So. 112.] 425 



sumed bj ourselves. PotatoeSj carrots and tcriiips, about 100,000 

 bushels, none of which are exported. We cut also annuallj about 

 130,000 tons of hay, which is consumed by the different kinds of 

 live stock raised and annually kept in our county, which is as 

 follows, viz : Horses, 15,000 ; cattle of all kinds, 78,000 ; sheep, 

 60,000. Allowing 8 sheep to consume as much as a cow, it would 

 give to each animal fed about 2,700 lbs., or 18 lbs. per day for 150 

 days, which is abi^ut the average time necessary to fodder in our 

 section of the State. This, together with the straw and stalks 

 saved from our grain cropj will be found as near as may be what 

 is necessary to keep that amount of stock. 



5. The number of acres under cultivation for all parposes, is 

 continually increasing ; our farmers are using more economy in 

 the use of fuel, and feel it unnecessary to retain as many acre* 

 for that purpose as formerly ; besides the population of cur vil- 

 lages are increasing rapidly, which furnishes a ready market for 

 wood at from $1 .50 to $3 per cord. 



6. I think the number of animal stock is not increasing, our 

 farmers finding it for their interest to keep their stock better than 

 formerly. The native or common breed is yet xhe mosi numer- 

 ous. Considerable improvement is, however, making in a cross 

 with the Durham, Devon and Ayrshires. The Durhams are 

 almost unanimously acknowledged the best for fattening^ arid 

 some prefer them to any other for the dairy. The Devon and 

 Ayrshire each have their advocates, the Ayrshire on the whole 

 having the preference. Some, however, still stick to the native 

 breeds, particularly for the dairy. 



7. I think I may be permitted to assert tiiat thrrc is truly an 

 incre?.sed Sitii'Diion to set entiflc culLwaiio?t. Although wc have no 

 well educated scicntifc farmers in our midst, there is many who 

 are arousing from the lethargy of the past and looking with much 

 anxiety to the present and future interest of science in agricul- 

 ture. Our farmers are beginning Uj learn in very deed tha'. old 

 means of culu^ation are failing to produce what they forn^erlj 

 have done, and are anxiously inquiring what il^'^y shall do to re- 

 claim and fertilize their once virgin and productive soils. More 

 agricultui'al book.s and papers aro read, and with much more inter- 



