No. 85. J 363 



two thousand one hundred horses. Whether there is another tract of 

 land on the globe, of this size, where an equal number of sheep are 

 sustained the year round, may be considered quite problematical. If 

 we include four more adjoining towns, we swell the number of sheep 

 to two hundred and forty thousand six hundred and sixty-four. 



This section abounds in streams and springs of excellent water. 

 The soil is mostly clay, and clay loam, with a portion of rich loam 

 on the swells, and on the low lands in some parts, may be found 

 muck and black sand. 



The nature of the soil, and its situation, is rightly adapted for both 

 meadow and pasture land. We much abound in natural meadows, 

 of a smooth surface, which are free from stone. There are many arti- 

 jicial meadows, which we term intervales. Both, the natural and 

 artificial meadows require but little improvement, other than the re- 

 moving of the superabundant moisture, by proper draining. But a 

 limited portion of the lands in this section, which are cropped with 

 grass, are supplied with manure, except what may drop from the ani- 

 mals that are allowed to graze thereon. 



The greatest proportion of all the improved land is natural mea- 

 dow, though we have large tracts flooded by Otter and Dead creeks 

 and Lemon-fair stream, which overflow their banks, in many instances, 

 more than half a mile in width, affording an abundance of hay and 

 grass, of a rich quality. 



Those higher meadow lands which partake more of the loam, de- 

 mand more attention in their management, as respects their always 

 being kept in good heart. On these, generally, may be found some 

 stone ; ihey produce excellent feed, and are occasionally occupied for 

 growing field crops or fed down by sheep or other animals. 



Formerly, large crops of wheat were raised on our clay lands. 

 The superabundance of this grain was conveyed to Troy market, on 

 wheels. But those meadows which remain in the state of nature, not 

 having been disturbed by the plow, are the best for grass. 



Our marketable products are now conveyed through the Champlain 

 Canal to Troy, and down the lake to St. John's and Montreal market. 



Our neat stock are mostly fattened for market, on grass. Those 



large, fine fat cattle frequently found in the Brighton market, called 



" lake cattle," are taken from this region ; and frequently, droves of 



fat oxen are sent to Brighton market, from this district, in the 



latter part of winter, which have been fed nothing but hay. 



There is no better test of good land, than its running spontaneous- 

 ly to white clover. Although it has not the sweetness of red clover, 

 it is our main dependence for grazing. Our hay crop is mostly white 

 and red clover, and timothy or herds-grass. Our sweetest hay is cut 

 from such lands as produce only about one and a half tons to the 

 acre. Our land is valued at from fifteen to forty dollars per acre ; 

 our farms are divided into fields of from ten to forty acres each. 



