Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XVI.djvu/334

 314 VERMONT 65-05; July, 68-39; August, 65-82; Sep- tember, 56-31; October, 44-51; November, 31-38; December, 19-14; year, 41 '72; annu- al rainfall and melted snow, 41-11 inches; snow, 83'1 inches. The soil is generally a rich loam, most fertile where the underlying rock is limestone. The forest trees are hem- lock, fir, and spruce on the mountains, oak, beech, sugar maple, pine, hickory, elm, butter- nut, basswood, and birch on the lower lands, and cedar in the swamps. The mountains are generally covered with timber or afford good pasturage, and the proportion of unimprovable land is smaller than in some less mountainous states. As a large proportion of the land is better adapted to grazing than to tillage, much attention has been given to the raising of live stock, and the horses, cattle, sheep, and swine of Vermont are of excellent quality. The wild animals are the panther, wild cat, lynx, raccoon, wolf, fox, moose (found only in the extreme north of the state, and scarce even there), elk, deer, black bear, and rabbits and squirrels of several species. The birds are those of New England generally, but the north- ern aquatic birds appear in large numbers and early in the season on Lake Champlain. The lake yields large quantities and numerous va- rieties of fish. The muscalonge is the largest, and the lake white fish, salmon trout, pickerel, roach, perch, and other smaller fish are abun- dant. The protens, an uncommon reptile in northern waters, is found there in considerable numbers. The rattlesnake, the black snake, two or three species of adder, and the harm- less species of serpents are not infrequent. In 1870 the number of acres of improved land in farms was 3,073,257; woodland, 1,386,934; other unimproved land, 68,613 ; percentage of improved land in farms to total land in farms, 32'1. The total number of farms was 33,827, the average size being 134 acres. There were 1,719 farms containing from 3 to 10 acres, 1,998 from 10 to 20, 6,210 from 20 to 50, 10,761 from 50 to 100, 12,934 from 100 to 500, 102 from 500 to 1,000, and 15 of over 1,000 acres. The cash value of farms was $139,367,- 075 ; of farming implements and machinery, $5,250,279 ; total estimated value of all farm productions, including betterments and addi- tions to stock, $34,647,027. According to the United States department of agriculture, the chief productions in 1873 were as follows : CROPS. Quantity produced. No. of Km in each crop. Avtrag* yield per acre. Total rilo*. ndian corn, bush. Wheat Sye 1.743,000 69 000 56,887 24.987 81 16 $1,485,800 666.880 3ate 8 579 000 Jarley 97000 luck wheat... Potatoes 865,000 5,038 000 17,807 20-5 262.800 Tobacco, Ibs Say, tons 850.000 898200 275 1,272 70.000 Total 1,065,886 $18,568,796 The number and value of farm animals were as follows : ANIMALS. Nombtr. Arengt 1'lii-r. Total T.!U. 71,000 $85 20 $6,049,200 Oxen and other cattle... . 128,000 195,700 82 88 85 50 4,208,640 6947850 648.60U 8 50 1 951 524 Hoes... 68.600 9 59 618.065 In 1870 the productionof hay was 1,020,669 tons; wool, 3, 102, 137 Ibs. ; potatoes, 5,157,524 bushels ; butter, 17,844,396 Ibs. ; cheese (on farms), 4,830,700 Ibs.; hops, 527,927 Ibs.; maple sugar, 8,894,302 Ibs. ; maple molasses, 12,023 gallons; honey, 142,932 Ibs. In the production of these articles Vermont holds a high rank among the states of the Union. Practical measures have been taken by the state for the promotion of pisciculture. This industry is under the supervision of two com- missioners, who have deposited large numbers of shad, salmon, and other varieties of fish in the waters of the state. There are in the state 145 natural ponds of 50 acres and upward, covering in the aggregate 77,315 acres.' These are now inhabited by varieties of fish almost worthless, such as pickerel, bream (sunfish), suckers, and dace; it is proposed to stock them with trout, salmon, whitefish, &c. The total number of manufacturing establishments in 1870 was 3,270, having 186 steam engines of 6,425 horse power and 1,984 water wheels of 44,897 horse power, and employing 18,686 hands, of whom 16,301 were males above 16 years of age, 1,872 females above 15, and 513 youth. The capital invested amounted to $20,- 329,637 ; wages paid during the year, $6,264,- 581 ; value of materials used, $17,007,769 ; of products, $32,184,606. The leading establish- ments were as follows : INDUSTRIES. Agricultural implements Rlacksmithing Boot* and shoes < '.irriai:r- and wagons Cars, freight and passenger. . . Cheese Cotton goods, not specified. . . Flouring and grist-mill prod- ucts Furniture, not specified " chairs Leather, tanned " curried " dressed skins Lumber, planed 44 sawed Machinery Musical instruments Sash, doors, and blinds Bcales and balances Tin, copper, and sheet-iron ware Woollen goods 46 872 g^Pt ^jn 212 751 162! 016 250 92 451 500 418 828 821 187 6 17 19i 1342 637, 2,782 4S 678 a 204 48 881 2 868 97 889 439,175 262,000 156.390 60,000 $518,150 $523,669 278,665 * 281.679 465,670 175,000 107.700 670,000 888,886 620,207 452.470 445,828 546,510 M0.521 866,086 620.743 1,249.1)42 762,571 40,400 2.007,600 2.544,<i08 2.S72.451 8,525,122 l.o.M.o.X 1,122.567 802.0001 848,999 286,900 518,125 280,000 1,629,000 8684M 48 1,892 2,297,500 8,550,962 505.005 Besides the above, there were 54 mining and quarrying establishments, employing 906 hands ;
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