No. 63.] 215 



stone used for walls in Seneca county, if we except the blue and 

 olive shales, also more or less calcareous, which are formed in those 

 ravines which debouche into the Cayuga and Seneca lakes. 



Timber. — North of Seneca outlet the timber is beech, maple, elm, 

 whitewood, &c. &c. with the exception of a small extent of sandy 

 land in the N. W. corner of the county, covered with the Resinosa 

 pine and the Tinctoria oak. South of the outlet and alono- the 

 shores of the lakes, the white oak and hickory abound; but the 

 largest portion of the county is what is vulgarly called beech and 

 maple land; the water courses which form the ravines, as they deepen 

 at the lakes, are occasionally marked by the tonsured top of the Ca- 

 7iadensis pine, and the calciferous banks of the lake, is sometimes 

 ornamented with a delicate growth of the red cedar, Tuniperus vir- 

 gmiana and Sabina. In native botanical productions, Seneca county 

 is perhaps not behind any other county in the State. The State Geolo- 

 gist, Mr. Hall, dilates with kindly enthusiasm, on the number and 

 beauty of the wild flowers which came within his notit e, during his 

 official tour through this county. 



Soil. — The soil north of the outlet has been noticed; south alons 

 the lakes it is a heavy alluvion clam loay, in some places without 

 stone, shale or gravel; the ridges are sandy loams, rich with allu- 

 vion; the more level land is inclining to a clay loam. 



Climate. — Seneca county has much less snow in winter and less 

 rain in summer, than the counties east of Cayuga lake. The ther- 

 mometer may sometimes rise as high in summer, but it does not fall 

 as low in winter as at the city of Albany, by 10 degrees. 



Productions. — Owing to its warm dry climate, this county is bet- 

 ter suited to the production of grain than grass. The meadows pro- 

 duce a heavy crop, but the subsequent dry weather is a great draw- 

 back upon pasturage. It is true that owing to our short mild win- 

 ters, cattle and particularly sheep, may be wintered here at less 

 expense than in what is called the dairy counties; but the excess of 

 summer pasturage there, gives them the palm for butter and cheese; 

 still great attention is now paid here to the improvement in the breeds 

 of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs. Wheat and clover seed, and to 

 this may now be added flax and flax seed, may be said to yield the 

 Seneca county farmer more money than all his other productions. 

 Still, for the production of Indian corn, barley, pork, wool, &c. 

 Seneca county is as well adapted as any county in the State. Clover 

 and timothy are the only grasses cultivated here. Of roots, pota- 

 toes are raised of medium crop and good quality; the sugar beet and 

 carrot also attain their most luxuriant growth; they are better suit- 

 ed to our heavy tenacious soils than the ruta baga. 



Value of land. — Farms here sell at from $30 to $80 the acre, but 

 many farmers would not molest their tranquility and positive enjoy- 

 ment, by selling at any price. 



In relation to the " changes necessary to advance the agricultural 

 prosperity of the county," I reply, let more general intelligence be in- 

 fused among the rural population — let every farmer subscribe, first 

 of all, to an agricultural paper; that he may there learn the compo- 



