



172 Mineral and Agricultural Resources of JVew York. [Oct., 



We have spoken of the natural channels of communication be- 

 cause they constitute a part, and no small part, of the resources 

 of the state, without which a fertile soil and mineral resources 

 would lose their great value. 



The mineral resources are remarkable for their distribution. 

 Iron ores belong to four great divisions of the state, the south, 

 west, north, and east, in each of which they are not far distant 

 from the great lines of communication already spoken of. Brine 

 springs and plaster belong to the central counties immediately 

 upon the Erie canal, or upon navigable waters. Flagging stone 

 of the best kind is within striking distance of the Hudson. Lime- 

 stone exists in all parts of the state, except in the southern tier 

 of counties, good stone for construction in most of the sediment- 

 ary rocks. 



We must not, however, dwell too long upon these important 

 products. We now propose to take up in detail the agricultural 

 resources of the state. Our object mainly will be to show the 

 aggregate amount of the products of the farm, and how these pro- 

 ducts are distributed over the state. 



Wheat, corn, oats, and barley, may be regarded as staple pro- 

 ducts, an excess of which is always raised over and above the 

 w^ants required for home consumption. 



The quantity of wheat raised in New York in 1844-5, was 

 13,391,770 bushels. This amount was harvested from 958,233 

 acres, thus averaging for the whole state, nearly 14 bushels per 

 acre. The average product per acre may appear very small, but 

 it must be remembered that some parts of thi" state where wheat 

 is attempted to be raised, is not well adapted to its culture, or 

 else much was destroyed by the insects. Indeed large tracts of 

 land which formerly produced good crops of wheat, cannot now 

 be employed in its culture on account of the wheat fly. Hence 

 the average for the whole state is reduced to a low standard; for 

 notwithstanding repeated failures, many acres are sown under the 

 hope that the result may be more fortunate; but still it is no doubt 

 true that in the eastern counties on the Hudson, the crop is be- 



