426 [Assembly 



est than at any former period. Greater attention is aJso paid to 

 the making and saving manures than ever before. Little pro- 

 gresSj howeverj can be espeoted without the aid of chemistry in 

 the analyzing of ouv soils. We x? ant to know what properties 

 they contain, and what they lack, to produce the desired crop and 

 cultivate them successfuliy. I trust that we may be permitted to 

 hope that through the aid of our national and State legislators, 

 that aid will soon be derived and administered. That they may 

 be induced for a time to forego the miserable bickerings of party 

 politics, party aggrandisement and party spoils, and turn their at- 

 tentiou to the more important and legitimate means of supporting 

 and sustaining the propriety and independence of our State and 

 nation. 



8 Draining is receiving increased attention with the most bene- 

 ficial results. More has been done the past season than ever be- 

 fore. Many acres that have laid for years, entirely useless to its 

 owner, have by the means of draining become the most produc- 

 tive portion of the farm. The open drain is most in use ; some 

 are forming tlie blind drain with the small refuse stones of the field. 

 No drain tile has been used to my knowledge. 



9. Oar farms are steadily increasing in value. The(X)mpletion 

 of the Watertown and Rome railroad, terminating on the St. Law- 

 rence river at Gape Vincent, increasing as it has oui* facilities for 

 transporting and marketing our surplus produce, has also in- 

 creased the value of our farms at least 20 per cent the past two 

 years. 



10. Tlie products of our county are mostly marketed and deliv- 

 ered at Watertown, our county seat, situate near its center, a rap- 

 idly growing village, containing near 8,000 inhabitants. "Freight 

 is transported from there to New- York at the rate of $7 per ton j 

 live cattle to Albany at an average of $2.25 per head, in cars. 



In the foregoing I have endeavored to answer your inquiries as 

 correctly as my limited knowledge would permit, and although 

 submitted at so late an hour, I trust may slightly aid you in 

 the information required. 



Most respectfally and truly yours, 



JNO, A. SHERMAN, 



JEb President 



