APPENDIX. 



191 



Col. Wright, in reviewing these tables, says : — 



In the foregoing table we have the true basis of comparison, quan- 

 tity, and when it applies, acreage ; the values are interesting as indicating 

 the value of same quantity at different periods. For 1845 and 1855 gold 

 was the standard, and of course for 1865 and 1875 the values should be 

 reduced to a gold basis ; this is done by dividing the currency value for 

 1865 by 1.57, and for 1875 by 1.12. The table just given shows only the 

 chief products, and principally those where comparisons could be made 

 for some or all of the years named. Very many products returned in 

 1875 found no place in former censuses, and are not mentioned in the 

 table. 



Much can be drawn from the foregoing table ; it teaches the changes 

 in crops, in value, in acreage, in average yield per acre, and the increase 

 or decrease in the leading crops ; the result is gratifying in many 

 respects, for while it is seen that there is a loss in the great staple prod- 

 ucts of barley, corn, oats, potatoes, and wheat, there is for each of these 

 crops an increased yield per acre ; the lighter crops, beans, beets, carrots, 

 cranberries, onions, and turnips, show large increase generally, not only 

 in amount raised, but in yield per acre ; the hay crop has increased in 

 quantity and in average yield per acre. 



The item of cheese in the foregoing table includes for 1875 that made 

 upon farms only, while for the other years it comprises the total product 

 of cheese, not only on farms, but from factories. The total product of 

 cheese for 1875 was 3,067,017 pounds, valued at $405,293. 



The egg and milk products exhibit wonderful progress, the latter grow- 

 ing from 2,850,412 gallons in 1845, and 10,079,180 gallons in 1865, to 

 35,698,159 gallons in 1875. Accompanying the great increase in the 

 milk product will be noticed the decrease in the beef product, dropping 

 from 70,825,396 pounds in 1865 to 12,258,542 pounds in 1875. 



Tobacco loses, many farmers, during the past five years, having aban- 

 doned it as a crop. Raising small fruits, pears, etc., will be found to 

 occupy considerable attention now, and their product has been returned 

 for 1875, but there are no statistics of former years with which compar- 

 ison can be made. 



An examination of the relation of quantities raised to acres tilled con- 

 vinces one that the farmers of Massachusetts have learned the important 



