USA > New York > Dutchess County > History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 69
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The church organization was formed in 1811, "by certificate of incorporation dated May 13, 18II." The first Trustees were George Ingraham, Frederic Powers, Peter Powers ; Geo. Ingraham, Society Clerk.
The first church edifice of the Society was built in 1812, a short distance east of the residence then of Thomas Ingraham, of whom the site was pur- chased. That house remained there until 1845, when it was removed to its present site on a lot donated by George W. Ingraham, and remodeled and enlarged. Rev. Samuel W. King was the pastor at that time. In 1867, under the pastorate of Rev. William E. Ketcham, the house was again enlarged, a steeple added, and a bell put in- donated by George Reynolds-at a cost of $500.00.
Up to 1821, the church was embraced in the Duchess Circuit. In that year Amenia Circuit was formed from Duchess Circuit, and the church re-
mained under the Amenia Circuit until formed as a station in 1845. It afterward became connected with a circuit known as the Amenia and Sharon Circuit, which connection it retained some ten years, and was again formed as a station. The first Sunday school was organized in 1827 and in 1828 contained, including bible-class, sixty-four scholars.
The following, so far as can be ascertained from somewhat imperfectly kept records, has been the succession of pastors from 1821 to date :-
Rev. Daniel Brayton, . 1821-22
Rev. Cyrus Stillman, 1823-24
Rev. John Reynolds, 1825-'26
Rev. William Jewett, 1827-'28
Rev. Fitch Reed, . 1829-'30
Rev. Samuel Cochrane, . 1831-'32
Rev. U. Fisher,. 1833
Rev. Richard Wyman,
.1834-'35
Rev. Fitch Reed, . 1836-'37
Rev. Bradley Sellick, 1838
*
* *
Rev. George W. Knapp, 1862-'64
Rev. James Birch, 1864-'66
Rev. Clark M. Eggleston,. I866
Rev. William E. Ketcham, 1867-'69
Rev. Charles Shelling,. 1869-'70
Rev. Silas Fitch, 1870-'72
Rev. G. H. Hawxhurst, 872-'74
Rev. F. Mason North, .1874-'76
Rev. Fields Hermance,. 1877
Rev. W. G. Browning,. 1878
Rev. James N. Ramsey, 879-'81
The present membership is about one hundred and ten.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception was organized permanently under Rev. Charles T. Slevin, about 1859. He was succeeded by Father John Osenego, he by Father Tandy, about 1868. The present pastor is the Rev. Daniel J. Corckery. The church edifice was erected in 1868.
THE CITY.
The City, so named at the first settlement of the place, because three log-houses were built there near each other, lies in the northwestern part of the town. It contains a postoffice, church, and a few dwellings. The postmaster here is Robert R. Thompson, who has held the office a nuniber of years.
The history of the Presbyterian Church here goes back beyond the memory of any one now living. In the year 1750, one hundred and thirty- two years ago, and fifty years after the formation of the first Presbytery in America by the Rev. Francis Makeniel and his associates, a plain
* This chair is preserved as a relic of those days.
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TOWN OF AMENIA.
church edifice was erected upon the ground now occupied by the present building. At an early date two churches occupied the ground now cover- ed by the Smithfield Church and Society. Both were originally Congregational, and remained so until the one ceased to exist and the other became Presbyterian in 1824. After the Revolutionary war, there was a successful effort to unite the two, for the opening record of Smithfield Church is in these words :---
" The records of the church of Christ in the towns of Amenia, Washington and Stanford, Duchess County, A. D. 1787, commonly known by the name of the United Congregational Church of Christ, in Westfield Society."
The use of the words, "United Congregational Church," clearly reveals a successful effort to unite the two societies, as the Rev. John Cornwall, it is believed, preached in both places from this time to his death. No evidence has been found that a settled pastor served this church from 1750 to 1775, and it is probable that during this long period the gospel was preached only by such ministers as might journey through this section of country. Among these was the celebrated Rev. George Whitefield .* Tradition tells us that the church edifices here could not hold the people who as- sembled to hear him. Near the church was a grove of oaks, under whose shade the masses lis- tened to this most wonderful preacher of the age. Five years after this, in 1775, the church gave a call to the Rev. Job Swift, D. D., f who preached here for more than seven years. He was born in Sandwich, Mass., June 17, 1743, but in early life his father removed to Kent, Conn. He entered Yale College in 1761, and graduated four years later. He pursued his theological studies under the eminent theologian, Rev. Joseph Bellamy, D. D., of Bethlehem, Conn. His first pastorate was over the Congregational Church in Richmond, Mass., where he remained several years. He went from the church here at the City, to Bennington, Vt., where he was pastor for fifteen years. He died at Enosburg, October 20, 1804. From 1782, the year when the labors of Dr. Swift closed in this church, to 1812, the church was without a pastor. He died March 18, 1812. July 7, 1812, a call was given by this church to Rev. Eli Hyde, which was accepted, and he remained as its pastor until May, 1821. During his pastorate, in 1814, the second church edifice was built on the site of the present building. From the close of Mr. Hyde's ministry
the church was without a pastor for more than three years, when the Rev. Robert G. Armstrong received and accepted a call, and was installed pas- tor by the Presbytery of North River, September 20, 1824. He had, however, served the church nearly two years as stated supply. He remained until June 21, 1831. Under his pastorate this church was duly organized as a Presbyterian church, January 25, 1824.
From the close of his ministry here in 1831, the church for four years was served by Rev. Geo. W. Kennedy and by Dana Goodsell, a licentiate from the Eastern Association of New Haven.
The Rev. William J. McCord was sent by the Presbytery of North River to supply this church, then vacant, the second Sabbath in January, 1835. In June of that year he was installed pastor, and served the church until April, 1847.
The Rev. George T. Todd became pastor in 1 848, and remained until the spring of 1855. Dur- ing the early part of his ministry the present church edifice was erected. Rev. Dwight K. Bart- lett was the next pastor, in 1759, and he remained until February, 1862. Rev. A. H. Seeley, the present pastor, began his labors here in 1863.
AMENIA IN THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.
The patriotism of Amenia in the war of the Revolution was both prompt and generous. The pledge adopted by the association formed in New York City, April 29, 1755, to oppose the oppres- sive acts of British government, was presented to the citizens of this town for signatures in June and July of 1775, by Roswell Hopkins, Samuel King and Silas Marsh, a committee appointed for that purpose. To this pledge four hundred and twenty citizens at once subscribed, and only six delayed or refused to sign. Those who were persistent in their refusal to subscribe to it were Joel Harvey, Philip Row, Samuel Dunham, Judah Swift, and Peter Slason. The latter, who lived in South Amenia, near his brother-in-law, Capt. William Chamberlain, who was a staunch patriot, never accepted the situation. After the war, when a pole was raised in that part of the town, crowned with the cap of Liberty, Mr. Slason was brought before it with a rope around his neck and required to confess his loyalty. He kneeled before the emblem of the nation's freedom and cried out "Great art thou, O Baal!"
Those who signed the Pledge of the Association -sometimes called the " Roll of Honor "-were
* He preached here in 1770.
+ His son, Hon. Samuel Swift, LL. D., was born here.
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HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
known as "Associators," and the Pledge was pressed upon individuals, at times with some de- gree of rigor, as a test of their loyalty. A Com- mittee of Safety was appointed, whose vigilance was particularly directed to the movements of the Tories, or those suspected of a want of loyalty to the country. A rude log prison, used for confining Tories and other suspected persons, was built about half a mile east of the present village of Amenia, and north of where the turnpike now runs. The remains of this prison were there a few years ago. In all there were four hundred and thirty- five names appended to the pledge, of whom one hundred and fifty, or more, were independent, sep- arate land-holders.
The following, as far as now known, are the names of the officers and soldiers of the Revolution who were residents of Amenia :-
Waight Hopkins, chosen Captain, July 27, 1775, in a regiment of Green Mountain Boys under Col- onel Ethan Allen and Lieutenant-Colonel Seth Warner.
In Regiment No. 6, of Militia of Duchess County, were the following officers, whose cominis- sions were dated Oct. 17, 1775 :-
David Southerland, Colonel. Roswell Hopkins, Lieutenant-Colonel.
Simeon Cook, Major.
Richard de Cantelon,* Major.
Joseph Carpenter, Adjutant.
Daniel Shepherd, Quarter-Master.
First Company .- William Barker, Captain ; Job Mead, First Lieutenant ; Noah Hopkins, Second Lieutenant ; Abner Gillett, Ensign.
Second Company .- Brinton Paine, Captain ; Sam- uel Waters, First Lieutenant ; Ichabod Holmes, Second Lieutenant ; Jesse Brush, Ensign.
Third Company. - Joshua Laselle, Captain ; Colbe Chamberlain, First Lieutenant; David Doty, Second Lieutenant ; Elisha Barlow, Ensign.
Fourth Company .- Robert Freeman, Captain ; Elijah Smith, First Lieutenant; Ezra St. John, Second Lieutenant ; Noah Wheeler, Ensign.
Minute Men of Amenia Precinct .- James Reed, Major; Reuben Hopkins, Adjutant ; Joseph Ketcham, Jr., Quarter-Master ; Increase Child, Captain ; John Lloyd, First Lieutenant ; William Blunt, Second Lieutenant ; Josiah Morse, Ensign.
Officers in General .Clinton's Brigade .- Colonel Graham, Captain Brinton Paine, Lieutenant Hop- kins.
In 1775, Rufus Herrick was appointed Captain in a Duchess County regiment.
In January, 1777, the following officers were
recommended for commissions according to their rank in Colonel Humphrey's regiment :-
Brinton Paine, Major.
William Chamberlain, Captain.
John McNeil, First Lieutenant.
Edmund Perlee, First Lieutenant.
Reuben Doty, Second Lieutenant.
David Doty, Adjutant.
The following served in the capacity of soldiers :--
Benjamin Hopkins, Jacob Bockée,
Jabez Flint, Jacob Powers,
Job Mead, Jr., Moses Harris,
Alex. Spencer, Jr.,
Daniel C. Bartlett,
David Rundall,
Ruger Southerland,
Joseph Mitchell,
Judah Burton,
Silas Reed,
Simeon Reed,
Samuel Reed,
Nathan Conklin,
Lemuel Hatch,
Oliver Hatch,
Peter Cline (Klein),
James Bump,
Conrad Chamberlain,
Samuel Gray,
Garret Winegar, Mackey,
Jones Knapp,
Silas Ray,
Barzilla Andrews,
Isaac Osborn,
Dr. Reuben Allerton,
Ephraim Lord,
Bezaleel Rudd,
Joshua Newman,
Isaac Delamater,
Warum Kingsley, (?)
Amos Pennoyer,
Asa Hollister,
William Brush,
John Benedict, .
Joel Denton,
Of these and others who entered the service of the Colonies, Simeon Cook was an influential citi- zen, and one of the first to give himself to the work of the war. He was promoted to the rank of Major, and distinguished himself in battle near Fort Independence, near Peekskill, in 1777. Of the five sons of Capt. Stephen Hopkins, Waight and Benjamin, who joined the Green Mountain boys under Ethan Allen, were both killed by the Indians. Roswell Hopkins was a Colonel and participated in the battle of Saratoga. Dr. Reu- ben Allerton was Surgeon of the regiment in that campaign. Reuben Hopkins, * the youngest of the brothers, was Adjutant in Col. Graham's regiment.
Major Brinton Paine was a prisoner in the hands of the British in April, 1777.
Moses Harris, Jr., was a spy and was held in much confidence by Washington. After the war he was rewarded for his service by a grant of land in Westfield, Washington County, N. Y., now the town of Fort Ann.
Alexander Spencer, Jr., was a volunteer in Arnold's expedition to Quebec, and died on the march.
* Not a resident. Probably a professional soldier appointed to the regiment for the instruction of the soldiers in the science of arms.
* Born in Amenia in 1748. In the war of 1812 he was appointed one of the eight Brigadier-Generals of this State, He then lived in Orange County.
John Congdon,
Stephen Edget,
Jeduthan Gray,
Samuel Benedict, John Ford,
Jesse Pennoyer.
355
TOWN OF AMENIA.
Jabez Flint entered the service at the beginning of the war, and joined the army near Boston. He was in service near New York, when the retreat was made from Long Island, and his company es- caped with peril from Governor's Island. In 1777, he entered the regular army for three years, and the next winter was one of the heroic sufferers of Valley Forge. He became Assistant in the Quarter-Master's Department, and then Assistant in the Commissary's Department. He died in 1844, aged eighty-eight years.
Capt. James Reed, Capt. Isaac Delamater and Judah Burton were in the Commissary Depart- ment.
Mackey, mentioned in the general list, was a colored man who had been a slave, and whose freedom had been gained by patriotic ser- vice. He lived near Amenia Union in a little home which had been bestowed upon him for his services.
THE WAR OF 1812.
In this war there was but a partial response to the call for men. A few men entered the regular army, one or two volunteer companies were rais- ed, and sent to New York, and drafts were made from the uniformed companies and other militia. Col. John Brush commanded the troops from Duchess County, which were stationed at Harlem Heights.
Henry Perlee, son of Edmund Perlee, who re- sided at the City, was Captain of one of the com- panies. Edmund Perlee had served in the Revolu- tionary War, and two more of his sons were in this war of 1812, Edmund and Abraham, the latter of whom was severely wounded in a battle on the northern frontier .*
Capt. Jacob Rundall, William Barker, and Samuel Russell served under Col. Anthony Dela- mater.
Jesse Barlow was Captain of a volunteer com- pany, and was stationed on Staten Island.
Archibald Allerton served as Lieutenant in a company of light horse. There are but few names known of others who served in this war, and we give them, as follows :-
William Snyder, Elijah Stevens, Russell Stevens, John Jenks, Elijah Andrews, Ashbel Porter, Cor- nelius Jordan, Isaac Latimer, Seymour Haskins, Alexander Haskins, Asa Hollister, Hezekiah Lewis, Eben Wheeler, Solomon Wheeler, Simeon Hall, George Reynolds, Jonathan P. Reynolds, Milton Mason, Enoch Anson.
Lieut. Obed Barlow died near New York of fever, at the age of twenty-one. Lieut. Phoenix Bockée was taken sick and died in Poughkeepsie. Caleb Chamberlain returned and died at home.
Colonel Henry Brush was Captain of Ohio vol- unteers in this war.
Captain Ambrose Spencer, aide to General Brown, was mortally wounded at the battle of Lundy's Lane, July 25, 1814.
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
A complete record of the soldiers in this war was never kept. So far as can be ascertained, from official documents and private sources, the following men entered the service from Amenia to aid in the suppression of the Rebellion.
128th Regt., Co. B .- Charles E. Bostwick, Cap- tain ; Henry L. House, Seargent ; George H. Gor- ton, Corporal; J. VanHovenburgh, Francis Mitch- ell, George Haight, Riley Burdick, Seneca H. Marks, William H. Haskins, Edwin Johnson, Charles Tweedy, Oscar F. Parks, Charles H. Baker, George L. Drake.
Co. D .- Archibald Field.
Co. F .- Charles H. Pinder, William Teator.
Co. I .- Daniel Hawes, James O'Donnell.
150th Regt., Co. A .- Lieutenant Henry Gridley, [a graduate from Amherst in 1862, enlisted in that year. He was one of the best officers in the ser- vice and greatly beloved. He was killed at the bat- tle of Culp's Farm, south of Kenesaw Mountain, June 22, 1864.] George Ingraham, William Wat- tles now in U. S. Marshall's office, New York ; John L. Hofftailing, Amos T. Bates, John Hart, died in the service; Seabury Birdsell, William Chamberlain, Hamilton Bramin, Charles Benton, Abiah B. Hall, William H. Bartlett, Isaac M. Mead, transferred to the 5th N. Y. Cavalry, now a druggist in Amenia ; Edwin Davis, Miles K. Lewis, now a merchant in Wassaic; James H. Vasser, now in Custom House, Boston ; Thomas Dye, dead ; Milo D. Rogers, Benjamin Buckley, William E. Salisbury, Ira Fish, died in 1880 ; Chester A. Andrews, Isaac N. Palmer, Charles E. Griffin, Michael Fitzpatrick, John Davis, Thomas Benham, died in the service in 1864; William Reed, dead ; John Coller, George T. Wilson, Nelson Wilson, John Van Alstine, killed at Gettysburg, July, 1863 ; John G. Borden, J. Curtiss Smith, Nathan W. Reed, Albert Reed, died in service ; Henry Winans, died in service ; James Lyman, Nicholas Sheldon, Eugene M. Kempton, enlisted in August, 1862, discharged in July, 1865, now postmaster at
* The other sons were Walter and John.
356
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
Amenia village; Horatio S. Chamberlain, Andrew T. Winters, died in the service.
Company E .- Oscar W. Fiero, John Tallman.
Company 1 .- Levi King (dead), Thomas Mack, Edward Hart, Joel Dykeman.
Scattering .- David Watts, Ist Conn. Heavy Ar- tillery; Miles St. John, Sergeant-Major, 48th N. Y. Infantry ; Thomas Batlers, Co. B, 4th N. Y. Heavy Artillery ; Albert Buckley, Co. G, 48th N. Y. In- fantry ; William Davis, Co. E, 12th N. Y. Cavalry; John W. Teator, Co. H, 6th N. Y. Cavalry ; George Dewey, Co. C, 26th Reg't., U. S. Colored Troops ; Aaron H. Ingraham, enlisted in 1861 in Co. C, 48th N. Y. Infantry, killed at battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864, and buried on the field.
In the Presbyterian church, in the village of Amenia, is a memorial window, the gift of the church, to the memory of the soldiers "slain in 1863, '64, '65, Amenia's offering on the Altar of National Unity."
The following names are there inscribed :--
Lieutenant Henry Gridley, George Flint, Aaron Ingraham, George H. Couch, John Van Alstyne, Albert Reed, Charles R. Wilbur, naval service, died and buried at sea ; Thomas Benham, Charles Ingersoll, Henry Dykeman, William H. Haskins, died fromn wounds received at Cedar Creek ; Rob- ert Watts, John P. Van Hovenburgh, John Hart, Willis Chamberlain, John P. Wing, George Wing, Charles W. Bishop, Riley Burdick, Andrew T. Winters, William Frost, Charles Mitchell, John Pitcher, John C. Welsh, John Flaherty, Frank Cleaveland, John Clark, Harrison M. Leroy, Hez- ekiah Lee.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.
DESAULT GUERNSEY.
Dr. Desault Guernsey was born in the town of Milan, Duchess Co., June 13, 1830, but at an early age removed to the city of New York with his father, Dr. Peter B. Guernsey, who for many years was a prominent physician in that city. He was educated and fitted for college at the grammar school of the New York University, at that time under the control of Chancellor Frelinghuysen. His medical education was obtained in the offices of his father and Dr. Willard Parker, and in attendance on the lectures of the College of Phy- sicians and Surgeons, Medical Department of Columbia College, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine in the year 1850.
Shortly after, he was appointed House Surgeon to Bellevue Hospital. Completing the term of service here, he received the appointment of As- sistant Physician to Marine Hospital Quarantine, when his health, after a little over one year's ardu- ous labor, became seriously impaired by an attack of ship fever. Resigning his position, he returned to Duchess county, locating at Pine Plains, where for several years he was successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. Just before the outbreak of the war he was unanimously chosen delegate to the State Convention called for the purpose of nominating Daniel S. Dickinson as a candidate for Presidential honors; the project being in the inter- est of pacification, with the hope of avoiding im- pending national calamities.
In 1862, the the Doctor was appointed surgeon of the 174th Regiment, N. Y. S. V., by Gov. Morgan, having before served as volunteer surgeon with Gen. McClellan during the memorable con- flict of Antietam. He went with his regiment to New Orleans in the Banks Expedition and served with it up to the attack on Port Hudson, when he received a severe injury from the fall of his horse, causing a fracture of the leg, which incapacitated him from futher service.
Returning home he located at Amenia, and from the first has been most successful in his pro- fession, taking at once a high position among the business men of the town. The Doctor is an indefatigable worker, for in addition to a large practice as physician and surgeon, he holds the responsible position of President of the First Na- tional Bank of Amenia ; is President of the Board of Trustees of the Amenia Seminary, and also owns and manages one of the largest dairy farms in the County. Besides these he has extensive property interests to look after in other directions.
In his profession he has won by his native worth and merit not a few responsible positions, among which may be mentioned: President of the Duchess County Medical Society, Member of the State Medical Society, Member of the Ameri- can Public Health Association, and many other offices of trust and responsibility.
His home in Amenia was formerly known as the " Reynolds Cottage," the homestead of his wife, the eldest daughter of the late Joseph Reynolds, Esq. The cottage, which is well preserved, has been greatly improved in later years. It is now combined with a large imposing mansion, which embraces among other architectural features, a tower, porte cochere, and all the equipments of a palatial country home. The landscape in connec- tion with the grounds, and the stream and lake which adjoin the place, and in which are to be found some very fine trout springs, combine to make it one of the finest residences in Eastern Duchess.
The Doctor's only child is a son of sixteen, now fitting for college, and whose studies in Ornithology and Oölogy are something remarkable for one so young. But the Doctor and his family inherit the scientific tendency from his father and grandfather,
MOSS ENG Co N.Y .. ..
"LAWNBROOK "-RESIDENCE OF DR. I
GUERNSEY, AMENIA, DUCHESS CO., N. Y.
357
TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE.
who were early physicians, as well as residents and practitioners in Duchess County. His mother was the second daughter of the late Judge Stephen Thorne.
CHAPTER XXIX.
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE.
TOPOGRAPHY OF THE TOWN-DERIVATION AND SIGNIFICATION OF NAME-STREAMS - SOIL - POPULATION-AREA -- SCHOOLS -- FIRST SETTLE- MENT-EARLY LAND TRANSFERS AFFECTING THE TOWN AND CITY OF POUGHKEEPSIE-TAX LIST OF POUGHKEEPSIE PRECINCT IN 1771- WAPPINGERS FALLS (CHANNINGVILLE) - NEW HAMBURGH-ROCHDALE- MANCHESTER -- EAST POUGHKEEPSIE-BRICK-YARDS-CLINTON POINT -MILTON FERRY - VAN WAGNERS - LOCUST GLEN -- THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
T HE town of Poughkeepsie, like the city of the same name, which was formerly com- prised within its border, derives its name from an Indian word, about which, as well as its significa- tion, authors differ .* It was formed as a precinct Dec. 16, 1737, and as a town, March 7, 1788. The city of Poughkeepsie was taken off March 28, 1854. It lies upon the west border of the county, south of the center, in the angle formed by the confluence of the Hudson River and Wappingers Creek, the river forming its western and the creek its eastern and southern borders. The town of Hyde Park lies upon the north border, and Pleas- ant Valley, LaGrange and Wappinger lie upon the eastern and southern borders.
The surface is an undulating upland, but mod- erately uneven, except near the river, where its streams cut through the embankment, which con- sists, in places, of steep and rugged bluffs. The streams, in addition to Wappingers Creek, are small, and, like it, empty into the Hudson. The principal of these are Fall and Casper's Kills. The former was called by the Indians the Wynogkee or Winnikee ; but the Dutch gave it its present name from the cascades, which formerly made it a good mill stream. It rises in the town of Clinton, and enters the town near the center of the north border,
flowing thence in a south-westerly direction to the Hudson, and passing in a circuitous course through the city of Poughkeepsie. Casper's Kill flows in a south-westerly direction through the central part of the city. Hudson River and Wappingers Creek have previously been described.
The town is wholly underlaid by the rocks of the Hudson River Group. Limestone was formerly extensively quarried and burned on the river, at Clinton Point, and proved a valuable fertilizer on the sandy soils of New Jersey, to which State it was mostly shipped. The soil is composed of sand, clay and loam, underlaid by limestone, clay pre- vailing on the west border. It is made fertile by the use of gypsum. In 1874, this town surpassed all others in the county, not only in the value of farms, in proportion to the area of cleared land, but in the value of its farm products, in the same pro- portion ; a fact, however, which is largely influenced by its proximity to the city and the ready and fa- vorable market thus opened to it. The soil is adapted to a wide range of crops, but these are de- termined perhaps more by the demands of the market than by adaptation.
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