Madison County 411 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 



An opening in the forest near Madison Lake furnished corn 

 grounds for the Indians long before white men came to Madison 

 County; app] is were then growing in several localities, including 

 StockbrnL*- Hill. The early settlers, who were practically all 

 home seekers, cleared land and began at once to grow wheat, corn, 

 and garden vegetables. Many bought a cow or two and some 

 sheep. Barley and fruit were much grown from the first, and 

 the strawberry apple was originated in the southern part of the 

 county at an early date. "While wheat was the principal crop in 

 the northern part, the southern part was devoted largely to the 

 production of grass. In 1816 the first commercial crop of hops 

 was marketed in New York City. A few years later the growing 

 of hops became one of the chief industries of the county and con- 

 tinued as such for many years, standing second only to Oneida in 

 the amount produced. Within the last twenty years there has 

 been a marked decrease in the acreage but there are still a number 

 of large hopyards, especially in the towns of Stockbridge, Madi- 

 son, Oneida, and Eaton. 



About the time of the Civil "War, and for many years after, 

 large quantities of cheese were manufactured. This business has 

 been on the decline since about 1890, while at the same time the 

 production of milk has been greatly increased. Dairying is the 

 leading industry ; all the railroads now run special milk trains 

 and practically all the milk is shipped to Xew York City. Stock 

 raising receives considerable attention. The blooded stock of the 

 county is a prominent feature, especially of the Holstein breed. 



The alfalfa crop, in which Madison County takes second place, 

 has a material influence on the extent of the dairy industry, as it 

 makes possible the keeping of a great number of animals. The 

 soil is well suited to the growth of alfalfa and produces from three 

 to five tons per acre, where from one to two and one-half tons of 

 hay were formerly raised. Agriculture of the present day may 

 be summed up as dairy farming and the production of canning 

 crops and the special crops of hops, alfalfa, onions, and celery. 

 Several hundred acres of muck land in the north are given 

 over to the production of onions and celery. Lettuce and peas 

 are also important products. There are canning factories at 



