STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 295- 



In obtaining the present census, the agricultural inquiries were 

 directed to be made of the person in charge of each farm, or if 

 removed, of those having the best means of information.* 



* The instructions that were given for obtaining information under the several heads of 

 asricnltuial statistics were in substance as follows: 



^c/cs i/n;)/"Oi'cfl, to include all land reclaimed from a state of nature, deducting high- 

 ways, lakes, and ponds of water, when latter exceeded ten acres in area. 



Acres unimproved, to include all woodlands, uncultivated swamps and marshes, and 

 lakes, and ponds of water over ten acres in area, if considered private property. Unim- 

 proved village and city lots, unless cultivated, were not to be returned. 



Cash viilue of farms, to include the value of the whole farm, including buildings and im- 

 provements, as well as wild or unimproved lands. In making this estimate, reference was 

 to be had to the price the farm would ordinarily bring, if sold, and without reference to it« 

 assessed value. 



Cash value of stock, to be ascertained with reference to the current price of property of 

 this kind in the vicinity on the first day of June, 1855. It would, of course, depend upon 

 nearness to market, and other circumstances. 



Cash value of tools and implements. — All machinery used for agricultural purposes only, 

 a^ cider mills and presses, steam or other power, and machinery for thrashing, sawing, 

 churning, <fec., fixtures for making maple sugar, vehicles, and the tools, machines, and im- 

 plements of farm labor generally, were directed to be included under this head. Pleasure 

 carri'iges were not included. 



Acres ploiced the previous year. — In this column were entered the number of acres plow- 

 ed in the spring of 1854, for spring sowing and planting, but not the number plowed for the 

 sowing of winter grain in the fall, after producing a spring crop. 



Acres in follow the previous year. — This column was to include no part of the land enter 

 ed in the last preceding column. 



Acres in pasture the year previous. — This included only inclosed pastures. Highways, 

 fallow, and land entered as unimproved were not embraced. 



Acres in meadow, to include the amount of land reserved for mowinggrass or clover. As 

 the season to which the census referred was one of unusual drouth, in some sections, cases 

 might occur in which land so kept was not mowed; still, if so reserved, it was to be entered 

 as meadow. Some misunderstanding occurred with a few marshals at an early stage of the 

 census, by applying to the term "meadow," the English definition, of a flat intervale not 

 necessarily mown, but perhaps planted or sown. The term as used in this country is, it is 

 believed, applied as directed in the instructions, to all land mown for hay. 



Tons of hay. — As farmers seldom weigh the hay they collect for their own use, this inquiry 

 in most cases wag expected to be merely an approximation, estimated with reference to bulk, 

 extent c-f meadow, and amount of stock supported through the winter. 



Bushels of %rass seed. — This included the aggregate amount of grass seed specially har- 

 vested, or screened, from grain the year preceding. The seed of timothy, or herds grass, 

 (Phlcum, prntense), is believed to have been almost exclusively referred to under this head. 

 Clover, lucerne, and other secd.s of plants not gramineir, raised for feeding .•ti>ck, were not 

 entered in this column, but in the columns for uncnumenited articles of farm produce. 



Acres of sprint^ wheat sown, and bushels harvested. — These referred to the season of 

 1S54, in wiiich this crrp was anusuHlly short. 



Acres nf winter xrheat sown, and bvshels harvested. — These rffcncd to Ibo crop sown 

 in \Hb'.\, and harvested In the sommor of 1854. The acres sown, were directed to be entered 

 whether harvofltedor not. In some instances the crop wac no injured by drouth and insects 

 as not to Be worth the labor of gathering. 



Acres and bushels of oats, rye, (both winter and spring), barley, buckxrhcut, corn, 

 potatoes, peas, beans, turnips and Jlax. — Those all referred to the crop of 1864, and wore 

 mostly considerably b<low the average of common years. 



