AGRICULTURE. The State has a great diversity of physical conditions with a corresponding variation of soil and crops. The river valleys are generally fertile. The region known as the Central Basin contains a limestone soil of great fertility. In 1900 20.342.058 acres were included in farms, a little over half of this area being improved. While the farm area was hut lit tle greater in 1 550 than in 1900. the improved area had almost doubled. The average size of farms decreased meanwhile from 261 acres to 90.6 acres. In 1900 12.6 per cent. of the farms were rented for cash, and 27.9 per cent. share rent, the latter having made a large gain during the decade ending with that year. Over one seventh of the farms are operated by negroes, but only 22.4 per cent, of the negro farmers own their farms.
By far the largest and most valuable crop is corn, the acreage of which increased very con siderably in the decade 1890-1900. Wheat is also an important cereal and much more than regained in the decade 1890-1900 what it 11:1(1 lost in the preceding decade. The cultivation of oats,
the only other important cereal, has decreased. Cotton is one of the leading crops in the south west corner of the State, and it is of much impor tance also in some of the northern counties. The area in hay and forage has increased more than threefold since 1880. Dry peas and sorghum cane are noteworthy products, as are also Irish and sweet potatoes. Peanuts are grown in large quantities in the Tennessee Valley. The climate is favorable to fruit culture, and in 1900 there were over 11,700.000 fruit trees, of which 7,700, 000 were apple trees. There was a large increase in the number of all varieties of fruit trees in the decade ending with 1900. Of the 12,944 acres reported in small fruits in 1899, 11.548 acres were in strawberries. Watermelons and various vegetables are extensively raised. The following table is self-explanatory: