298 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The most of our fields are too large if we are to keep what 
stock might be kept aside from raising grain. The individual 
who shall make the wished for discovery, of a satisfactory 
hedge plant, will be entitled to the lasting gratitude of the- 
present and future generations. 
Agriculture.— As a people we are devoted mostly to agri¬ 
culture. The soil will vie in productiveness with that of any 
other district of equal size in the State. It is principally a 
black soil, with a small proportion of sand, though we can 
boast of all the ordinary varieties of soil within our bounda¬ 
ries—sand, gravel, clay, loam, muck &c., &c. Wheat is the 
great staple; among the varieties are Canada Club, Fife, Rio 
Grande, Black Sea, &c., and lately there has been introduced a 
variety called China Tea. From the information I can get 
about it, it is thought to be an excellent kind of wheat. Black 
Sea is but little raised at present. The first two varieties 
appear to take the lead with farmers here. Spring barley is 
raised to a considerable extent, but is rather an uncertain 
crop. When the season is right for it,’ it produces largely. I 
am not aware that winter barley has been introduced as yet. 
Oats, too, are largely cultivated, and generally yield abundant 
crops. Corn likewise, is considerably raised, but not so much 
for shipment as for home consumption, except it be in the 
shape of pork or beef. It does well here generally. 
Potatoes likewise constitute one of our great productions. 
Flax has heretofore been raised to some extent, but for 
some cause but little, if any, is at present raised. It is my 
opinion that it is not a remunerative crop; not because the 
soil is not adapted to its growth, but because of the lack of a 
home market for both the seed and straw. Tobacco has been 
cultivated here, and good crops obtained, but it is now aban¬ 
doned for some cause. Sorghum has been cultivated to a con¬ 
siderable extent, and is considered a paying crop by those 
who have raised it extensively. 
All garden vegetables flourish exceedingly, and are raised 
to quite an extent. 
Most of the soils of this county are well adapted to the 
