By the annexed tables it will be seen merce, it has seemed proper, while exthat the total value of church property hibiting the actual condition of agriin the United States is $66,416,639, of cultural industry in the middle of the which one half is owned in New-York, century, to present in connection thereMassachusetts and Pennsylvania. In with some history of the character, inthe tables we specify the principal out troduction and increase of the most imof more than one hundred denominations portant of the agricultural productions of returned, although between some of these our country, and of their former and prethere are but slight shades of difference sent commercial consequence to ourin sentiment, or form of church govern- selves and other governments. Realizment. About thirty are returned as ing that all human life is dependent "African," thirty as "Independent," and upon it, and that the earth would be twenty as "Protestant," without distin- nearly depopulated by a year's failure, guishing them more particularly. These nearly all the nations of the earth, from and all the churches not properly classed the remotest period, have maintained under the heads given, are included in institutions preeminently calculated for "Minor Sects." All the varieties of the promotion of agriculture, honoring Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians husbandry, and encouraging the adare included under their general heads, vancement of the science. except where distinctly specified. There is one church for every 557 free inhabitants, or for every 646 of the entire population. The average number the churches will accommodate is 384, and the average value is $2,400. Churches are more numerous in proportion to the population, in Indiana, Florida, Delaware and Ohio, and less numerous in California, Louisiana and Iowa. Those in Massachusetts are the largest, and have the greatest average value. The preceding tables present interesting facts respecting the relative value and size of the churches in the several states, and those of different denominations. They also show the number of churches to the total population. AGRICULTURE. As agriculture is a branch of industry coeval with the history of mankind, its connection with the general welfare of the nation so intimate, its reciprocal bearing on manufactures so immediate, both admitted to form the base of prosperity and power of the people-as it is a branch of science, the prosperity of which, in all its resources, affects individuals of every order, and without which there could be no com Agriculture is now fostered by the nations of the continent of Europe; it is publicly taught in institutions designed for this special purpose, and in many of their colleges; and the result has been that, as formerly, while the ancients encouraged agriculture, and it received the attention of orators, and its praises and precepts were recited by the bards and sung by the poets, and monarchs participated in its labors, learning and agriculture went hand in hand, so that the greatest geniuses of the age identified themselves with its promotion; so in these later years, where properly fostered and encouraged, it has received the attention of some of the greatest intellects and scholars who have striven to throw most light upon this "grand art of rendering mankind happy, wealthy and powerful." In view of what has been done by other nations, of the little which has been accomplished by the official documents of our country, and in view of the fact that we possess no regularly organized office for the dissemination of agricultural information, although such an establishment was urged by Washington, and many of his successors in office to the present time, it is hoped that the de- reciprocally, and lead to a more general and perfect sympathy. The subject is one worthy a more able pen, and I would shrink from the task, conscious of inability to do justice to the subject, did I not suppose that this feeble effort may present points of practical value, for embellishment by those better adapted for votion to this subject of more space than STATEMENT SHOWING THE NUMBER OF ACRES OF IMPROVED AND UNIMPROVED LAND, IN FARMS, CASH VALUE THEREOF, AND AVERAGE CASH VALUE PER ACRE IN EACH STATE, ETC.: Lands-Farming Implements-Domestic Animals. IMPROVED LAND.-The statement under this head in the agricultural table shows that the average quantity of improved land, by which is meant only such as produce crops, or in some manner add to the productions of the farmer, is about seven and one-third acres to each inhabitant; but as perhaps twofifths of the population live in towns and villages, and are engaged in other pursuits than those of agriculture, the proportion of improved land to be assigned to each person occupying or working it may be assumed to be not less than twelve acres. In the New-England States, the average for the whole population is a little more than four acres to each person; in New-York and Pennsylvania, three and nine-tenth acres ; in the other Middle States the same. In Virginia the proportion is about seven acres; in South Carolina, six acres; in Kentucky, twelve acres; and in Tennessee, five acres. The cash value of the farms in the United States is set down at $3,270,733,093. 223 prices of labor so low, as to create less necessity for such machines; and nowhere does the same amount of ingenuity appear to have been exercised in their preparation as is evinced with our mechanics and husbandmen. In some portions of the old world where the necessity is felt and acknowledged by the intelligent, a predominating prejudice not unfrequently exists among others in the community against what is new, and prohibits the introduction of anything not stamped with the approval of their ancestors, nor covered with the venerable moss of antiquity. Here, however, no such sentiment influences the farmer to reject a useful invention. No greater delight was enjoyed by foreigners in London, during the great Industrial Exhibition, than that by Americans on the trial of the reaping machines and the triumphant success of the American Reaper. Of the whole sum expended in articles of this character, New-York has invested $22,084,926; Pennsylvania, $14,722,541; Louisiana, $11,576,938 (perhaps to a great extent in machinery for crushing sugarcane); Ohio, $12,750,585; Kentucky, $5,169,037; Virginia, $7,021,772. UNIMPROVED LAND.-This return is to be understood as including the unimproved land connected with or belonging to those farms from which productions are returned. In the present unsettled state of large portions of the country, DOMESTIC ANIMALS.-When we conthis classification is of less practical sider the social condition of nations, long utility than it will become at a future congregated and civilized, and necessaday, when similar returns will enable rily existing under the impulses of utilius to form calculations respecting the tarianism, it is not surprising that man, quantity of land brought into requisition whether possessing a permanent abode, annually for agricultural purposes. The or having emigrated to a distant land, preceding table exhibits the quantity and value of the improved and unimproved land belonging to the farms and plantations of the several states, and of course it includes the value of the buildings thereon. VALUE OF FARMing Implements AND MACHINERY. For no stronger proof of the ingenuity and activity of the American mind need we search, than that developed in the readiness with which labor-saving expedients for carrying on the commonest operations in agriculture are discovered and applied. One hundred and fifty-one millions of dollars would appear to be at this time invested in implements and machinery for aiding and abridging the work of the hands in cultivating the earth and in preparing its produce for consumption. In most civilized countries of the old world, so great is the density of the population, and the should become attached to those animals which have proffered to him their perfect obedience, sagacity, courage, strength, velocity, milk, fleeces, flesh, &c., and should regard them with admiration, gratitude, and even affection. Such, doubtless, was the case with most of the adventurers who first sought a new home on our shores, and brought with them those animals which would render them the most assistance and subserve the best purposes for clothing and food. The first animals introduced into America from Europe were by Columbus, in his second voyage, in 1493. He left Spain as admiral of seventeen ships, bringing a collection of European trees, plants, and seeds of various kinds, a number of horses, a bull and several cows. The first horses brought into any part of the territory at present embraced in the United States, were landed in Florida by Cabeza de Vaca, in 1527, forty-two in number, all of which perished or were otherwise killed. The next importation was also brought to Florida by De Soto, in 1539, which consisted of a large number of horses and swine, among which were thirteen sows, the progeny of the latter soon after increasing to several hundreds. The Portuguese took cattle and swine to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, in the year 1553. Thirty years after they had multiplied so abundantly, that Sir Richard Gilbert attempted to land there to obtain supplies of cattle and hogs for his crew, but was wrecked. Swine and other domestic animals were brought over to Acadia by M. L. Escarbot, a French lawyer, in 1604, the year that country was settled. In 1608 the French extended their settlement into Canada, and soon after introduced various animals. In 1609, three ships from England landed at Jamestown, in Virginia, with many emigrants and the following domestic animals, namely, six mares, one horse, six hundred swine, five hundred domestic fowls, with a few sheep and goats. Other animals had been previously introduced there. In 1611, Sir Thomas Gates brought over to the same settlement one hundred cows, besides other cattle. The year following Sir Ralph Lane imported some cows from the West Indies. In 1610, an edict was issued in Virginia prohibiting the killing of domestic animals of any kind on penalty of death to the principal, burning the hand and loss of the ears to the accessory, and twenty-four hours' whipping to the concealer. As early as the year 1617, the swine had multiplied so rapidly in the colony that the people were obliged to palisade Jamestown to prevent being overrun with them. In 1627, the Indians near the settlement fed upon hogs, which had become wild, instead of game. Every family in Virginia, at that time, who had not an abundance of tame hogs and poultry, was considered very poor. In 1648, some of the settlers had a good stock of bees. In 1657, sheep and mares were forbidden to be exported from the province. By the year 1722, or before, sheep had somewhat multiplied, and bore good fleeces. As early as 1629, the Plymouth colony of Massachusetts possessed cattle, goats, poultry and swine. Hence it may be concluded that their importation followed soon after the first settlement in 1620. In the year 1629, one hundred and fifteen cattle were brought over in the "Grand Embarkation," besides some horses and mares, several conies, and forty-one goats. In 1750, the French of Illinois were in possession of considerable numbers of horses, cattle, and swine. The present stock of the United States consists of the offspring of the animals first introduced into the country; the crosses of the original breeds with one another, or the intermixture of the progeny of these crosses with those of more recent importation and the pure-blooded animals brought directly from Europe, or the crosses of these with one another. The principal breeds of horses adapted for specific purposes, in the middle, northern, and western states, are the Norman, the Canadian, the Morgan, the Conestoga, or Pennsylvanian, the Virginian, and the Kentuckian. For carriages of heavy draught, the Conestogas are regarded by many as the best. For the saddle, draught, and other useful purposes, the Morgans are highly prized, especially in New-York. For roadsters, the Normans and Canadians are fre quently sought. For blood, the Virginians and Kentuckians generally take the lead. Among the various races of cattle existing among us, where strict regard is paid to breeding, with a definite object in view, a preference is given to the Durhams or Short Horns, the Herefords, the Ayrshires, and the Devons. The Durhams, from their rapid growths, early maturity and capability of taking on fat, are adapted only for high keeping, or to the richest pastures of the middle and northern states, and those of Ohio, Kentucky, and other parts of the west. The males, when judiciously crossed with the other breeds, or with the common cows of the country, often beget the best of milkers, and for this purpose they have been especially recommended. The Herefords, on the contrary, from their peculiar organization, are better adapted for poor or indifferent pastures, and regions subject to continued drought; and for this reason they are well suited for California, New Mexico, Texas, and other parts of the South. The oxen of this breed are good in the yoke, and the Varieties of Sheep, Swine, Cattle, and Horses. cows, when properly fed, give an abundance of milk. The Ayrshires are best suited for a cool, mountainous region, or a cold, rigorous climate. They succeed well in Massachusetts, New-Hampshire, and Vermont, and are highly prized for their tameness, docile tempers, and rich milk. The Devons, from their hardihood, comparatively small size, and peculiar structure, appear to be adapted to almost every climate and to all kinds of pasturage. From their stoutness, good tempers, honesty, and quickness of action, they make the best teams, and in this respect their chief excellence consists. The cows make fair milkers, and their flesh very good beef. They also possess great aptitude to take on fat. The kinds of sheep most sought for are the pure-blooded Merinos, the Saxons, the Cotswolds, the Leicestershires, the Oxfordshires, and the South Downs. The Merinos, including the Rambouillets, the Cotswolds, the Liecestershires, the Oxfordshires and the Saxons, are the most *highly prized for their wool. The South Downs are particularly esteemed for the excellence of their flesh, and their wool is valuable for many purposes, on account of the facility with which it can be wrought. The prevailing breeds of swine in the middle, northern, and western states are the Berkshire, the Leicestershire, the Suffolk, the Essex, the Neapolitan and the Chinese. From these and other varieties, various crosses have been produced, the more important of which are the Byfield, the Woburn, the Bedford, the Grass and the Mackay. The Neapolitans are particularly well adapted for a Southern climate. In 1627, the plantations on James river contained about 2,000 head of horned cattle, goats in great abundance, and wild hogs in the forest without number. In 1639, there were in Virginia 30,000 cattle, 200 horses, and 70 asses; and in 1648, there were 20,000 cows, bulls and calves, 200 horses and mares, 50 asses, 3,000 sheep, 5,000 goats, swine, both tame and wild hens, turkeys, ducks and geese innumerable. There were exported from Savannah, in 1755, 48 horses and 16 steers and cows; in 1770, 345 horses, 30 mules and 25 steers and cows; and in 1772, 136 steers and cows. In 1820-1, there were exported from the United States 853 horses, 94 mules, 5,018 horned cattle, 11,117 sheep, and 7,885 225 swine; in 1830-1, 2,184 horses, 1,540 mules, 5,881 cattle, 8,262 sheep, and 14,690 swine; in 1840-1, 2,930 horses, 1,418 mules, 7,861 cattle, 14,639 sheep, and 7,901 swine; in 1850-1, 1,364 horses, 2,946 mules, 1,350 cattle, 4,357 sheep, and 1,030 swine. According to the census returns of 1840, there were in the United States 4,336,669 horses and mules; 14,971,586 neat cattle, 19,311,374 sheep, and 26,301,293 swine; of 1850, 4,335,358 horses, 559,229 asses and mules, 28,360,141 horned cattle, (including 6,392,044 milch cows and 1,699,241 working oxen,) 21,721,814 sheep, and 30,316,608 swine. HORSES.-In the tables of 1840, horses, mules and asses were returned together; in those of the last census, the number of horses is given in one column and asses and mules in another. The increase in the aggregate number of these three classes of animals, during the ten years, was 559,053. It is presumed the greatest increase has occurred in the number of mules. Many suppose that the great extension of railroads has a tendency to dispense with the use of large numbers of horses; but one very good reason for the small apparent increase in the number of horses exists in the fact, that the enumeration of 1850 omits all in cities, and includes all or mainly such as are employed in agriculture or owned by farmers. In New-York, where there are less than a thousand mules, there appears to be a decline in the number of horses and mules together of 26,566; in Pennsylvania of about 13,000; in New-England of 17,000, or more than twenty-five per cent., while in all these states rail-road conveyance has almost superseded the use of horses for traveling purposes. On main routes we would more readily attribute the apparent diminution to the omission to enumerate the horses in cities and towns than to any superseding of horse-power, which the opening of rail-roads would often bring into requisition in various other operations. In Ohio, and the new states of the Northwest, the increase of horses has kept pace with that of the population. The four and a quarter millions of these noble animals in the United States constitute a proportion of one to five of the inhabitants. New-York has one horse to seven persons; Pennsylvania, one to six and six-tenths; Ohio, one to four; Ken |