94 Agricultural Manual 



was inserted in the slate constitution forbidding leases of farm 

 lands longer than twelve years. 



Besides its ancient importance as a principal center of the 

 Indian trade, Albany afterward became a place where the great 

 military expeditions against Canada were fitted out. It became 

 the permanent seat of the state government in 1797. For thirty 

 years after the Revolution, Albany received the entire trade of the 

 western part of the state, the produce being brought in by sleighs 

 during the winter. 



The first great impulse to its commercial prosperity was given 

 by the successful trip of Fulton's " Clermont." in 1807, and the 

 improvements in steam navigation that immediately followed. 

 Albany being the eastern terminus of the Frio Canal, the comple- 

 tion of the latter in 1825 added essentially to the growth and 

 prosperity of the city. Six years later, in 1831, the city was 

 further aided by the opening of the Albany and Schenectady 

 Railroad, which was the first in the state, as well as the second 

 in the United States. 



Albany was the home of Philip Schuyler, the Revolutionary 

 leader and patriot. The mansion in which he lived has been 

 purchased by the state and an effort is being made to preserve its 

 original appearance. 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 



When the English took control of tho colony in 1664 the prod- 

 ucts of Albany County included corn, wheat, flax, hemp, and 

 tobacco. Sugar made from the maple was a substitute for cane 

 sugar. The products that could bo exchanged were taken by 

 the English agent and in 1065 no grain was allowed to be shipped 

 down the Hudson. In 1692 wheat was sold at four shillings per 

 bushel. 



Tn 1860 Albany was the largest barley market in the United 

 States and was one of the three largest lumber markets in the state, 

 Troy and West Troy also standing among the foremost. By 

 1880 hemp and flax had generally disappeared from Albany 

 County farms, the cultivation of hops being largely substituted. 



At the present time the agriculture of Albany County is of a 

 very general nature. Rye is the leading grain crop, Albany County 

 ranking third in the state in its production. This county also 



