Average crop yields in 1840 are difficult to obtain but are assumed as: Potatoes 150 bushels/acre Oats 20 bushels/acre Wheat 20 bushels/acre Barley 20 bushels/acre The average farm grew 1 Vi acres of potatoes, 6 acres of oats, 2 acres of wheat and about Vi acre of barley. The total acreage of potatoes in all of Freetown in 1840 was 35 whereas the acreage for oats was 140-145. Barley was grown by less than half of the Freetown farmers. Sheep were the most common farm animal but cattle were also popular. The farmers with the most arable land in Freetown in 1840 were John Burns , (90 Acres); Jesse Strang , (65 Acres); Andrew Burns , (50 Acres); Simon Reeves , (50 Acres). The largest potato grower was John Taylor at 700 bushels or 4-5 acres. He grew the most oats with 400 bushels (or about 20 acres). He also had the largest number of hogs at 20 and was tied with Robert Baker and Jesse Strang for the most wheat harvested at 100 bushels (or about 5 acres). Robert Baker had by far the largest number of cattle at 45. An important aspect of any farming community at this time, the grist mill, was operated by John Burns . Richard Maxfield and William (Cale) Schurman each had a saw mill: which was important to a growing community for building homes, barns and outbuildings. In the 1850's, the size of livestock animals increased in size due to the better feed becoming available. The introduction of Ayrshire and Shorthorn breeds was a factor in increasing cattle size and the Clydesdale breed of horses was introduced, increasing the average size of the community's horses. The 1861 census also gives a detailed account of farming in the Freetown community: FREETOWN AGRICULTURAL DATA — 1860 CATEGORY AVERAGE AMOUNT Arable land 80 acres (Avg. of 59) Farm size 108.1 acres (Avg. of 76) Wheat 30.6 bushels (Avg. of 59) Barley 6.2 bushels (Avg. of 59) Oats 642.0 bushels (Avg. of 59) Potatoes 239.2 bushels (Avg. of 59) Buckwheat 28.5 bushels (Avg. of 59) Turnips 9.5 bushels (Avg. of 59) Clover Seed 4.7 pounds (Avg. of 59) Hay 3.2 tons (Avg. of 59) Horses 2.7 (Avg. of 59) Cattle 7.8 (Avg. of 59) Sheep 15.8 (Avg. of 59) Hogs 3.5 (Avg. of 59) By 1860, the average amount of arable land per farm had increased to just over 80 acres from just under 30 acres in 1840. Another major change from 1840 is in the average amount of oats grown. This number increased from 112 to 642 bushels in 1860. This is a six fold increase and suggests that oats had become a major cash crop by 1860. Assuming a yield of approximately 20 bushels per acre, an average of 32 acres of oats was grown, representing 40% of the arable land on the average farm. In 1860, John Cairns harvested the most oats in Freetown , at 2000 bushels (equivalent to 100 acres). He was followed by James Jardine , at 1800 bushels (equivalent to 90 acres), and John Burns Sr. , at 1500 bushels (or 75 acres). John Cairns was also the largest potato grower, with 900 bushels (equivalent to six acres). He was followed by Robert Schurman , at 700 bushels (equivalent to five acres). Buckwheat was a common crop in 1860 and Benjamin Thomson grew the most in Freetown , with 120 bushels (probably six acres). Wheat remained a common crop and Lawrence Malone , was the biggest grower, at 110 bushels (or five and a half acres). David Reeves , at 105 bushels, grew the second largest amount of wheat. Barley was grown by less than one half of Freetown 's farmers with the largest grower being William Reeves , at 37 bushels (or about two acres). Turnips were grown by eight of fifty-nine farmers reporting. John Cairns growing the largest amount, with 200 bushels. Clover seed was produced by only six farmers, John Lewis , the largest grower, harvested 100 pounds. Hay was a valuable crop for feeding livestock in the winter. In 1860, Ralph Schurman harvested the most hay at thirteen tons which, assuming a yield of one ton per acre, represents thirteen acres. 31