INTRODUCTION. 133 



the recent census, which, although not altogether reliable for accuracy, is still the 

 nearest approximation to the truth that can be found. 



Bushels of wheat, 12,309,041 



" barley, 2,301,041 



" oats, 21,89G,20j 



" rye, 2,723,241 



" buckwheat, 2,325,911 



" Indian corn, 11,441,256 



" potatoes, 30,617,000 



Tons of hay, 3,472,118 



" hemp and flax, 1,508 



Pounds of silk cocoons, 3,425 



" sugar, 11,102,070 



Gallons of wine, 5,102 



Pounds of wool, 9,845,295 



Pounds of hops, 447,250 



" beeswax, 52,795 



Horses and mules, 474,543 



Neat cattle, 1,911,244 



Sheep, .5.118,777 



Swine, 1,900,065 



Value of poultn,', 81,153,413 



" dairy products, 810,496,021 



" home-made family goods, . 84,636,547 



" productions in market gar- 

 dens, 8499,126 



" nurseryand florist produce, 875,980 



If, in a survey of the progress and present condition of agriculture, we find in it 

 many errors of theory to condemn, and many absurd prejudices and practices to 

 be removed, we also find grounds to hope for its continual advancement. It is a 

 science which appeals to us not merely by our desire to increase the public 

 wealth, enlarge the public intelligence, and elevate the standard of public virtue, 

 but as the surest guarantee for the perpetuity of that policy of peace and domes- 

 tic contentment which is indisjDcnsable to the existence of democratic institutions. 



Horticulture was practised as a merely useful art from an early j^eriod. A 

 great variety of fine fruits and plants was introduced soon after the war of the 

 revolution, by Wilham Prince and James Bloodgood, the ^proprietors of two of 

 the oldest and most extensive nurseries in the state. Many of our citizens, whom 

 pleasure or business called abroad, sent home rare and valuable varieties of trees 

 and plants. Chancellor Livingston, and other members of the same family, took 

 especial pains to introduce seeds of plants likely to prove desirable here, and 

 the trees thus planted, among which are many fine varieties of cherries and 

 other fruits, may still be seen at the manor garden in Clermont. 



The New- York Horticultural Society was founded by a combination of ama- 

 teurs and practical gardeners, in 1818. The first president was Thomas Storm, 



