AGRICULTURE. With the exception of the river valleys, Connecticut soil is not favorable to agri culture. The surface is broken and stony, and generally lacks fertility. With the development of the fertile and easily cultivated plains of the West, Connecticut, in common with the other New England States, found market prices re duced below the point of profit, and its farmers were forced to give up the occultation or improve their methods of farming. Since 1830 there has been a continual decrease in the production of almost every staple crop. In 1899 the acreage of corn (47,900) was twice that of all other cereals, and it was the only cereal which did not lose in acreage during the decade. But proximity to the best markets of the country has been of great advantage to Connecticut, and this, together with improved methods of tilling the soil, particularly the extensive application of fertilizers, has saved the agricultural interests from complete ruin. Ilay is by far the most extensive crop. the acre age (480,000 in 1900) being more than three times that of the total for all other crops. To bacco ranks next to hay in importance. The cul tivation of this plant was begun in 1640, if not earlier, and it is confined mostly to the valleys of the Housatonic and Connecticut rivers. The tobacco, which is of superior quality and of mild flavor, is used chiefly for wrappers for cigars made from the stronger-flavored Havana tobacco. The acredge for 1899 (10,120) was the largest for any year recorded, and though constituting but 2 per cent. of the area for all crops, returned 13.9 per cent. of the gross income. The average value of the product per acre was $303, exceeding the corresponding figure for any other tobacco growing State. Vegetables rank next to tobacco
in value of product. The influence of the large city population of the State on agriculture has been to increase the interest in dairying and vegetable and fruit raising, for Which purposes the land is well adapted. The dairy cows number about 127.000, and the dairy product for 1899 exceeded in value $7,000,000. The production of milk in creased over 30 per cent. during the decade, but this gain was somewhat offset by a decrease in the manufacture of butter and cheese. There has been a decided increase during the last dec ade in the number of peach orchards, but apple trees still constitute about three-fifths of the total number of orchard trees. With the excep tion of dairy cows, horses are the only kind of farm stock showing an actual increase during the last half-century; swine, sheep, and meat cattle have greatly decreased. Of the total land sur face of the State, 74.6 per cent. is included in its farms, and of this but 46 per cent. is improved. While the farm area has remained about con stant for a number of decades, the percentage of improved land has greatly decreased, particu larly during the last decade. This curious fact is explained by the increase in dairying. etc., as stated above. The average size of the farms is 86 acres. Eighty-seven per cent. of the farms are operated by their owners, and among those rented the cash-rent method predominates. The following comparative table for the years 1890 and 1900 includes the more important varieties of crops and domestic animals: