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agricultural societies and farmers' clubs now exist in the 

 States and Territories, but very few of which existed 

 only fifty years ago, and the number rapidly increases 

 with each revolving year. Agricultural colleges and 

 schools, and mechanics' institutes, are almost everywhere 

 to be found, and no one can foresee a limit to their num- 

 bers or usefulness. Thousands of patents are annually 

 granted by the Government for mechanical inventions or 

 improvements, and though comparatively few of them 

 may be either novel or useful, the value of others is uni- 

 versally acknowledged, and the activity of mind and in- 

 crease of knowledge they display cannot be too highly 

 appreciated. Each census shows an enlarged agricultu- 

 ral and mechanical production ; and though, from time 

 to time, it may be retarded by temporary causes, the 

 grand result shows a ratio of increase at least equal to, 

 if not greater than, that of the population. From 1850 

 to 1860, the increase of population was a fraction over 

 35^ per cent. In the same ten years the number of 

 farms increased from one million four hundred and 

 forty-nine thousand and seventy-three to two million 

 forty-four thousand and seventy-seven, being an increase 

 of 41 per cent. ; and the area of improved lands from 

 one hundred and thirteen to one hundred and sixty- 

 three million acres, being an increase of over 44 per cent. 

 From 1860 to 1870, owing to the war, the ratios of in- 

 crease diminished, that of population being only 22^ per 

 cent., that of the number of farms 30^ per cent., and 

 that of the area of improved lands 15 T 8 7 per cent. 

 another striking proof of the injurious effects of war upon 

 agriculture. But, nevertheless, there were one million 

 two hundred and ten thousand nine hundred and twelve 

 more farms in 1870, than there were in 1850 and seventy- 

 five million, eight hundred and eighty-eight thousand 

 four hundred and eighty-five more acres of improved 

 land an increase in twenty years that, under the cir- 



