108 



the products of the market gardens in the south-east 

 part of the County is carried to Boston ; Newburyport, 

 Amesbury, Haverhill and Lawrence are receiving sup- 

 plies from neighboring towns in New Hampshire and 

 Middlesex county. Add to these the early vegetables 

 and small fruits brought from the South, and there is a 

 large amount to counterbalance. The quantity of small 

 fruits, both fresh and preserved, and early vegetables 

 brought in is very large, and yearly increases, and I am 

 not sure but that what is thus brought into the County, 

 taking a number of years together exceeds what is sold 

 of all kinds produced here even during fruitful seasons. 

 If all the corn and oats were fed to the horses at the 

 rate of six quarts per day, it would last them a hundred 

 and nine days. The English hay divided equally among 

 the horses and mules, oxen and steers, cows and heifers, 

 and one fifth of the sheep, would give 1.33 tons to each 

 animal. Add in the meadow and salt hay, and they 

 will have 2.15 tons each. There are then only four arti- 

 cles of importance where the quantity raised comes up 

 to the demand. 



Thus the County has gradually passed from exporting 

 to importing provisions. This fact becomes more signifi- 

 cant when it is remembered that our farmers are engag- 

 ed exclusively in the production of food. Were any 

 considerable portion of land devoted to raising tobacco, 

 flax, broom-corn, or any material to supply our numerous 

 manufactures, the case would assume a different aspect. 

 This great deficiency cannot arise from an excess of 

 population, for in 1865, after deducting the 4,835 acres 

 of what is termed unimprovable land, there was still 

 more than one broad acre to every inhabitant. It can- 

 not be because too much land is given to the growth of 



