322 30ARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The average value of the nine principal crops in all the States, 

 viz: corn, wheat, oats, barley, buckwheat, potatoes, tobacco and 

 hay is $18.71, being* 84 cents per acre short of the average for 

 Maine. 



It will be seen by these comparisons, that Maine is ahead of the 

 other New England States in the yield and value per acre of her 

 corn crop, and that she is but one and nine-tenths of a bushel per 

 acre short of the average yield of the six largest corn growing 

 States in the Union, and exceeds these States' in the value of this 

 crop $23.26 per acre. 



The wheat crop in Maine falls short of the average for New 

 England, one and seven-tenths bushels in amount, and $1.31 per 

 acre in value, while it exceeds the average yield of the six largest 

 wheat States outside New England two and four-tenths bushels 

 per acre, and $14.00 per acre in the valuation. 



The potato crops of Maine exceeds the average for the New 

 England States in both yield and value. It exceeds the average 

 yield of the six largest potato growing States outside of New 

 England, and $24.80 per acre in valuation of crop. She is twenty- 

 three hundredths of a ton per acre short of the New England aver- 

 age in yield of hay, and $6.94 in value, forty-four hundredths of a 

 ton per acre short of average for six largest hay growing States, 

 and exceed these States two cents per acre in value. She is three 

 bushels per acre short of the New England average for oats, and 

 two dollars per acre in value ; three bushels per acre short of the 

 average for the six largest oat growing States outside of New 

 England, but exceeds theui in the value per acre, $5.42. 



In the nine principal crops grown in the United States (leaving 

 out cotton as being more of a local crop), Maine exceeds the 

 average value per acre 84 cents, and by the returns for 1870 

 exceeds twenty-six States in the average per acre of her crops, 

 and is surpassed by only ten States. 



These statistics will probably surprise all who have not pre- 

 viously investigated this subject. It is true we have not taken 

 into account the fertility of the soil, and the greater facilities with 

 which crops may bo grown in the western States ; nor, on the 

 other hand, have we attempted to estimate the peculiar character- 

 istics which go to make up the glory and beauty of New England 

 life. It should also be remembered that so severe have been the 

 drafts upon the native fertility of that Western soil,, that its occu- 

 pants will be driven from necessity to adopt more laborious forms 



