174 [Senate 



give place to a more improved one. The breeds of horses are very 

 numerous, but I am unable to give the name of the different varieties. 

 There has not been any great improvement in horses for some years 

 past. 



The native breed of cattle mostly prevail; but there is some im- 

 provement by crosses of the Durham with the native going on, and it 

 bids fair to be of great service to the grazing community. The fine 

 wooled sheep is fast giving place to the coarser varieties in this 

 part of the county, such as the native, Bakewell and South Dovs^n,&c. 



The old large boned, long eared, long snouted hog, is being ex- 

 changed for the improved Berkshire, Leicester, &c. The beef is al- 

 most all fattened on grass, and mostly slaughtered and packed here; 

 but some are sold to drovers and driven to market. 



A variety of plov^^s are in use here, but those mostly esteemed for 

 turning sod, are the Livingston county and Scotch plow. We have 

 several other cast iron kinds esteemed for common use, manufactured 

 here. 



The square harrow, some with joint and some without, are mostly 

 in use. There are a great variety of threshing machines, straw cut- 

 ters, hay rakes, &c. in use here, and each have their admirers and 

 friends. 



I cannot give you any correct idea of the value of our lands, as 

 there are locations which would command any price, and others that 

 would be prized very low. 



The timber is of every variety almost which grows in this State; 

 but the dry land is mostly covered with beech and maple. 



The only change needed to advance the prosperity of the county, 

 is an improved mode of farming by a regular course of rotation of 

 crops and a strict economy in collecting, and a judicious application 

 of manures, together with habits of temperance, industry and frugal- 

 ity. These combined with honesty and integrity and a spirit of in- 

 quiry and emulation, will cause the desert to bud and blossom as the 

 rose, and the solitary place to be glad. And nothing is better calcu- 

 lated to bring about such a state of things, than the diffusion of agri- 

 cultural information among farmers; and this can only be accomplish- 

 ed through the influence of agricultural periodicals. 



AGRICULTURE OF ONONDAGA COUNTY. 



BY WILLIS GAYLORD, OTISCO. 



Since the current of western emigration began to overleap the 

 German settlements on the Mohawk, in 1783, and spread over the 

 fertile districts of Western New-York, the county of Onondaga has 

 held a distinguished place in its history ; and has exerted a powerful 

 influence in all matters connected with the prosperity of the state. 

 To this its natural fertility, its central situation, its hardy, industri- 



