28 MASSACHUSETTS AGRTCULTUEE. 



according to her territorial extent, of all other agricultural 

 products, than either of the three States mentioned; while 

 even of these cereals we raise as much in quantity, and far 

 more in value, according to the acreage actually sown and 

 l^lanted. Take the items of hay and potatoes as representa- 

 tive products of weightier and bulkier class. In 1870 — 



Massachusetts produced of hay, . . 507,000 tons. 



Ohio " " . . 1,923,000 " 



Illinois " <' . . 1,895,000 '• 



Wisconsin " " . . 1,223,000 " 



Massachusetts produced of potatoes, . 2,208,000 bush. 



Ohio " " . 8,282,000 " 



Illinois " «' . 8,427,000 " 



Wisconsin " <' . 4,585,000 " 



Taking into account the difference of areas of these States, 

 — that of Massachusetts being only 7,800 square miles, while 

 that of Ohio is 39,964, Illinois 55,410, Wisconsin 53,924 

 square miles, it will be seen that, of the two products, hay 

 and potatoes, Massachusetts produces approximately twice as 

 much per acre as either Ohio or Illinois, and three times 

 that of Wisconsin. Take as further illustration the item of 

 tobacco, which our neighbors of the Connecticut Valley are 

 cultivating to a considerable extent. We raise 6,289,000 

 pounds per annum, or about one-eighth more than the entire 

 State of Illinois, with an area seven times our own, one-third 

 as much as Ohio, with an area five times that of our own, six 

 times that of the entire State of Wisconsin, and only one- 

 third less per acre than the famed tobacco State of Virginia, 

 while the value per pound in Massachusetts is double or triple 

 that of Virginia. 



Shall we, then, go West to engage in agriculture, on 

 account of the greater productiveness of the soil? Wait till 

 your prairie-lands and new Territories have withstood the 

 drain of even one generation's crop-raising without making 

 adequate returns to the soil in the shape of fertilizers, be- 

 fore 3^ou pronounce them so immeasurably superior to the 

 soil and crops of New England, both of which, after a fsish- 

 ion, have withstood the test of two centuries, and are yet far 



