324 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



are not returned in any statistics. The number of sheep in 

 1855 was 4,400, but in 1865 they had increased to 6,941, owing 

 undoubtedly to the great increase of wool caused by the war, 

 but the subsequent depression of the woollen trade caused their 

 decline in 1870 to 3,477, or 923 less than in 1855. 



The amount of hay produced in 1855, was 22,764 tons, but 

 in 1870, it was 28,501. The statement has been made that the 

 farm lands of this section of the State have materially deterio- 

 rated in fertility from their original condition, and the statistics 

 show the kind and amount of decrease of farm products 

 within fifteen years. There has' been a material falling off in 

 aggregate number of all domestic animals but horses and cows, 

 and of all products but hay, dairy products and tobacco. The 

 showing thus far, is a general break-down in the industry of 

 agriculture, apparently a continued depreciation of soil, de- 

 crease of crops in consequence, and impoverishment of the 

 farmer. Yet the fact is indisputable and beyond a doubt, that 

 the agricultural community of Eastern Hampshire were never 

 in so good condition as to-day. They have better houses and 

 barns, better tools and implements, possess more of life's com- 

 forts and luxuries, are less encumbered with debt, have more 

 absolute leisure, and do not tax their physical energies with 

 such exhaustive labor as did their fathers fifty or one hundred 

 years ago. We make more money from our farms, enjoy the 

 spending of more, and keep more than did they. We get 

 greater pay for our actual labor, and a larger per cent, on our 

 money invested in the business than did they. These facts will 

 be proved by other equally reliable statistics. 



The entire capital invested in the business of agriculture in 

 the ten eastern towns of Hampshire at the present time, in do- 

 mestic stock of all kinds, in tools, implements and vehicles, and 

 real estate, including all farm buildings, unimproved and unim- 

 provable land, is 16,386,277. The entire cost of labor, inclu- 

 ding board, to work this capital, in 1870, was $442,724. 

 Grant that all the other expenses of the business^are equal to 

 the cost of labor and, board (but they are much less) and the 

 whole cost of carrying on the business was, $885,448. The in- 

 come from all expenses and capital in 1870, including better- 

 ments and increase of stock, but excluding the value of the an- 

 nual growth of wood, was $1,660,828. Deducting the cost of 



