Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/357

CONNECTICUT. in the menhaden and cod fisheries, so that at present the industry is almost wholly confined to oyster-fishing, the product of which was valued at $1,250,000 in 1897. Next in importance are the lobster fisheries, with an aggregate value of $83,700.

With the exception of the river valleys, Connecticut soil is not favorable to agriculture. The surface is broken and stony, and generally lacks fertility. With the development of the fertile and easily cultivated plains of the West, Connecticut, in common with the other New England States, found market prices reduced below the point of profit, and its farmers were forced to give up the occupation or improve their methods of farming. Since 1830 there has been a continual decrease in the production of almost every staple crop. In 1899 the acreage of corn (47,900) was twice that of all other cereals, and it was the only cereal which did not lose in acreage during the decade. But proximity to the best markets of the country has been of great advantage to Connecticut, and this, together with improved methods of tilling the soil, particularly the extensive application of fertilizers, has saved the agricultural interests from complete ruin. Hay is by far the most extensive crop, the acreage (480,000 in 1900) being more than three times that of the total for all other crops. Tobacco ranks next to hay in importance. The cultivation of this plant was begun in 1640, if not earlier, and it is confined mostly to the valleys of the Housatonic and Connecticut rivers. The tobacco, which is of superior quality and of mild flavor, is used chiefly for wrappers for cigars made from the stronger-flavored Havana tobacco. The acreage for 1899 (10,120) was the largest for any year recorded, and though constituting but 2 per cent. of the area for all crops, returned 13.9 per cent. of the gross income. The average value of the product per acre was $303, exceeding the corresponding figure for any other tobacco-growing State. Vegetables rank next to tobacco in value of product. The influence of the large city population of the State on agriculture has been to increase the interest in dairying and vegetable and fruit raising, for which purposes the land is well adapted. The dairy cows number about 127,000, and the dairy product for 1899 exceeded in value $7,000,000. The production of milk increased over 30 per cent. during the decade, but this gain was somewhat offset by a decrease in the manufacture of butter and cheese. There has been a decided increase during the last decade in the number of peach orchards, but apple-trees still constitute about three-fifths of the total number of orchard trees. With the exception of dairy cows, horses are the only kind of farm stock showing an actual increase during the last half-century; swine, sheep, and meat cattle have greatly decreased. Of the total land surface of the State, 74.6 per cent. is included in its farms, and of this but 40 per cent. is improved. While the farm area has remained about constant for a number of decades, the percentage of improved land has greatly decreased, particularly during the last decade. This curious fact is explained by the increase in dairying, etc., as stated above. The average size of the farms is 86 acres. Eighty-seven per cent. of the farms are operated by their owners, and among those rented the cash-rent method predominates. The

following comparative table for the years 1890 and 1900 includes the more important varieties of crops and domestic animals:

Connecticut is notably a manufacturing State, 19.5 per cent. of the total population being engaged in that industry. Though one of the smallest States of the Union, it ranks eleventh (1900) in the importance of its manufactures. Influential among the factors which have developed these interests have been the favorable geographical location and the excellence of the land and water communication of the State, the water-power afforded by its streams, and especially the inventive talents and industrious habits of its people. The proverbially ingenious Yankee is indigenous in Connecticut, and from an early day has excelled in the invention and manufacture of ‘Yankee notions.’ The names of Colt, Whitney, Goodyear, and Howe, among others, suggest the State's prominence in the past, while to-day more industries are protected by patents in Connecticut than in any other State; and in proportion to population the State also leads in the number of patents received.

By the Twelfth Census the State surpassed any other State in 11 important industries, producing 75 per cent. in value of the total ammunition output of the country; 56 per cent. of the brass manufactures; 63 per cent. of the clocks; 47 per cent. of the hardware; 76 per cent. of the plated and Britannia ware; 64 per cent. of the needles and pins. The development of manufactures has been steady, and the absolute gain was the greatest from 1890 to 1900, both in the number of establishments and the value of the product. In the seventeen most important industries a tendency toward centralization is evident, inasmuch as the number of establishments has increased less than 5 per cent. during the last decade, while the total product has increased over 45 per cent. In certain industries, however, quite the contrary drift is noticeable. The textile and the brass-manufacturing industries lead in importance, but the two fared differently from 1890 to 1900, the product of the former more than doubling, that of the latter increasing but slightly. The influence of the development of cotton-mills in the South is probably reflected here, the increase in the textile manufactures being in the dyeing, finishing, and silk products—branches which have not yet developed in the South. The cotton-mills of the State are clustered on the streams that flow into the Thames at Norwich. The following table shows the