Nassau County 447 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 



A neck of land between Manhasset Bay and Hempstead 

 Harbor, formerly known as Cow Neck, was used by the original 

 residents principally as a common pasture. For this purpose it 

 was fenced off and the freeholders were permitted to pasture a 

 number of shoe]) or cattle in proportion to the number of panels 

 of the fence that they had respectively constructed. The pro- 

 duction of milk for use in the city of Brooklyn later became an 

 important part of the farmers' labor and income. 



Even before the advent of white settlers, the waters along 

 the north coast were noted for the excellence of their oysters and 

 clams. At about the beginning of the nineteenth century artifical 

 beds were first planted, and the business has since assumed vast 

 proportions on both the north and south coasts. 



The northern part of the county is well suited to the growth 

 of trees, and was originally covered with forests. Prominent 

 mention was made of apple trees and nurseries as early as 1670. 

 The commercial growing of ornamental trees is now carried on 

 extensively by Isaac Hicks and Sons, of Westbury. 



Fifty years ago general farming was followed to a far greater 

 extent than at the present time. In the northern part of the 

 county dairying and sheep raising were most prominent, while in 

 other sections grain was an important product. Finding that 

 they could not successfully compete with upstate milk producers, 

 the farmers gradually turned their attention to more profitable 

 crops. The rapid growth of New York City necessitating a larger 

 supply of truck crops, farmers responded by increasing their 

 acreage in such produce; for, being close to market, they were 

 able to raise perishable crops without danger or loss in trans- 

 portation. As the acreage of truck crops increased, the Long 

 Island Railroad developed, and special trains were run for mar- 

 ket men and their teams. These rigs were transported to Long 

 Island City and Brooklyn and were delivered from there to the 

 various markets. When auto trucks came into use, transportation 

 facilities were more easily solved, and at the present time nearly 

 all farmers market their produce in their own trucks, generally 

 using three-and-one-half ton or five-ton machines. 



