TURF. For a long time New York was the tirst State in agrieultural importance. and as late as 1890 was surpassed by Illinois alone in the value of farm products. In 1900, although these products had increased 51 per cent. in the decade ending with that Near. the amount was exceeded in three Western States. Each decade since 1570 has witnessed a decrease in the value of farm land and farm impro•enments. a fact generally explained by the rise of Western com petition. The area of improved land readied its maximum in New York in 1880, and declined in each of the subsequent decades. In 1900 74.3 per cent. of the land area of the State was in cluded in farms, and of this amount 08.9 per cent. was improved. The average size of farms decreased from 112.1 acres in 1850 to 99.9 acres in 1900. Tenant farming is growing in favor, and embraced in 1900 23.9 per cent. of all farms. Over one-half of the total crop acreage is de voted to hay and forage, and exceeds the corre sponding area in any other State. The impor tance of the dairy industry gives a special value lo hay. While the total product is sometimes ex ceeded in other States, it generally stands first as to total value. Oats is the most important cereal and is a favorite crop in the Saint Lawrence Val ley. Wheat and corn are of about equal promi nence. Both regained from 1890 to 1900 a part of the very large loss of area which characterized them in the preceding decade. Only one other State rivals New Yo•k in the production of rye and buckwheat.
After hay, the potato is the most valuable farm product. The State is unapproached in the area devoted to this vegetable, and in the value of its production. New York also takes first rank in
garden farming. Long Island is almost wholly devoted to this industry, for which it has the special advantage of being near to the New York market. In the production of beans the State holds second rank. In the western counties north of the watershed and in Ulster County are large fruit orchards, the apple trees constituting 70 per cent. of the total number of fruit trees in the State. Grapes are grown abundantly in the southern part of the Budson Valley and in the lake region. Tobacco is raised in the Chemung Valley and northeastward to the eastern end of Lake Erie. flops are a prominent crop in some of the central counties, but recently there has been a significant decrease. owing to Western com petition. A large income is annually obtained from the products of floriculture. Fertilizers are very commonly used throughout the State. an average of $20 per farm being expended for them. The following table of acreages explains itself: SToeK-RAisixo. Stock-raising is characterized by the great prominence of dairy cows. The number of cows has increased steadily, and the dairy industry has likewise grown. In 1900 the value of dairy products constituted 30.5 per cent. of the gross farm income. The receipts from the sales of milk in that year were $36,248.833, and from sales of butter, $9,868,446. From 1890 to 1900 there was a decided increase in the num ber of cattle and a marked decrease in the num ber of sheep. Poultry products are a very prominent item. The following table of the holdings of stock is self-explanatory: