from the journal of Mr. Gilliland, that this crop was largely cultivated, in his colony, prior to the revolution. From the tenor of a petition, dated 1st March, 1765, addressed by him to the "Society for promoting arts, agriculture and economy, in the province of New-York," it seems that institution was in the habit of "sending out to the poor settlers in the new territories, looms, spinning wheels, and reels," to promote the domestic manufacture of flax.* This Hay. I have already discussed, incidentally, the subject of the grass culture of the county, in its various connections. crop is of the first importance, and always commands a certain market, and at high prices. The product of hay, in the county, falls immensely below the consumption. A large amount of pressed hay, is imported annually, and is derived chiefly from Canada and Washington county. The price of hay is rarely reduced to $8, and often ranges from $15 to $20 per ton. The yield, is generally estimated, at an average of about one ton to the acre. The habitual sale of hay from a farm, of which the fertility is not preserved by other agencies, necessarily exerts a most pernicious tendency, and impedes, if it does not utterly destroy the progress and agricultural improvement of the land. The county embraces many tracts of alluvial and natural meadows, which are annually overflowed, and their native fertility thus preserved, even when subjected to this deteriorating system. Some districts of upland, illustrated by the ridges in the town of Jay, which have been described, and of great original vigor, have been for many years, exposed to this practice of cropping, without exhibiting any apparent or essential exhaustion. The application of gypsum, is known to be most efficient in preserving the fertility of these tracts. The dust of charcoal, is believed to be still more active and enduring in its fertilizing effect upon this land. The aggregate area of meadow land in the county, and its rela tive productiveness, have been largely augmented, under the pressure of the demand for hay, and by the improved skill in its management. • I have, with much interest, examined the original draft of this document, embracing highly valuable information in other respects. It contains the only evidence I have 2008 of the existence of the society referred to. The hay consumed by the Adirondac company, formerly cost $30 per ton, delivered at their works. The fact is now estab lished, that their own territory, in immediate proximity to their works, will yield all the hay, and of a most excellent quality, required for their consumption. In the improved tracts of the county, the general estimate, assigns one-third to meadows, one-third to pasture, and the remainder to tillage and waste land. Hops, are not cultivated as a field crop, in this county, although a very important one in the adjoining county of Franklin. STOCK. In no department of its husbandry has this county exhibited such decided progress, as in the quality and character of its stock. I cannot ascertain that a thorough bred animal was owned in the county, until about the year 1849. Grades of Tees water and Durham had been introduced probably before that period. It now contains individuals of nearly every breed, that may almost maintain an equal competition with the stock of any sec tion of the State. A race of horses almost indigenous to its soil is disseminated through the county, which combine properties of rare excellence. The high reputation of the Black Hawk horses has become widely diffused, and each year adds to their consideration. In no district have they been more extensively bred, or attained greater perfection than in this region. A new and wise policy in breeding has been adopted, tending in itself to advance the quality of the stock. The high prices of choice Black Hawks has mainly dictated this system. I refer to the ap propriation of the best mares to the most valuable horses for the purposes of breeding. The effect of this custom is now witnessed in the prevalence of a family of horses not exceeded, if equalled,. by any race in the Union. The owners of the original animal of this name, the great progenitor of the stock, claim a pedigree on the side of his sires, which extends to a horse imported by Gen. Delancy, in 1761, and embraces in his European ancestors, "Flying Childers," and the equally distinguished "Godolphin Arabian." The dam of Black Hawk is represented by his proprietors to have been a three-fourths blood English mare, of great speed and ex cellence. Others assert that the residue of her blood, or a still greater infusion, was of the Canadian or Norman stock. This cross has doubtless communicated to the breed its eminent traits of vigor and endurance. The Black Hawk is himself a scion of the Morgan family. A fact illustrated by the whole progeny of this stock, seems to assert its pretensions to high blood. The decisive stamp of the marked and peculiar characteristics of the stock, uniformly exhibited by these horses, must denote a strong and well defined blood, which thus impresses its qualities upon an entire race; and not the result of an accidental cross, producing an individual of great excellence. A practiced eye seldom er in distinguishing an animal of this stock. The original Black Hawk has a jet black glossy color, with a large flowing, wavy mane and tail; he is of good size, and larger than he appears, from the symmetry and almost faultlessness of his proportions His action is free, graceful and vigorous. The qualities which pervade and distinguish this stock, is extreme docility and great intelligence, admirable symmetry, great vigor and endurance. They are conspicuous for speed as trotters, and immense capacity for the road, The perfect form, brilliant coat, bright and promi nent eye, a heavy and waving tail, endow these amimals with exceeding beauty. A glossy black is the predominant color of the stock, although far from being exclusive. Almost faultless in their appearance and qualities, the strongest objection to this stock is the want of that size and physical frame that is required in a draught horse. Although the breeding of this stock has become so general in the county, as to almost form a distinct department of husbandry, the interest is undiminished, whilst the demand for them increases yearly, with ascending prices. Colts at four months sell promptly from $50 to $100; yearlings, from $100 to $1,000; older and choice stallions range in price from $1,500 to $1,500. The rearing of these horses is made a highly remunerative and prominent pursuit among the farmers of Essex county. The following is an excellent portrait of Black Hawk, the progenitor of the stock: The antagonistic pretensions of a different branch of the "Morgan" and the "Messenger" breeds, have even here strong advocates. A horse of the "Eclipse" stock, and a thorough bred animal, the "Leopard," that received the second premium at the State Fair of 1850, owned in Clinton county, near the boundary of Essex, have left a considerable impression of their blood in the county. Fine animals of all this stock occur among the breeders. Several remarkably fine Short-horns and Herefords have been introduced into various sections of the county, and are yearly exextending in numbers and growing in popular esteem. A Short horn bull, known as "Alexander the Great," imported from the western part of the State, and now in the possession of Mr. Rich mond of Moriah, would be distinguished in any herd as a nearly perfect and most beautiful animal. A number of very choice Devons were brought into the town of West Elba, by Mr. John Burn, in the year 1849. Several were exhibited by him at the county fair of 1850, and their rare beauty and remarkable appear ance produced a strong sensation. The influence of their exhi bition, led to the immediate purchase and introduction into the county of several superior animals of the breed. I am not aware of the existence in the district of a single individual of the Ayrshire stock. In the course of my survey, reference to the subject of that stock was continually made, and a strong desire manifested by the most intelligent farmers for its introduction. The important and salutary improvement in the general stock! so conspicuous in the county, is universally ascribed to the infe ence of the agricultural society. The exhibition of choice an rare animals which the fairs attract, arouses attention to their superior qualities. A competition and emulation has been er cited that is introducing into the county a class of cattle, which will soon impress upon its stock the highest character. It is apparent, from the table of the census returns, embraced in this report, that the wool growing interest of Essex county has already attained very considerable importance. The climate. the physical formation, the soil and position of this region will combine to render this territory one of the most eligible and prosperous wool growing districts of the State. Sheep thrive upon broken cliffs and rocky acclivities, where no other domestic animal, save the gat, could subsist. They browse and fatte upon the scanty bushes that mantle these positions, and up the coarse herbage that starts from among the fissures of the rocks The extended tracts of sandy plains, now waste and unprodu tive, are peculiarly adapted to sheep ranges. The light and dry soil is congenial to their habit and health, and they flourish up the short and coarse vegetation that abounds on these plains, but is rejected by other stock. The term of foddering of sheep, far shorter than that of other animals. |