xlviii 



INTRODUCTION. 



Indian corn in the New England States in 1860, 1850, and 1S40, together with the population. 



It will be seen that in the last ten years the production of Indian corn has decreased in Maine, 

 Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This is accounted for, in part, by the 

 fact that the year 1859, to which the census of crops applies, was unusually dry, and the crops in New 

 England suffered considerably. It must be confessed, however, that the figures, making all due allow 

 ance for the drought, do not place the agriculture of New England in a favorable light. 



The following table shows the production of Indian corn in the middle States, together with the 

 number of inhabitants in the years 1860, 1850, and 1840. 



The production of corn in the middle States increased over twenty millions of bushels from 1840 

 to 1850, and nearly fourteen millions from 1850 to 1860. When we consider that the production of 

 wheat during the last ten years in the middle States has fallen off very materially, this increase in 

 Indian corn is not more than might have been expected. 



The following table shows the production of Indian corn in the southern States, together with the 

 number of inhabitants in the years I860, 1850, and 1840: 



