AGRICULTURE. In 1900 4.724.440 acres, or 80.8 per cent. of the area, were included in farms. The decade 1890-1900 was characterized by a large decrease in the improved land, but a much larger increase in the acrea of unimproved farm land. The average size of farms in 1900. 142.7 acres, was greater than in any other census year in the last half of the nineteenth century, and greater than for any other State east of the Mis sissippi Rivet•. Over 85 per cent. of the farms are operated by their owners. With the excep tion of the river valleys and lower hill lands of the State. the land is generally stony and com paratively sterile. Nevertheless. agriculture has always been the leading industry in the State. With the adoption of intensive methods of culti vation the soil is made to produce abundantly, the production of corn per acre being greater than that of any other State. But this is accomplished at great expense, and between 1880 and 1890 a number of farmers were forced to abandon their farms, under the competition of the fertile lands of the West. Farming is more and more
adjusting itself ?? ith reference to the develop ment of the dairying industry. The State is naturally well adapted for this, and her dairy products are of it superior quality. The acreage of the, hay crop is abont four times that of all other crops combined. Oats, the most import:int cereal crop, is decreasing in acreage, while that of corn is inereasing. Wheat and rye have de clined steadily since 1850, and both have ceased to be important. Potatoes are an important crop, and some barley and are raised. The production of maple sugar and syrup in Vermont still receives much attention, and the State annually produces more maple sugar than any other State in the Union, and two-tifths that of the entire country. The production of apples is another important industry, the apple trees in 1900 numbering 1.675,131.
The following table shows the acreage of the leading crops for the census years indicated: