JUDGE DUEL'S ADDRESS. 315 



elsewhere. Yet, on a fair comparison with highly- 

 cultivated agricultural districts, I believe it will be 

 found that the husbandry of this state, in the main, 

 is susceptible of great improvement. The lands of 

 Connecticut were originally rich and productive. 

 The seasons are about as propitious as they were 

 wont to be ; the earthy elements remain in a great 

 measure unchanged ; and the lessons in improve- 

 ment that have been taught elsewhere, leave little 

 reason to doubt that, under proper management, 

 these elements may again be restored to their ori- 

 ginal fertility. 



In a late tour which I made through parts of New- 

 York and New-Jersey, I found many evidences of re- 

 cent improvement, and I doubt not that similar ones 

 abound in my native state. In a part of Dutchess 

 county which I visited, the best farms have been 

 sold within my recollection, with improvements and 

 buildings, at from seven to seventeen dollars an acre. 

 They cannot now be bought for one hundred dollars 

 an acre ; and one was sold last year at auction, with- 

 out buildings, at one hundred and thirty dollars an 

 acre. Fifteen years ago, a farm in Western New- 

 York of 400 acres, exhausted by bad husbandry, was 

 bought by a Scotch farmer for $4000. This farm 

 has been so improved by good husbandry, that the 

 owner was last year offered for it $40,000. He re- 

 fused the offer upon the ground that it actually net- 

 ted him the interest of $60,000, or $1050 the acre. 

 A farm was pointed out to me in New-Jersey which 

 was recently sold for $7 the acre, and that was all 

 it was said to have been worth in its then condition. 

 By a liberal outlay in draining, it being level and wet 

 ground, and in liming, manuring, &c., it is now con- 

 sidered worth $125 an acre. 1 went over another 

 farm which a few years ago was bought at the same 

 price, and which now, on account of the improve- 

 ments which have been made upon it, is -considered 

 worth $100 per acre. I am informed, on the best 



