152 [Senate 



on the margin of the ponds, might be obtained at little expense to be 

 applied to our soils, I venture to predict that it will at some future 

 day, be extensively used for that purpose. 



The soil in the valleys of the east and west branch of the Tiough- 

 nioga, and on the main stream below their junction, is esteemed best 

 in the county. That on the west branch, forming the towns of Cort- 

 landville, Homer and Preble, ranks first. In much of it hardpan is 

 not found, or only at great depths. It is thickly scattered over, and 

 literally " filled" with slaty pebbles, or " cobble-stones," rounded by 

 attrition, and which on fracture, exhibit numberless petrifactions. In 

 mucky " bottoms" where these stones are not found, or are less fre- 

 quentj the soil is less favorable for grain crops. On the hills hardpan 

 is more common, and is much nearer the surface, rendering some of 

 them wet, and of little value except for grazing. 



The price of land in the river valleys and the low hills adjoining 

 them, is from $30 to $60 per acrej remote from these valleys, it is 

 from $10 to $30. 



Timber.- — The dry lands of the county were originally principally 

 occupied by maple and beech. Elm, hemlock, bass-wood, ash, chest- 

 nut, &c. are also abundant. Chestnut, elm and ash, are used exten- 

 sively for rails, though the supply, if the same improvidence conti- 

 nues to be manifested, will soon begin to fail. Red beech and hem- 

 lock are often used for posts. There was originally some pine in 

 the southern section of the county, but it has nearly disappeared. 

 Boards for the construction of barns, fences, &c., are sawed from 

 hemlock. This timber, when it grows on high, dry soils, is a white 

 solid wood, and as valuable for such purposes as pine. There is 

 much of it of this quality in the county, and shingles of a good qua- 

 lity are sawed from it. It is somewhat remarkable that the white oak, 

 ash and chestnut of this country, lacks the strength and durability of 

 the same varieties in New-England. Elm is preferred to oak here, 

 for all purposes where strength is required. The cultivation of the 

 locust has been undertaken by numerous individuals, but the " borer" 

 is rapidly putting an end to all of these efforts. 



Present condition of its Agriculture. — The present condition of ag- 

 riculture in Cortland, is exceedingly various in various parts of the 

 county. In the better portions of it, the husbandry will compare fa- 

 vorably with that of any portion of the State in which the writer of 

 this has chanced to travelj and stands in marked and honorable con- 

 trast with that of many sections naturally possessing far superior ad- 

 vantages. There are few improvements in agriculture which have 

 not here found followers — few improved breeds of stock which are 

 here reared — few improved agricultural implements which are not 

 here in use. These remarks, unfortunately, however, will not apply 

 to the whole of our territory, or to the whole of our population, even 

 in the most favored sections of it. And it cannot be denied that we 

 have, if not an unusual, at least a very undesirable proportion of poor 

 lands, and of unskilful and improvident farmers. 



Among the changes which have taken place within the last few 

 years, which have tended to increase the agricultural prosperity of 



