INCREASING PROSPERITY. 325 



production, $885,448, we have a profit of $775,380, which is 

 more than twelve per cent, on the capital invested. The marked 

 deterioration of our farms, and their diminished yield was at its 

 lowest point from 1840 to 1855. Between these periods the 

 rapid increase of our manufactures of all kinds, the develop- 

 ment of our railway system, the increase of branches of busi- 

 ness, drew large numbers of our farmers from the land to en- 

 gage in other pursuits, so that the number of men engaged in 

 farming was very materially decreased from 1845 to 1860. The 

 stimulus given to other pursuits during these years, and the 

 increased population deriving their support therefrom, called 

 for larger supplies of agricultural products, and materially en- 

 hanced the price 'of some. 



Between 1855 and 1865, our farmers found themselves in the 

 dilemma of being called on for an increased amount of their 

 products at enhanced prices, with an inability for the want of 

 labor to meet the demand, and they were wise in their genera- 

 tion, and applied the labor they had to less acres, cultivated 

 more thoroughly, and produced such products as the markets 

 to which they had easy access demanded. Here our real im- 

 provement began, and the statistics show the suddenness and 

 the success of the change. 



In 1855 we had 5,259 milch cows ; in 1865, 4,896 ; and in 

 1870, 4,830. In 1855 we sold 456,272 pounds of butter, and 

 253,969 pounds of cheese. The value of the butter and cheese 

 sold was $116,182. At that time our farmers sold very little 

 milk. In 1865 we sold 213,209 pounds of butter, 168,245 

 pounds of cheese, and 110,240 gallons of milk, the whole value 

 being $103,709. In 1870 we sold 502,753 pounds of butter, 

 106,241 pounds of cheese, and 206,967 gallons of milk, the 

 whole value being $266,709, or more than double the value of 

 the product of 1855. In 1855 we had 25,684 acres in mowing, 

 which produced 22,764 tons of hay, or about 1,700 pounds per 

 acre. In 1870 we mowed 23,970 acres, which yielded 28,501 

 tons, or 5,737 tons more than in 1855, averaging about 2,400 

 pounds per acre. The proportion of " wet swale " mowing was 

 much less in the latter than the former period. There were 

 5,831 acres in Indian corn in 1855, which produced 167,099 

 bushels, averaging about 28 bushels per acre. In 1870, 2,605 

 acres, which produced 100,706 bushels, or about 38 bushels per 



