6G BOARD^OF AGRICULTURE. 



Araonj^ its otlicr recommendations, may be mentioned the 

 peculiar fattcnini^ properties of the seed, which have never been 

 full}" appreciated in this country. 



But two tons of this product were returned as raised in 1 840. 

 [n 1850 there were sixty-nine tons. The. next valuation will 

 probably increase this amount, and it is to be hoped that it will 

 hereafter become a prominent article of produce among us. 



IIop.s. 



The cultivation of hops may be alluded to in this connection, 

 thoufrh it is more confined than some other crops, to particular 

 localities. - The yield in 1 840, was about 237,941 lbs. In 1 850, 

 there were only about 150,655 lbs. 



Reclaimed Lands. 



I have before referred to the progress made in reclaiming 

 waste lands, and may now remark generally that, for some 

 time past much attention seems to have been paid to it. In 

 1840, there were 955,283 acres of unimproved land, and 

 360,278 thought to be incapable of improvement; the whole 

 number of acres returned being 4,491,812 acres. 



In 1850, the returns gave 715,294 acres unimproved, and 

 257,929 incapable of improvement. These facts show a most 

 gratifying advance in this important branch of agriculture. 

 Waste lands have been brought under cultivation at the rate of 

 24,000 acres annually, and that formerly considered as hope- 

 lessly barren has been reclaimed at the rate of 10,000 acres 

 annually. 



The land in tillage in 1840 was returned as 259,038 acres. 

 In 1850, it had increased to 300,269 acres, while the upland 

 mowing had increased from 440,930 to 528,025 acres, and the 

 pasture lands from 1,210,154 to 1,311,210. This makes the in- 

 crease in tillage land 41,230| acres; in upland mowing, 87,095; 

 and in pasturage, 101,056 ; making in all 229,3812 ^cres. This 

 shows how a very large part of the 239,9891 acres reclaimed 

 in the ten years has been appropriated ; the pasture land has 

 been turned into mowing and tillage, and the unimproved land 

 into pasturage or tillage. 



The draining of lands, also, is receiving increased attention ; 



