Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume V.djvu/257

CONNECTICUT 253 birch, beech, ash, elm, maple, poplar, bass- wood, whitewood, and cedar. Most of the hardy fruit trees adapted to the climate grow naturally, and are easily and profitably culti- vated : the apple and pear in great varieties and perfection, the cherry, plum, quince, and formerly the peach ; also, berry-bearing shrubs and plants, as the.strawberry, raspberry, black- berry, whortleberry, barberry, cranberry, cur- rant, gooseberry, &c. Most of these grow wild, but some of them are much improved by cultivation. The strawberry is an important article of production for the market, and grapes are cultivated. On the rich alluvial bottoms arid highly manured uplands tobacco is extensively raised. Garden seeds are large- ly produced, especially in Wethersfield, and by the Shakers at Enfield. Hay is one of the most important crops of the state. From the na- ture of the soil and face of the country, mea- dows and pastures must ever be numerous and extensive. Away from the interval lands, the dairy and beef cattle are the most profitable for the farmer. According to the census of 1870, there were in the state 25,508 farms; the number of acres of improved land in the state was 1,646,752; unimproved, 2,224,085, of which 577,333 were woodland; value of farms, $124,241,382 ; of farming implements and machinery, $3,246,599 ; total amount of wages paid during the year, including value of board, $4,405,064. There were 34,935 horses, 190 mules and asses, 98,889 milch cows, 39,- 639 working oxen, 79,485 other cattle, 83,884 sheep, and 51,983 swine; value of all live stock, $17,545,038. The productions were 2,085 bushels of spring and 36,059 of winter wheat, 289,057 of rye, 1,570,364 of Indian corn, 1,114,595 of oats, 26,458 of barley, 148,- 155 of buckwheat, 1^,038 of peas and beans, 2,789,894 of Irish and 867 of sweet potatoes, 8,328,798 Ibs. of tobacco, and 254,129 of wool. The orchard products were valued at $535,- 954, and the produce of market gardens at $599,718; 27,414 gallons of wine were made, 6,716,007 Ibs. of butter, 2,031,194 of cheese, and 6,253,259 gallons of milk were sold. Other products were: 563,328 tons of hay, 1,725 bushels of clover and 4,471 of grass seed, 1,004 Ibs. of hops, 14,266 of maple sugar, 6,832 gal- lons of sorghum molasses, 1,326 Ibs. of wax, and 32,158 of honey. The value of forest pro- ducts was $1,224,107; of home manufactures, $53,297; of animals slaughtered or sold for slaughter, $4,881,858; total estimated value of all farm productions, including betternlents and additions to stock, $26,482,150. During the past few years much attention has been given in Connecticut to pisciculture, and laws have been passed for the protection and resto- ration of the fishes in the various waters of the state. The design is to introduce into the state new varieties of well known and market- able fish, and also to supply a greater abun- dance of the best varieties existing there. Under the supervision of the commissioners of fisheries, the principal ponds and many of the rivers have been stocked with fish, chiefly black bass, shad, and salmon from Maine and Canada. The first experiment in the artificial propagation of shad in the Con- necticut river was made a short distance be- low Holyoke dam, in July, 1867, when about 40,000,000 of young shad were put into the river. Since that date the commissioners have continued their efforts with success. The manufactures of the state are more general, multifarious, and productive than those of any other people of similar means. The abundant water power furnished by the rivers of the state contributes largely to this result. Nearly all the inhabitants are directly or indirectly in- terested in some kind of manufactures. Much of the machinery used is the fruit of inventions and improvements by the manufacturers them- selves, among whom may be mentioned the names of Whitney, Goodyear, and Colt. The ingenuity and inventive talent of the people of Connecticut have ever been remarkable. In 1872 the proportion of patents granted by the United States to the number of inhabitants was greater in Connecticut than in any other state, being one to each 829 inhabitants. Ac- cording to the census of 1870, Connecticut ranked first among the states in the pro- duction of clocks, India-rubber and elastic goods, and hardware ; next to -New York in the production of sewing machines, and to New Jersey in silk goods ; next to Massachusetts and Rhode Island in woollen goods, New York and New Jersey in hats and caps, and New York and Massachusetts in edge tools and axes ; fifth in the production of cotton goods, and eighth in the total value of all products. Connecticut has almost monopolized the manufacture of clocks for the United States and for a large part of the civilized world. Of the total value ($2,509,643) of all the clocks made in the United States in 1870, $2,245,043 were made in Connecticut. Nearly half of all the India- rubber goods and more than half of all the hardware manufactured in the United States in 1870 were the product of Connecticut in- dustry. In the manufacture of carriages Con- necticut is also noted. The other most ex- tensive manufactures are those of agricul- tural and mechanical implements, hats, leather, boots and shoes, paper, saddlery, cabinet fur- niture, combs, buttons, wooden ware, powder, glass, soap and candles, friction matches, silver and plated ware, jewelry, and distilled spirits. The total number of manufacturing establish- ments reported by the census was 5,128, using 711 steam engines of 25,979 horse power, and 1,988 water wheels of 54,395 horse power, and employing 89,523 hands, of whom 61,684 were males above 16, 20,810 females above 15, and 7,029 youth. The total amount of capital em- ployed was $95,281,278 ; wages paid, $38,987,- 187; value of materials used, $86,419,579; of products, $161,065,474. The chief industries are shown by the following table :