' 16 
100 per cent. ; TLunterdon reports little general increase over 1860; Warren, 40 
per cent. ; Ocean, 50 per cent., cranberry lands running to much higher figures ; 
Monmouth, 25 per cent.; Burlington, 20 to 25 per cent., much more in some 
localities ; Gloucester, 20 per cent. iu the best lands, and 30 to 40 per cent. in 
new lands recently cleared and opened up by railroad improvements ; Camden 
and Cape May about ten per cent. general increase ; Salem, 15 to 20 per cent.; 
in Cumberland and Atlantic large tracts of land, comparatively valueless in 1860, 
have been brought under cultivation, and much enhanced in value. 
2. The value of the wild or unimproved lands of the State varies greatly, 
from $1 to $300, according to location, quality and resources. In several of the 
counties there is very little land of this character. In Essex and Hudson counties 
there are many thousands of acres of salt meadow and swamp lands, which, when 
reclaimed, must become immensely valuable for gardening purposes, from their 
proximity to New York and the great depth of rich alluvial matter deposited 
upon them. A systematic drainage of these flats is now in progress with pros- 
pect of complete success, at an estimated expense of about $10 per acre. The 
market price of these lands is rapidly advancing in view of this effort at recla- 
mation. In Ocean county the average value is $15 per acre, but poor tracts may 
be bought at from $1-to $5 per acre; large tracts of swampy or bog lands are 
adapted to the growth of cranberries, which are extensively cultivated in this 
county. In Monmouth, unimproved lands run from $5 to $300, the latter for 
very superior timber. Burlington county gives an average of $6 to $10 per 
acre, pine lands and white cedar swamp, light sand, and black peaty soil; the 
former growing blackberries and strawberries’ admirably, and the latter, cran- 
berries, which are native to the soil. In Camden and Gloucester, $15 to $20, 
chiefly a sandy soil, with some tracts of stronger soil, suited to trucking and to 
some extent the growth of grass or grain; in Cumberland, Cape May and At- 
lantic, the price varies from $1 to $10, generally light, sandy soil, susceptible 
of improvement for growth of truck, small fruits, &c., and large settlements have 
sprung up within a few years and the value of the adjacent lands correspond: 
ingly increased. | 
3. In the northern counties valuable deposits of iron ore are found, and are in 
a fair state of development, with some copper and considerable building and 
other stone; while in the central and southern counties immense deposits of 
greensand marl exist. Hickory, white oak, black oak, and chestnut timber of su- 
perior quality is found in Hunterdon and Warren counties, and valuable cedar 
timber still remains in the swamps of Ocean, Burlington, Gloucester, Atlantic, 
and Cape May. ‘The marl beds extend across the State from Monmouth county 
through Ocean, Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem, to the Delaware, 
and is being largely developed as a fertilizer, free use of which has made fertile 
large sections previously of little value. ‘The raising of this marl has become an 
extensive business in Monmouth, Burlington and other counties, with constantly 
increasing demand, as the advantage of its application to the light soils of the 
State is no longer a question. The supply is comparatively inexhaustible. 
Muck also abounds in a number of counties, and is used as a fertilizer with 
marked benefit. The manufacture of glass has been extensively engaged in 
upon the pine barrens and sandy lands of South Jersey. 
4. A mixed husbandry prevails in most of the counties, embracing all of the 
grass, cereal and root crops suited to the latitude. Market gardening and the 
growth of small fruits are commanding much attention in districts contiguous to 
or in easy communication with New York and Philadelphia, and are engaged in 
with assurance of ready sales and large profits. Im Hudson, Essex, and Union, 
in East Jersey, and in portions of Burlington, Camdem, Gloucester, and other 
southern counties, this culture is made a specialty. In the western part of Bur- 
lington county alone, there were’ the past season about 1,400 acres of strawber- 
ries in bearing, 700 acres of blackberries, and 150 acres of raspberries; while 
g 
