AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS. 



Special attention lias been devoted, during the past year, to 

 the collection of more complete statistics of Agriculture than 

 have been heretofore obtained. There were, in 1845, 20 scythe 

 factories, making annually 170,328 scythes, valued at $113,935, 

 using a capital of $69,590, and employing 171 hands ; in 

 1855, there were 12 manufactories, making annually 182,280 

 scythes, valued at 1120,532, and with a capital of $66,000, 

 and 141 hands. 



Somewhat similar results are shown with reference to the 

 manufacture of ploughs. There were in 1845, no less than 73 

 plough manufactories, making, on an average, 61,334 ploughs^ 

 and other agricultural tools, valued at $121,691, employing a 

 capital of $58,575, and 158 hands ; while in 1855 there were 

 only 22 plough manufactories, making annually 152,686 

 ploughs, valued at $707,175.86 ; or 340,316 ploughs and other 

 agricultural tools, valued at $763,980.86, employing a capital 

 of $189,300, and 433 hands. 



The numl3er of establishments for the manufacture of shovels, 

 spades, forks and hoes, in 1845, was 39, and these articles were 

 valued at $275,212. The capital employed in the business was 

 $123,950, and the number of hands was 259. The number of 

 similar establishments in 1855 was 21, while the articles manu- 

 factured were valued at $894,515. The capital invested 

 amounted to $408,075, and the number of hands was 683. 



There are, in Boston, five large Agricultural Warehouses, 

 doing an aggregate business amounting to two and a half 

 millions of dollars annually. At these establishments, alone, 

 there were sold last year no less than 36,950 ploughs ; 5,815 

 cultivators ; 93,000 shovels ; 60,000 hoes ; 60,000 forks ; 

 138,600 rakes ; 33,600 scythes ; 12,000 axes ; 6,750 wheel- 

 barrows ; 11,900 hay cutters ; 12,165 corn shellers ; 5,100 

 grain cradles, and 1,850 horse rakes. 



The agricultural statistics of Mass., for 1855, are as follows : 



