PREFACE 



At the present time there is very little complete and specific informa- 

 tion concerning the history and status of agriculture in the various counties 

 of New York State, written in popular language and available to the general 

 public. In the belief that such information is wanted both by the residents 

 of the county itself and by persons living outside the county but interested 

 in it, and that the publication of a reconnaissance survey of local agricul- 

 tural facts and conditions in each county will do much to arouse local 

 pride, to call attention to local problems, and to make kno^^^l the agri- 

 cultural advantages and opportunities in a county, a series of circulars 

 has been projected. 



It is expected that each of these circulars, written by the local county 

 fann bureau manager under the general direction of the central of^ce, 

 will present a fairly complete statement of the agricultural conditions 

 and possibilities of a county. Besides a brief history of agriculture in 

 a county, each circular will include a description of the local climate, 

 soil, and topography, a statement of population, general business con- 

 ditions, market facilities, types of farming practiced, and tables showing 

 total production and tmit yields. Desirable systems of farm manage- 

 ment will also be pointed out, suggestions will be made, and attention 

 will be called to many important matters on which success in farming 

 depends locally. 



The second part of each of these circulars will be an account of the 

 local faiTTi bureau, its organization, and its ability to help in developing 

 local agriculture. Some of the most important functions of a farm 

 bureau association are: the study of local problems with the purpose of 

 finding solutions for them ; presenting to the general public in an attractive 

 manner the opportunities for farming in the county; and stimulating 

 local initiative. To increase the net incomes of farmers, thus providing 

 the means of obtaining better schools, churches, and roads, is to promote 

 the welfare of every citizen in the county. Such cooperative effort, 

 properly directed, should also restilt in a material increase in land values. 

 All these things, the parties cooperating in the farm bureau work in New 

 York State desire to promote. This publication, it is thought, will aid 

 the proposed work. 



Niagara was the seventh county in New York State to organize a farm 

 bureau. The work was begun before the general public understood it 

 well enough to be generally in favor of it and to give it good support. 

 Both for this reason and because the greater part of the county is already 

 well developed agriculturally, the work of the farm bureau has been 

 difficult from the start. It has, however, been well worth while. Niagara 

 is one of the richest and best-farmed counties in the State, and the pub- 

 lication in popular form of the facts about its agriculture should be of 

 great interest and value. 



M. C. BURRITT, 



Director of Farm Bureaus. 

 [2080J 



