Page:The Scientific Monthly vol. 3.djvu/118

 112 THE SCIENTIFIC MONTHLY

Agriculture

About 80 per cent, of the land is in farms, of which 45 per cent, i improved, and 23.5 per cent, in woodland. The average size of the fan is 85.7 acres, of which about 39 acres are improved (Kentucky, 85.( 55.4; Indiana, 98.9, 78.6). Twenty-four and a half percent, of th farms range in size from 50 to 99 acres; 19 per cent, from 100 to 17 acres; and 18.5 per cent, from 20 to 49. The average value of all croj per farm in 1910 was $310.70 (Kentucky, $536.20; Indiana, $947.60; The average value of implements and macliinery per farm in 1910 wi $32.3 (Kentucky, $80; Indiana, $190). About 6.6 cents worth ( fertilizer was used per improved farm acre in 1909 (Kentucky, S.l Indiana, 12.8).

The total value of all crops in 1909 was 24.8 million dollars, c which cereals amounted to 12.2 million, vegetables 3.8, hay and forag 1.1, and fruits and nuts 1.1. The total area in cereals was 921,53 acres, of which corn constituted 841,744 acres; oats, 39,341; whea 36,403; rye, 1,579; and barley, 510. Some 21,397 acres were devoted \ potatoes, 5,673 to sweet potatoes and yams, and 10,713 to edible bear (a staple food in the mountains). Sorghum was raised on 21,97 acres, and hay and forage on 162,944 acres. There were 1,825,895 app] trees out of a total of 2,425,047 fruit trees. Peaches ranked secon to appleft.

The average production of com per acre in 1909 in the region w« 18.7 bushels; in Kentucky, 24.2; in Indiana, 40. The correspondin figures for wheat were 9.9; 12.8; and 16.3. Similar data for potato^ were 76.6; 91.8; and 99.4. The respective figures in tons of forage pe acre were .8; .9; and 1.2.

The shale soil, which is most common, is fairly fertile, and produce good crops of com under good cultivation, on gentle slopes. The chi< causes for the low productivity are steep slopes, poor cultivation ar lack of crop rotation. The shale soil washes less than almost any oth( soil under like circumstances. The wonder is that the soil produces i much as it does.

A few years ago Berea College, with the help of the United Statt government, employed a special investigator and demonstrator to woi with the mountain farmers within reach of Berea. The success was sue that a number have been appointed in other localities. About Berej heavy, breaking plows are replacing the one-mule plow, and the Ah harrow is appearing in the mountains. More than twice as many sha low cultivators as single-shovel and double-shovel plows were sold i Berea last spring. The practise of sowing cowpeas and rye for fora^ and turning under is spreading, as is the use of commercial fertilize Crop rotation is displacing the fallow system.

Further education in agriculture is being given at the missionai and settlement schools, as at Oneida, Hindman, Buckhorn and Blacki

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