173 



various circumstances ; on the number of purchasers, the abun- 

 dance or scarcity of money, the necessities of the seller, and 

 sundry other things. The value of land is to be deter- 

 mined by what it can be made to produce. If an acre of 

 land, after all expenses of labor, manuring, care and taxes are 

 paid, will, on an average of years, produce a crop worth six or 

 seven dollars, and, at the same time, furnish the means of 

 keeping up its condition, it must be considered as worth one 

 hundred dollars; and, as such, may be regarded as a secure 

 and eligible investment of capital. 



XXIII. Buildings. — The general growth of the county is 

 maple, hickory, yellow and grey oak, beech, ash, white and 

 yellow pine. The county, to a considerable extent, is cleared ; 

 and though there is still an exportation of boards and timber to 

 a small amount, yet it is largely dependent upon a foreign sup- 

 ply for its building materials. The buildings are principally of 

 wood. Brick houses are very rare, and stone houses, though 

 the material is abundant in all parts of the county, are more 

 rare. This conforms to the almost universal taste of New 

 England. The difference in the first cost between buildings of 

 rough stone, or of wood with its finishings, is not great ; and 

 when the superior comfort, both in winter and summer, of a 

 well-built stone house is taken into view, together with its du- 

 rability and the repairs incessantly incidental to a wooden 

 building, this material ought to be preferred. There is an ob- 

 jection which has its effect to buildings of stone, which is likely 

 to continue to have an influence ; and that is, in the perpetual 

 change of estates, residence and profession which prevails 

 among us. Our habits are too much habits of adventure. Few 

 estates remain in the same family through three generations ; s _;_ 

 and many of them change owners almost with the facility with 

 which a conjurer changes his cups and balls. We have no law H 

 of primogeniture ; and, much as it is to be regretted, few farm- j ' 

 ers find their sons willing to follow the profession of their / 

 fathers. Employments, presenting prospects of larger and 



