180 Mineral and Jlgricultural Resources of JVew York. [Oct., 



Turnips which are esteemed very highly with some, is not a crop 

 which furnishes a great yield for the entire state. The quantity 

 raised was 1,350,332, and the average yield per acre was only 

 88 bushels, which must be considered as quite short of what may 

 be grown upon an acre when properly cultivated. 



Remarks of the same kind may be made in regard to the po- 

 tatoe crop. For the average yield for the w^hole state is only 92 

 bushels per acre, while it is well-known that it is not at all difficult 

 to raise 300 bushels. In comparing different parts of the state 

 with each other, it will be found that the best wheat lands are 

 not the best for potatoes. 



The yield per acre for Livingston county was only 87 bushels 

 per acre. Onondaga yielded 90, while Alleghany gave an aver- 

 age of 99, Jefferson 143, Clinton 137, Westchester 89, Dutchess 

 84, Columbia 76, Rensselaer 75, and Washington 122. Broome 

 county stands as having yielded less than 30, which is probably 

 owing to some error in the returns. Delaware, w^hich we should 

 expect would yield good crops of potatoes, has returned an aver- 

 age of only 76 bushels per acre. It is difficult to assign a cause 

 for the small mean for this crop, it may be that as it is a crop 

 which all cultivate, and requires but little skill to get something 

 of a return for labor, that it is neglected, and it is rarely attempted 

 to raise more than an ordinary crop. It is not an article sent to 

 market, except when the market is near, and hence it is consid- 

 ered of little consequence to raise more than is required for home 

 consumption, which is easily accomplished by ordinary tillage. 



The premium crop of potatoes was raised in Lewis county, the 

 yield was 396 bushels per acre. Delaware gave in a crop of 

 324, Rensselaer 355, and Madison 426. We believe that 1,000 

 bushels of potatoes might be raised from an acre, if the crop was 

 cultivated with the same care that corn often is. It is still a 

 question whether the management of tbe potato is as well under- 

 stood as corn and some other crops, notwithstanding it is so gen- 

 erally cultivated. 



The quantity of flax raised in the state, was 2,897,062 lbs., 

 and 46,089 acres were under cultivation; the average number of 

 pounds per acre, is a little over 62. The river counties when 



