Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XII.djvu/317

 NEW JERSEY 305 hilly regions the climate is remarkably healthy. The soil is productive, though of varied char- acter. That of the northern part of the state, including the Kittatinny valley, is character- ized by its abundant crops of grain and grass, and rich pasturage. The middle portion of the state, which is the most thickly settled, has been enriched by the judicious use of lime, greensand marl, and other fertilizers, and yields abundant farm crops, market garden products, fruit, &c. The southern part of the state has a light soil, and has been but partially cleared. The nearness of New Jersey to the great mar- kets of New York and Philadelphia has stimu- lated its farmers to improve their soil. The strip bordering on the Delaware from Tren- ton to Salem is probably the most skilfully cultivated and productive land in the United States. The vegetation presents no remark- able features, being similar to that of the cen- tral states generally. In the north are found the oak, hickory, and other forest trees, and in the south are valuable pine woods, cedar swamps, and a considerable growth of stunted oaks. The central region is the most thorough- ly improved part of the state, and forms a vast market garden from which New York and Philadelphia are in large part supplied. The apples and cider of this locality are famous, and the peaches of the more southerly section are excellent and abundant. Muskmelons, watermelons, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, Indian corn, wheat, rye, oats, hay, flax, grass seed, plums, apricots, and cherries are raised ; honey, beeswax, and butter are made; and there is, also a limited production of barley, tobacco, wine, silk, maple sugar, and hops. Several of the native wild animals, such as the fox, bear, and deer, are still seen in the forests. The total number of farms in 1870 was 30,652, of which 2,993 contained from 3 to 10 acres, 3,476 from 10 to 20, 7,376 from 20 to 50, 9,415 from 50 to 100, 7,299 from 100 to 500, 15 from 500 to 1,000, and 8 over 1,000. The average size was 98 acres. The land in farms was 1,976,474 acres of improved and 1,013,037 of unimproved, including 718,335 of woodland; the percentage of unimproved land to the total in farms was 33-9. The cash value of farms was $257,523,376 ; farm- ing implements and machinery, $7,887,991 ; wages paid during the year, including value of board, $8,314,548; estimated value of all farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, $42,725,198 ; orchard pro- ducts, $1,295,282 ; products of market gardens, $2,978,250; forest products, $352,704; value of home manufactures, $144,016 ; of animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, $6,982,152. The productions were 2,099 bushels of spring and 2,299,334 of winter wheat, 566,775 of rye, 8,745,384 of Indian corn, 4,009,830 of oats, 8,283 of barley, 363,983 of buckwheat, 56,221 of peas and beans, 47,05,439 of Irish and 1,550,784 of sweet potatoes, 26,306 of clo- ver and 72,401 of grass seed, 6,095 of flax seed, CROPS. Bushels. Yield per acre. Acres. Total value. Indian corn Wheat Rye. 10,442,000 1,948,000 485 000 86 16-2 14'1 290,055 120,247 $6,474,040 8,214,200 Oats 2 737 000 26'5 103 283 Barley 7200 24 'OAA Buckwheat Potatoes Hav 288,000 8,560,000 Tons. 416 800 16-5 90 1'08 17,454 89,555 404 17^ 276,480 2,385,200 521,975 tons of hay, 40,871 Ibs. of tobacco 336,609 of wool, 8,266,023 of butter, 38,229 of cheese, 19,033 of hops, 234,061 of flax 60,636 of honey, 2,021 of wax, 5,373,323 gal- lons of milk sold, 24,970 of wine, and 17,424 of sorghum molasses. The total value of all live stock was $21,443,463. There were on farms 79,708 horses, 8,853 mules and asses, 133,331 milch cows, 3,830 working oxen, 60,327 other cattle, 120,067 sheep, and 142,563 swine. The staple crops of 1873 were reported as follows : The total value of these crops was $24,310,- 580. The number and value of domestic ani- mals in 1874 were reported as follows : ANIMALS. Number. Average price. Total value. Horses. 115 700 $132 08 $15 281 656 Mules Oxen and other cattle. . . Milch cows is'ooo 83,900 147,900 146 65 33 86 45 75 2,199,750 2,840,854 6 766 425 Sheep 125 900 5 14 647 126 Swine. 163000 10 29 1 677 270 Total. 651 400 $29 418 081 It is estimated that more than half of all the cranberries produced in the United States are grown in New Jersey. In 1873 it was report- ed that 7,000 acres of cultivated and 10,00.0 of wild land were devoted to cranberries, and that the crop amounted to about 125,000 bush- els, worth from $2 50 to $2 75 per bushel. The chief cranberry counties are Ocean, At- lantic, and Burlington. The abundant water power of New Jersey, and its facilities of com- munication with the great commercial cities of the Union by railroads, canals, and rivers, have greatly developed its manufactures. In 1860 the amount of capital invested in manufac- tures was $40,521,048, and the value of pro- ducts $76,306,104. In 1870 the state ranked seventh in the value of productions, and eighth in the extent of capital invested ; next to New York in the production of hats and caps, next to Connecticut in India-rubber goods, next to Pennsylvania in steel, and next to New York and Pennsylvania in refined sugar and molasses. In the manufacture of silk goods and trunks New Jersey ranked above all other states. Of the total value ($7,755,488) of all the trunks, satchels, and valises manufactured in the United States, $3,793,000 were produced in New Jersey. The total number of manufac- turing establishments reported by the census