142 • [Senate 



and do better, than in this county. Although much remains to be 

 done to improve the breeds, yet many of our best herdsmen are al- 

 ready doing much towards an object so much called for. The Dur- 

 ham cattle for beef, and the Devons for work, are the most approved 

 here, and a cross of those breeds with our native cows, has been 

 found to produce the best of stock. The stock of sheep has been 

 much improved within the last few years, by the introduction of the 

 South Downs; a cross of that breed with our native ews produces the 

 best and most profitable kind of sheep for our climate. In relation 

 to horse?, there is no kind of stock so much neglected, or in w'hich 

 improvement is more called for in this county. I hope the time may 

 be not far distant, when this subject shall receive that attention its 

 merits demand. 



In relation to the feeding and fattening of cattle, the usual practice 

 is to let them run in the common pastures in summer, and after the 

 winter commences, stable them and feed on roots and corn ground 

 with the cob, which is, in my opinion, the most profitable way of 

 feeding corn to all kinds of stock, except swine. 



The high lands of this county (or the beech and maple land,) are 

 very natural to grass; and white clover will appear in all places as 

 soon as the land is cleared. The land is rich, and I believe would 

 produce good crops of winter wheat, if the farmer could pursue 

 some course of cultivation that would prevent the destruction of the 

 wheat by the frost of winter. This seems to be the only obstacle in 

 the way; the first crop after the land is cleared, is generally abundant, 

 but after the land has been plowed, the crop of winter wheat is ex- 

 tremely hazardous. 



Fruit trees are generally good and productive in this county, par- 

 ticularly in the north part. Near the lake the jjeach may be found 

 in abundance, but not on the high lands of the southern section. 

 There is not much attention bestowed on the cultivation of fruit as a 

 source of profit. The blight in pear trees is becoming general, and 

 in all probability will continue. 



AGRICULTURE OF CHAUTAUQUE COUNTY. 



BY JABEZ BURROWS, OF MAYVILLE. 



The county of Chautauque consists mostly of high land, except the 

 tier of towns bordering on Lake Erie, which consist of a rather dry, 

 gravelly soil — very productive of most kinds of grain — particularly 

 wheat, corn, oats, &c. But I think the wheat crop begins to fail; 

 I should judge, from over cropping; but residing myself on the high 

 land, others are better acquainted than I am with the facts. The 

 greater part of the county is high land, say from six hundred to one 

 thousand feet above the level of Lake Erie; and the soil is a rich, 

 moist loam, rather wet than otherwise, very natural to grass, and par- 



