IN WESTERN NEW YOEK. 259 



their workj he may maintain his family, and clear 8 per 

 cent upon the vahie of his farm. But if he farm more 

 largely, as a gentleman farmer, leaving the management 

 to an overseer, he will not make more than perhaps 2 or 

 8 per cent. Farming is much less profitable in my 

 county of Onondaga, during the last five years, than it 

 used to be. Exhaustion has diminished the produce of 

 wheat, formerly the great staple of the country. When 

 the wheat fell off, barley, which at first yielded 50 or 60 

 bushels, was raised year after year, till the land fell away 

 from this also, and became full of weeds. It still grows 

 50 bushels of Indian corn, and this is the best crop we now 

 get — but it must be manured. Much is now laid down 

 to grass to be recruited ; but those who are anxious to 

 make money are turning their hands to something else, 

 and either selling or letting their farms. A farm in a good 

 situation can be let to pay 5 per cent ; but as 7 per cent is 

 easy to be got for money, few persons care to continue 

 the owners of farms which they cannot cultivate them- 

 selves, and can only let to yield a return like this." 



Such was my new friend's opinion of agriculture in 

 the empire State ; and I have since met with many who 

 agreed with him in all essential points. No interest in 

 national importance can ever, in this New World, compete 

 with the agricultural ; and yet, after the first two or three 

 generations, the most energetic and aspiring sons of the 

 first pioneers forsake the scene of their fathers' labours, 

 and betake themselves either to other pursuits or to new 

 regions. A certain numerical strength, permanent 

 competency, and abiding position in long-known locali- 

 ties, will always in every country remain with the 

 owners of the land ; but in the United States, as else- 

 where, the energy and activity, and intellectual influence 

 upon social and political progress, will be mainly pos- 

 sessed by the alert and enterprising brood w^ho yearly 

 hive off from the old lichen-covered stationary stock. 



