340 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



For the last two decades, since 1865, we have very careful, 

 and minute tables ; prior to that, for two decades, not so 

 complete, but enough to make interesting, and, so far as 

 they go, satisfactory, comparisons of the condition of our 

 farming. In the first place, we are shown, as before stated, 

 a gain in the past twenty years of 57,858 acres of land under 

 cultivation. The increased value of farm property is similar. 



Far))is and Farm Buildings. 



1865, $153,084,565 



1875, 182,663,140 



1885, .,. 185,118,925 



All Farm Properly. 



1865, $198,506,103 



1875 209,974,877 



1885 216,230,550 



We are also shown, that, while (with the exception of corn, 

 in which we hold our own) our crops of cereals have some- 

 what diminished, we exhibit a steady and large increase 

 of all agricultural and domestic products in thirty years ; 

 back of that our returns are too incomplete to make any 

 comparison. 



Agricultural and Domestic Products. 



1865, $32,027,821 



1875, 37,073,034 



1885, 47,756,033 



During the past forty years vast changes have occurred, 

 altering our whole manner of living. By the construction of 

 long lines of railway, the important staples of life, as the 

 cereals and meats, which our climate and soil could not have 

 furnished to our much more than duplicated population, have 

 been brought to our doors, at rates lower than we could 

 usually raise them with profit. But with the increase of 

 consumers has come a great demand and a cultivated taste 

 for many articles of necessary and luxurious food, formerly 

 unknown or uncalled for, now supplied by farmers and 

 gardeners. 



Of fruits, berries, nuts, etc., we raise $2,680,000 worth. 

 The whole product of fruits for 1845 was $755,382. Besides 



