600 [Assembly 



WASHINGTON. 



To John M. Stevenson, Esq., ^ 



President of the Washington Co. agricultural Society ; 

 Sir — In compliance with your request, in answering " inquiries'* 

 of a ^' circular" issued from the " State Agricultural Rooms," at 

 Albany, by B. P, Johnson, Esq., Corresponding Secretary, several 

 farmers have been consulted, their views obtained, and as the re- 

 sult of investigation, the following is submittedfor correction and 

 approval : 



" 1. The chief product ^^ for 1852, without an actual canvass, is 

 judged to be corn ; farmers of Washington county, by long expe- 

 rience, have found this their most valuable crop. Their farms 

 are adapted to its growth, and they appropriate more land to its 

 cultivation than to any other one variety of grain. Average crop, 

 30 or 35 bushels per acre. 



" 2. The increase or decrease of this year^ — Owing to the rava- 

 ges of insects, follow^ed with an unusual drought, as well as other 

 causes, the corn crop is considered one-fourth less than the last 

 year. The autumn was admirable for maturing the product. The 

 stalks were cured in fine order, which increases their value, es- 

 pecially as they are so much needed in the scarceness of other 

 fodder. 



" 3. The estimated numher nf acres devoted to this production^ a?id 

 the quantity aud quality i^roduced^ — The number of acres devoted 

 to the cultivation of corn has advanced upon the last year but 

 very little, if any. The quantity is one-fourth less, and the 

 quality better. 



"4. The condition generally of other important products^ and the 

 average quantity oj each?'' — Potatoes have yielded abundantly, of 

 large size and excellent quality, without disease. Farmers have 

 devoted more land to their growth than usual. The varieties 

 raised for market are principally the Early June, Carter, and 

 Peach Blossom. They have commanded fair prices j and it is es- 

 timated that not less than 2,700,000 bushels have been raised, 

 and part sold and sent to markets beyond the limits of the county, 



