162 [Senate 



nure made, and consequently profits increased, while the fertility of 

 the land is increased. 



There are other improvements requisite to advance the agricultu- 

 ral prosperity of our county, but perhaps there are none of sufficient 

 importance to demand notice in this already extended article, which 

 are not obvious to all. 



Cortlajid Village, Feb. 13th, 1843. 



AGRICULTURE OF GENESEE COUNTY. 



BY THEODORE C. PETERS, DARIEN. 



Since the census of 1840, the county has been divided, and it is 

 possible that in collecting facts I may be erroneous in some figures^ 

 but in the aggregate, they will be found sufficiently correct for all 

 practical purposes. 



The county of Genesee is divided into thirteen towns and contains 

 about 306,000 acres of land^ of which about two-fifths, or 122,000 

 acres are under cultivation. Nearly all is cleared that wall be, ex- 

 cept by the gradual use of the standing timber for fuel or other do- 

 mestic purposes. Excepting that part of the Indian Reservation 

 which has not yet been brought into market, there is very little 

 woodland that is not enclosed, and used more or less Kor pasturage. 

 The policy of so doing is a doubtful one at least, wnen it is an ob- 

 ject to keep up a constant supply of fuel and timber, .as pasturing 

 prevents the growth of underbrush to replace the larger trees when 

 cut down. There are 33,000 inhabitants, of whom more than nine- 

 tenths are engaged in agriculture. The county has been settled 

 within the last 35 years. 



1st. Present condition of agriculture. — The present condition of 

 agriculture is comparatively good. Still there is room for much im- 

 provment, as the land upon an average does not yield more than one- 

 half of what it is capable of doing, as has been practically demon- 

 strated by farmers in the county. As capital accumulates among the 

 farmers, more attention will be paid to farming. It will be but a 

 few years before the land will be in as high a state of cultivation as 

 any other inland county in the State. As a body, the farmers are a 

 very intelligent, industrious, and prudent class, and I venture to say 

 second to none in the Union. Every year gives increased evidence 

 that they begin to take an interest in agricultural improvement. In 

 1840, before the county was divided, and contained upwards of 

 60,000 inhabitants, a call was made to form an agricultural society. 

 Seven individuals only answered to the call. They, however, formed 

 their society and put forth a list of premiums, although they had no 

 funds except what were to come from their own pockets. The ex- 

 hibition was fairly attended, and money enough raised to pay all 

 premiums and leave a balance in the treasury. The society held its 



