7 7 -A Agricultural Manual 



Settlement progressed but slowly for some time, owing to the 

 diseases which prevailed in early years, and to fear of Indian hos- 

 tilities and of British- invasion during the War of 1812. On the 

 return of peace, settlers began to arrive in considerable number, 

 principally from New England and eastern New York. The 

 completion of the Erie Canal gave a new impulse to immigration, 

 and the building of the New York "Central Railroad greatly 

 increased the value of land. 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 



In the early years the attention of farmers was largely devoted 

 to the growing of wheat, the grain that would sell most readily. 

 Other grains were cultivated, but in a more limited way. Mixed 

 farming later became more general, and dairy products and vege- 

 tables came to receive considerable attention. 



Apples and pears have always been extensively produced in 

 Wayne County. The first settlers in Sodus, Palmyra, and other 

 points planted apple seeds almost as soon as they •arrived, and 

 the excellent quality of the fruit produced led to the extensive 

 planting of orchards. Nurseries producing fruit tree cover a 

 wide area. Ornamental trees are produced in the southern part. 

 At the present time Sodus and Williamson lead in the production 

 of apples and small fruits, which are grown principally in a belt 

 extending four or five miles back from the lake. These towns 

 have also a large acreage of truck garden products. The Sheldon 

 pear had its origin in this county. In recent years raspberries 

 have been extensively cultivated. 



Another product that has given Wayne County a world-wide 

 fame is peppermint. This herb was first produced at about 1820. 

 At Lyons, some years later, Mr. II. G. Hotchkiss began to give 

 his entire attention to the business of manufacturing and selling 

 peppermint oil. Others took up the work, and at one time pepper- 

 mint was one of the chief agricultural products of the county. 

 It has now been entirely replaced by other lowland products. 



Within the last quarter-century the fruit industry has brought 

 into existence numerous evaporators or dry-houses, some of the 

 largest of which are located at Williamson, Rose, Sodus, and 

 Wolcott. Previous to the beginning of the recent war, Wayne 

 County shipped quantities of dried apples to Germany. With the 



