No. 63.J 183 



production and manufacture of wool in Onondaga county, a result 

 perhaps tobeexpected, when it is remembered that by the wheat grow- 

 er the sheep is preferred to all other animals, as most profitable on a 

 wheal farm. Less attention has perhaps been paid to the rearing of 

 horses in the county, than that of any other of the domestic animals, 

 still it has not been wholly overlooked, and many fine farm horses 

 have been produced. As all the farm work, or nearly all, is 

 done by horses, animals fit for the plow, or for draft, are in most 

 request, and have received more attention than any others. It may 

 well be doubted whether this practice of working horses to the entire 

 exclusion of cattle is not a bad one for the farmer, still W'here the 

 production of grain is the principal object, it is evident the horse 

 must be principally relied upon. Eut on farms where a mixed hus- 

 bandry prevails, where two teams are required, it is believed one yoke 

 of cattle might be advantageously substituted for the horses that now 

 usually fill their place. In order to show at a glance the relative 

 number of domestic animals in the county for the last few years, we 

 select the returns from the state census of 1S35, and the United States 

 census for 1840. Imperfect as they doubtless are in some respects, 

 they will serve as guides to examinations and reports which may 

 hereafter be made. 



Neat Cattle. Horses. Sheep. Hogs. 



1835, 49,533 17,620 121,835 50,284 



1840, 127,020 15,082 209,650 61,733 



The population in 1835 was 60,908; in 1840 it v-as 67,914. 



It is a subject of regret that we have no means of instituting a si- 

 milar comparison between the agricultural products of different years; 

 but the census of 1840 was the first estimate of the products of the 

 country. As a matter of curiosity, and to furnish materials for com- 

 parison hereafter, we copy from the returns of the census made to 

 the legislature, the following amounts of the principal products of 

 this county for that year. 



Wheat, 467,699 bushels. 



Barley, 384,615 do 



Oats,! 538,751 do 



Buckwheat, 14,420 do 



Corn, 401,293 do 



Wool, 316,139 pounds. 



Hops, 7,907 do 



Potatoes, 800^315 bushels. 



Hay, 64,145 tons. 



Sugar, 178,520 pounds. 



Dairy products^ $164,289 value. 



Orchard do 35,333 do 



The attention to the improved methods of agriculture is evidently 

 on the increase in this county. The quantity of land thoroughly- 

 drained, has quadrupled within the last two years; and such has been 

 its beneficial effects) that draining will continue to extend rapidly. 



