WISCONSIN BLUE BOOK


seventies. Corn, which had occupied less than half a million acres just
after the Civil War, also expanded to a high point of more than two
and one-half million acres, as shown by the Census of 1935. Barley,
too, grew greatly in importance both as a feed crop and a cash crop.
The malting industry of Milwaukee and other eastern Wisconsin cities
usually provided a convenient and profitable market for this crop
with the result that it expanded from less than 60,000 acres in the late
sixties to a high point of over 800,000 in 1909. During the decade of
the World War, barley production fell off but it has since been re-
vived and a new high point was recorded in 1935, though the geo-
graphic distribution of the crop has changed much from time to time.
  Hay production has also become increasingly important. In recent
decades tame hay in Wisconsin occupies more land than any other
crop. Usually between three and four million acres are now devoted
to tame hay production compared with an average of less than one
million acres in any of the decades before 1880. Since the World War,
alfalfa has become increasingly important, and it has reached one-
third of the tame hay total in recent years.
  Along with the main crops already mentioned, the bulk of which are
grown for feed, the state also has a long list of minor crops. Most
important among the cash crops are potatoes, tobacco, canning peas,
corn for canning, beans of various types, cranberries, cabbage, and
some tree fruits. In addition, the state has been an important pro-
ducer of rye and the clover and grass seeds. In spite of the state's
interesting array,kit is noteworthy that over 90 per cent of the crop-
land is devoted to feed production and over 80 per cent of the gross
farm income is annually obtained from livestock and livestock
products. J
                   Livestock Industry Important
   Based upon crop production and pastures, there has flourished in
Wisconsin an important livestock industry which has grown quite
steadily from the early pioneer days. At first the livestock industry
was to a considerable extent maintained to supplement the energy of
man in the work on the farm, the road, or in the forest. Work oxen,
once numerous, were gradually replaced by horses and the horse
population of the state grew steadily along with the increase in the
number of farms. In 1870 there were 2.5 horses per farm in the state
and in 1910 the number was 3.5 per farm. The high point in the state's
horse population was reached in 1915 when there were 748,000 head.
In the decade of the World War, however, the development of motor
cars, trucks, and tractors got well under way, and since then the horse
population of the state has declined. It appears now that this faith-
ful species, which was so necessary in the conquering of the wilder-
ness, is being steadily replaced by mechanical power. Providing both
wool and mutton, sheep were a prominent feature in Wisconsin's early
agriculture. In 1867 there were 1,380,000 head estimated for the state.
Gradually, however, this species declined in numbers, though for a
time it clung close to the one million level for a period of years up


192