218 SELECTIONS FROM ADDRESSES. 



to furnish Middlesex with numerous markets. With such mar- 

 kets and facilities of communication, which nearly equal those of 

 the most prosperous districts of Europe,* and are surpassed by 

 none in America, what are the agricultural products of the 

 county, and how far are they capable of expansion t 



Their aggregate amount, by the census of 1845, is but two 

 millions three hundred thousand dollars, an amount large in 

 itself, and yet but one tenth of the produce of its manufactures. 

 And may we not safely infer from this disparity, if from no other 

 obvious facts, that the agricultural resources of the county are 

 not yet fully developed ; and that, when developed, the markets 

 of the county will require a vast amount of products not raised 

 within its limits, and furnish an overplus of clothing and other 

 manufactures which may with advantage be applied to their 

 purchase 1 



If we scan the agricultural returns of Middlesex, for the year 

 1845, we find its stock as follows : 



34,728 head of cattle, or 43 to the square mile. 

 9,776 " horses, or 12 " " 



4,428 " sheep, or 6 " " 



Let us contrast these returns with those from England and 

 Wales. This highly cultivated country exhibits, in an area of 

 less than sixty thousand square miles, 



4,000,000 cattle, or 67 to the square mile. 

 1,500,000 horses, or 25 " " 



26,000,000 sheep, or 450 " " 



* Prices in markets of Boston, Mass., and Liverpool, England, in 1847, in American cur- 

 rency. 



Boston, October 16, Liverpool, September 11. 



Beef, - - 6 to 15 rents. 12 to 16 cents. 



Mutton, - - 8 to 14 " 12 to 15 « 



Fresh Butter, - 18 to 28 " 28 to 30 " 



Fowls, per pair, - 75 to 125 " 72 to 84 " 



Turkeys, each, - 110 to 125 " 108 



Potatoes, per bushel, 70 to 80 " 48 to 56for601bi. 



Old Hay, for 100 lbs. r 85 to 100 « 



New Do, " " 75 to 85 " 70 to 85 " 



Salmon, per pound, 20 to 24 " 



Eggs, per dozen, 17 to 18 " 14 to 16 « 



