No. 63. J 141 



AGRICULTURE OF CHAUTAUQUE COUNTY. 



BY T. B. CAMPBELL, OF WESTFIELD. 



Chautauque county lies on the southern shore of Lake Erie, bound- 

 ing on the lake about forty miles; it is bounded on the east by the 

 county of Cattaraugus, extending from the lake to the State of Penn- 

 sylvania, a distance of near forty miles. 



The whole county was, when in a state of nature, covered with 

 a heavy and dense growth of timber. That part of the lantl bor- 

 dering on the lake was first settled, it being better adapted to the 

 culture of grain than the southern portion. There is a ridge passing 

 through this county, nearly parallel with the shore of the lake, at 

 an average distance of some five miles from the w'ater, and at an ele- 

 vation of from five to eight hundred feet above the surface of the 

 lake. The great leading road from the eastern to the western States, 

 passes through this section of our county, at about equal distance 

 from the foot of the ridge and the lake shore. Along this main road, 

 the land is good, and well adapted to the raising of wheat, corn, 

 oats and flax; and it being the first settled part of the county, con- 

 siderable attention has recently been manifested by the farmers in the 

 improvement of the advantages so bountifully bestowed upon them 

 by nature. Yet even in this section, it must be admitted that our 

 farmers are much behind some other portions of the State, where the 

 natural advantages, quality of soil and climate are far inferior. 



The timber in this section was originally chestnut, oak, maple, 

 beech, hemlock, and almost every variety, with the exception of pine. 

 Black walnut and butternut were to be found on all the streams and 

 valleys. The soil is generally a gravel and loam, extremely easy to 

 till, and produces abundant crops of grain, particularly corn. Wheat 

 does well, and perhaps may continue to, unless over cro])ping shall 

 be pushed too far. This soil is well adapted to the culture of clover; 

 and I have no doubt but the introduction of the system of rotation 

 of crops, and the use of clover as a manure, will be attended with 

 the best results here. Those who have tried it, are entirely satisfied 

 to continue the process, and consider it a great improvement. 



The high lands of this county are different from those described 

 above. The timber on them is generally beech and maple; the cli- 

 mate more frosty, and in the winter generally more subject to snow. 

 The soil is rich, but rather wet, consequently well adapted to grass 

 and the growth of stock, butter and cheese, &c. 



The southern tier of towns in this county, bordering on Pennsyl- 

 vania, are timbered with pine to some extent, and the soil more loamy 

 than the middle section. 



The products generally of Chautauque county, and on which the 

 agriculturist depends for profit, are cattle, horses, sheep, wool, but- 

 ter and cheese, and in the north part in some measure, pork, grain 

 and fruit. There is, perhaps, no portion of the State, or even of 

 the United States, where cattle, horses and sheep, are more healthy 



