what comprised dairy cows, 
and the age at which they began to be included as such varied with 
the different censuses. 
Table 4.— Number of dairy cows per 1,000 population, by geographic divisions. 
Geographic division. 
Number of dairy cows per 1,000 population. 
1910 
1900 
1890 
1880 
1870 
New England 
128.5 
134.5 
264.6 
457.8 
148.5 
193.6 
256.1 
195.4 
197.1 
159.8 
168.4 
247.9 
437.6 
132.5 
167.5 
250.3 
196.8 
222.2 
174.9 
199.0 
278.4 
502.5 
154.6 
204.1 
320. 1 
180.1 
265.9 
186.2 
232.8 
266.9 
391.6 
168.6 
205.1 
300.5 
191.2 
266.6 
Middle Atlantic 
184.2 
East North Central... 
248.6 
West North Central . 
246.3 
South Atlantic 
271.3 
East South Central 
171.0 
West South Central 
189.7 
Mountain 
324.7 
Pacific 
264.8 
339.8 
Total, United States 
224.3 
225.5 
262.3 
1 
231 7 
PER CAPITA PRODUCTION OF BUTTER AND CHEESE. 
For the United States, as a whole, in 1910, the amount of butter 
produced per capita was greater than in 1870 and in 1880, but in 
1890 and 1900 the average production per capita was 2 pounds less 
