'56 DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



The State and county averages compare thus per acre: 



Bushels. Bushels. 



Barley, State, 21.85 County, 27 3-10 



Indian corn, " 32.97 " 344-10 



Oats, " 20.79 " 32 6-10 



Rye, " 10.76 " 12 



Wheat, " 15.73 . " 18 8-10 



Potatoes, " 986-10 " 1298-10 



In all these products the county, rejecting fractions, exceeded the State 

 averages thus: Per acre, on barley, 6 bushels; on corn, oats and rye, two 

 bushels each; on wheat, three; and potatoes, twenty-one bushels. The 

 deficiency of the county in potatoes in the years 1865 and 1875, is more 

 than offset by its surplus per acre in 1880. The former surplus reported 

 for the State in oats, in 1875, when our county suffered by the army worm, 

 does not continue in 1880. In the great staples of corn and winter wheat 

 the surplus average of this county continues through alL these years, to the 

 credit of the county It will be observed that while Suffolk County pur- 

 chased in 1865 one-third, in 1875 one-sixth, and in 1880 one-tenth of all 

 the fertilizers purchased in the State, other counties were increasing their 

 proportion of fertilizers after her example, and following more closely her 

 methods. I introduce this account to show that such purchase pays: 

 The whole farm products of the State in value are $178,025,695 



" " " " " County, " " 2,198,079 



The county owns less than i-ioo of all the improved lands 

 of the State, and measured thereby, i-ioo of the pro- 

 duct is, . . . . ... 1,780,256 



Credit of surplus product to the county is $417,823 



Cost of fertilizers purchased in " " 272,134 



Excess product, , $145,689 



These figures add force to all former statements favorable to the qual- 

 ity of land or purchase of fertilizers to make farming pay in the county or 

 State. The variety of soil in Suffolk County is seldom found elsewhere. 

 For corn, no land on the continent is better suited. Midway between the 

 cold blasts of a northern climate and the extreme heat of a southern, it is 

 peculiarly adapted to the growth of that crop. In the production of wheat 

 its conditions are favorable. The low, moist lands of the southern sea 

 coast are well suited to raise oats. For vegetable growth and root crops, 

 both the variety of its soil and temperature of its climate are favorable. The 

 hardier fruits, like apples and pears, flourish here. The cauliflower and 

 strawberry are so extensively cultivated that for the transportation of both 

 crops extra railroad trains are specially run, and for the latter steamers from 

 Greenport to Boston. The tables of the census demonstrate much of these 

 remarks. But those of 1875 were compiled before the culture of these 

 crops had reached their present very large proportions, or become a largely 

 developed industry and been proved to be so profitable in pecuniary re- 

 sults. It is a matter of regret that no records exist whereby the precise ex- 

 tent of production in these crops can be ascertained. Yet it is significant 

 that as New York city has judged the flavor of Long Island potatoes to be 

 130 superior as to command a premium in her markets, so Boston seeks in 

 preference the strawberry that grew in Suffolk County. How this old 



