es Pa eins araaee eee eS i ATE . iy jee ii wae hes eau i . JANUARY, 1878. . LIBRARY NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN ‘ WASHINGTON: _ GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. : £873." | ee LIBRARY MONTHLY REPORT :\ REN yer GARDEN DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, STATISTICAL DIVISION, Washington, D. C., January 27, 1873. Sir: I herewith present for publication the results of the annual investigation concerning the prices of farm animals and their numbers, in comparison with the statement of the previous year; also, a transla- tion of recent foreign communications from consular and other sources ; a record of agricultural imports of the past fiscal year, and results of investigation in the different divisions of the Department. Respectfully, J. R. DODGE, Statistician. Hon. FREDERICK WATTS, Commissioner. COMPARATIVE NUMBERS AND PRICES OF FARM STOCK Returns of our annual circular relating to comparative numbers and prices oft domestic animals show an increase in horses, cattle, and sheep, while the numbers of swine will aggregate nearly, if not quite, the total of last year. The advance is not heavy, but is most apparent in sheep, amounting to about one million, or near three per cent., exclu- sive of the Territories. The indicated increase in horses is about two per cent., and nearly the same advance in cattle. e7OsGtaiir tints =s CS hee S NEN teat aN te + tae UISUOOST AA pice eat Mia ae Stouny[L es Ewer * UBS, woes oeteneeseatenes casero OTUG) ae mage steeds gee A OUAUO Sy, wort n asst sss" BITES ITA 989 At : woe cee cee ee ee eee eessounuoy, ee SYare ante ia SN ce ee sla n= mae Sela SBT TU: poberge osnoce SE ISIE SE Se RRS CTT IOS - SBXxOy, = ano p- SUUMISEnLOTy: -- Idd Ississtpy [So see = = ene ama hy oes eon eee eee cent e eee ener eee re eee eee BDTIOLT TSS & ph tee eae ERTS c oc “ein == B Ts LOOX) HAGE 283-28 See aie Gata nan eerie OT OU GeO STAG i Rae Gita sss ">= BULTOLUS) UO Ne ee Soe SER Sas REE Ae 77° @lULS.AT A eit so 9" * OTT TANCE IAG +2 7-2- =="""" oTBANeTOq: ---77-7> eroearAsuueg coresore >= KEsI0? 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OnE Rarserelaiereisyiy=i>/m [ein imimieicia eee fae ares ONG LLLTAN: OE C ~* “UISUOOST AL Bee eeieane..ee Dern Sci* pelea ee Ss S TOUT 2S SII SOG DISSE O IRS OPI SRG ACEC bir cinisiceinia's “5s =A BEL Uny aipee Sees eS ed MORIN ee Rake Meee oro ---- Ayongueyyp Sis ornate BIULGITA JSA AA Se OSs -gassouttaT, ~o"5" SBSURYAW soars weet ete test ee eee eee ere e eee ener seen reese cereees BXOT + eirleiai dict mele) BRS Sie ae n pie eS SS. SSR SEP cee BUBISINO] mn game Samra Tass sr oo> ... s. | iene. wheat at the rate of 100 pounds per acre. I used the ‘‘ Farmers’ Favorite” drill with fertilizing attachment, which conducts the fertilizer through the drill-tubes into the ground in immediate contact with the grain. I seeded with timothy at the same time. The wheat crop was apparently benefited 20 per cent., and according to our best judg- ment the grass crop that followed showed an increased yield of 25 per cent. To ascertain the effects of the superphosphates in subsequent experiments, here alluded to, I repeatedly crossed aud recrossed the fields with the fertilizers shut off. _ Inthe fall of 1870, between the 7th and 15th of September, I put in about thirty-eight acres of winter wheat; six acres were on raw ground, moderately manured from sheep- sheds and the barn-yard, and summer-fallowed ; eighteen acres on clover and timothy sod once turned and afterward cultivated; and fourteen acres on oat-stubble well worked. Upon a part of the latter some manure was drawn and about 150 bushels of ashes, the major part unleached. These manures were evenly spread and plowed un- der, not covering more than five acres. When ready for seeding, I applied to the six acres of summer-fallow and to the larger part of the oat-stubble ground a mixture of seven parts of ashes to one of common salt, at the rate of 2} bushels per acre. Upon the remainder of the oat-stubble ground and upon the sod-ground, I applied gypsum at the rate of 24 bushels per acre. The long-continued drought prevailing at that time had caused the earth to be as nearly destitute of moisture as it could be, insomuch that not afew farmers sowed portions of their fields the second time. Under these circumstances, the immediate effect of the fertilizers was to delay the germination of the wheat. Hence, that sown on the plots with the fertilizers shut off came up first, and for a time looked the most promising. But in due time the fertilized portions came up with a strong plant and with a much darker shade of green. This difference in stock and strength of color continued, with slight variation, until the ripening com- menced, and from that point until harvested, the fertilized portions could be distinctly discerned by the clear, white straw; that on the unfertilized strips, particularly of the Lancaster and Treadwell varieties, being more of a weather-beaten color. The excess of well-matured grain on the fertilized portions was so apparent that I collected a bun- dle of each, (fertilized and unfertilized,) growing only the width of a drill-mark (eight inches) apart, and threshed them separately. I found the quality of the grain decidedly in favor of the fertilized wheat. The total yield of the 38 acres was 1,160 bushels, 20 per cent. of which, I think, was due to the fertilizers thus used; gypsum giving the largest per cent. of increase and producing the most lasting good effect. This year, 1872, I have taken from the same ground a crop of red clover, and subsequently a crop of clover-seed. The increase in | each clover crop, where the gypsum was used, was at least 50 per cent.; some of my neighbors estimating it much higher. The difference was not so marked where ashes and salt were used. In the falls of 1871 and 1872, respectively, I applied to my wheat-fields, at the rate of two bushels per acre, gypsum and salt mixed in the proportion of three bushels of the former to one of the latter. Although the drought of 1871 held through the winter and up to near the time of harvest, causing almost an entire failure of the winter-wheat crop in this vicinity, yet very much of the wheat I did have was traceable to the use of the aforesaid fertilizers. How the crop now on the ground will be affected, remains to be seen. A mixture of salt and gypsum applied in this manner tends to keep worms from the root of the plant, and I incline to the belief that it is a preventive of smut. I use the same application upon my corn-ground before marking and planting; also upon oats, except When sown on corn-stubble, in which case the previous treatment is deemed sufficient. From results thus far, I conclude that salt and gypsum introduced into the ground along with the seed, in the foregoing manner, are quite as effective fertilizers as any in this market, and much the cheapest. Superphosphate retails, in this market, at $60 per ton. Sixty dollars will buy 12 tons of gypsum, or 4} tons of salt, or 6 tons of the mixture. My farm, the place of these experiments, liesin Seneca County, New York, between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, about 600 feet above the latter, and 1,100 above tide-water. The soil is a strong clay loam mixed with sand, gravel, and disintegrated rock, known as the Genesee slate group. The primitive forests were very heavy, consisting of white, red, black, and yellow oak; maple, basswood, black walnut, hickory, white ash, elm, and a few other varieties. A FRUITFUL VARIETY OF BUCKWHEAT. Jackson County, Iowa.—The silver-hull buckwheat sent here by the Department of Agriculture, has proved to be wonderful—7 pounds of seed yielding 35 bushels of beau- tiful buckwheat, the weight of which is considerably greater than that of the kind ordinarily sown here. TEXAS CATTLE-DISEASE,. Appanoose County, Iowa.—In August last, one of our shippers brought in 150 Texas steers and grazed them a few weeks, after which, at the solicitation of parties owning stock in the neighborhood, they were shipped East. The result was that nearly 200 native cattle died on that range before frost. 22 ; CORN FOR FUEL. _* Bee Nemgha County, Nebraska.—As corn is only 12} cents per bushel it will not pay for marketing. It is being fed extravagantly, as well as being used for fuel. AGRICULTURAL CHANGES IN OREGON. Clackamas County, Oregon.—The luxuriant grasses of former days in Willamette Val- ley have been eaten out to a very great extent, and stock-raisers are compelled to drive their cattle east of the mountains to find grass sufficient to make the business profitable ; many have been driven from this county. A principal reason why hogs have decreased in numbers is the lack of suitable range. In former years we had an- nually heavy crops of acorns. There was also growing in great abundance, in marshy Jands, a kind of root or bulb called by the Indians “ camas,” (Camassia esculenta,) of which hogs were very fond, Cultivation and the hogs have conspired to root out the camas, and the acorn crop has failed for the last fifteen or twenty years; why I cannot ‘tell. Moreover, before steamships and railroads were the order of the day in this eoun- try we had no market for our surplus wheat; the best we could do was to turn it into bacon, then haul that to the mines. But now these things have all changed; the oaks bear but few acorns, the camas are about all gone, steamships and railroads carry off our surplus grain, and hog-raising does not pay. RUSSIAN MINERAL PHOSPHATES. The following is an original translation of an account of the deposits of phosphate of lime in Central Russia, by Alexis Yermoloff, in the Journal @ Agriculture Pratique : Since the great importance of phosphate of lime has been demonstrated by science and in practice, increased interest has been given to the discovery of beds of this precious material. Hence we have decided to break the silence hitherto kept in regard to the Russian deposits, and beg herewith to lay before the reader a succinet account thereof. _ The geologists who explored Central Russia in the first half of the present cen- id remarked the presence of a dark unerystallized stone, the origin and charae- ter of which seemed unknown, and which some of the most eminent, such as Sir R. Murchison, called simply a ferruginous mineral. Around the towns of Koursk and Voroneje these curious deposits were studied with care. Although the stone had been used from time inimemorial for building and paving, it was only in 1858 that the first analysis of it was made by Professor Chodnef at St. Petersburg. This analysis showed the stone in question was composed of phosphate of lime and magnesia joined with the oxides of iron, alumina, and silica. Shortly after, Claus Guil- lemin, a French engineer, and many other less distinguished chemists made new anal- yses of this stone, the results of which agreed on the main point of the uniform pres- ence of a large quantity of tribasic phosphate of lime. In 1566, Professor Engelhardt, of St. Petersburg, was invited by the government to explore these deposits, to which publie attention had been just called, and determine their extent and richness. From these investigations, in which the writer had the honor to assist, we possess more precise notions of the extent, character, and geologic) conditions of the fossil phosphates of Russia, which I am certain will be interesting to your readers. The rock in question is known in Russia under the name of “ samorod,” or natural stone. It is most common in the cenomanien beds or formation of greensand, but occurs likewise, though in smaller quantities, in the Jurassic, tertiary, aud even in the silurian. In the cretaceous formation the beds are commonly below the white chalk; elsewhere it is discovered above the greensand, containing a quantity of green grains of silicate of protoxide of iron, known under the name of glauconie. In other places nodules of phosphate are found on the surface of the soil, scattered in masses through the arable land. In Middle Russia the cretaceous formation makes a sort of basin, ‘of which only the north side has been explored, and it is precisely where it gives place to the Jurassic and Devonian, that the richest deposits are found. The extent of country between the Dnieper and the Volga embraced in the prinei- pal phosphatic zone is immense, including not less than 20,000,000 of hectares. —It is difficult to form an idea of the riches locked up in this deposit, which is however not the only one in Russia. So many other beds have been discovered that we do not be- lieve it an exaggeration to say that Central Russia rests upon enough phosphate of lime to supply Europe, so inexhaustible are ae supplies of this article. The western Adie. ~ 23 ‘border of the central bed lies in the southern part of the government of Smolensk, near the railroad from Orel to Riga. From this point the phosphatic beds extend almost without interruption through the governments of Orel, Koursk, Charkoif, and Voroneje, their principal outcrop being not less than 600 kilometers in length, with a breadth of from 100 to 200. South of this zone the bed dips to a depth too great to permit its being worked, but it re-appears on the southern boundary of the cretaceous basin, as is shown by the explorations, still incomplete, which have been pushed in that direc- tion. To the north of Voroneje it disappears entirely, giving place to the lower beds of the formation, but is seen again between Tambof and Spask for more than 200 kilo- meters, and on the east, on the right bank of the Volga, inthe governments of Saratoff and Simbirsk. The country between has not been thoroughly explored, but there is reason to believe that phosphates crop out in several places. - Their presence should also be expected south of Voroneje, beneatl the white chalk that forms the shores of the Don. Other beds more or less abundant, but little known as yet, are found in Moscow and Nijni Novgorod; also in West Russia near Grodnow. é The scientific researches of Professor Schwakhoefer, of Vienna, have established the existence of phosphate of lime in the silurian schists of Podolia, along the Dniester, where it assumes the shape of great balls; and finally, in the Devonian formation of Novgorod, has been discovered a rock containing not less than 12 per cent. of phos- phoric acid. Every day new beds are reported, and all the searches hitherto under- taken have been crowned with success; and doubtless many deposits remain unknown that will be found sooner or later. The condition of the phosphate varies much, as well as the thickness of the beds and their depth beneath the surface, but the chemical composition is pretty uniform. It usually presents itself under the form of nodules similar to those found in the Ardennes, of different sizes, black; brown, gray, green, &c. Sometimes, as in the neighborhood of Koursk, Varoneje, and Tambof, it assumes the form of schists, and is seen in massive blocks that look like cut stone, which are, how- ever, only an agglomeration of large nodules united by a sort of cement; and it is chiefly this form in which the stone is employed for building and paving, the scattered bowlders, which are usually less hard, not having at present any value for such pur poses. The number of layers in a bed varies from one to three, in some cases as many as seven, but only one or two are of importance, the rest being merely seams. The thickness of the main layers varies from one-fourth to one-half meter, the nodules being mixed with gray or yellow sand. Sometimes it is on the surface of the fields, and sometimes several hundred feet below. It is everywhere remarked that on the outside of the region of phosphates the beds crop out, but in the middle they lie deep. Our knowledge of its chemical composition is tolerably precise, thanks to the large number of analyses which have been made of it, the results of which exhibit remark- able uniformity, and establish the mean of phosphoric acid at about 20 per cent., vary- ing from 12 to 33; while the proportion of lime rises from 18 to 50, and carbonic acid from 2 to 6 per cent., together with an irregular mixture of sand, clay, and organic matter not affected by the acids. The following table will give some idea of the dif- ferent samples, and illustrate their richness: No. I is the debris of a block of the phosphate from the environs of Koursk, (analysis by Professor Claus. ) No. II, nodules from Spask, (by the writer.) No. III, the same, (by the writer.) - No. IV, debris of a block from one of the richest beds of the government of Tambof, (by the author.) No. V, fossil-bone from the same bed, analyzed by the students of the agricultural institute at St. Petersburg. No. VI, fossil-wood found in the neighborhood of Spask, in the beds of phosphate, (analysis by Professor Engelhardt.) No. VII. nodules and organic debris from the beds of the government of Orel, (analysis by students of the institute.) No. VIII, for comparison, analysis of a nodule from the Ardennes, near Déherain. | | | Bomd dat clay ..... = 2~ sie 2 pounds... 5 ay ee SESE ec PPTINGINE-PAPe? |.). . =< aa aine ase eneengees do... 4, 343, 820 2, 632, 324 SUVA tuttl O=Pa DOC aoe shies win 2 clement nei 2 GO.) |. eee eee = Se) es SRE TETODOS Seals Sielteneinies (cia ccineeninul=a\nase ce bushels. . 96, 259 458, 758 Provisions: Meat, poultry, lard, butter, cheese, &C..-..-..|..-.----------|--------+------ Silt, Gh ae eee eee enone pounds..| 617, 804, 664 | 637, 752, 646 Spices, (except vanilla beans :) Ginger, pepper, and mustard........pounds..} 22; 186,673} 23, 393, 398 Sugar and molasses : PGES CAN ate elses cleteaaciete\=me'o.c = pounds. .|1, 457, 294, 818 j1, 189, 155, 938 Reed SOAP a2 sen a cleininnten a's aman a> (= aovs- 217, 481 1, 204, 180 HIS EEGs Ga Res gee beneuEoseeeaE ease gallons..| 45, 214, 403 44, 401, 359 Melada and sirup of sugar-cane.... pounds..} — 51, 673, 375 87, 113, 535 Candy and confectionery ..--.- .--.-.--. doy... 63, 833 50, 546 Tobacco beh? Doce Ge peep see coopee tae Senor ane pounds. . 9, 562, 398 8, 394, 980 (oh: eee ee Ree Oe eee CEE eter doe. - 880, 649 789, 962 OMereNiaNniiaCLures Ole esas .scciae cp tis es. so. Seb eemenies |e one ns oes Wood, and manufactures of: AERO ALOE MUnOS cei cm sete sincere sae= MINERAL FERTILIZER.—During the month of December last a pack- age of mineral fertilizer was sent to this Department for analysis, by Mr. James K. Gibson, of Abingdon, Virginia, who states that he used it during the past season upon his corn-crop, and until the beginning of the dry weather it produced a very fine effect. The substance submit- ted to analysis in the laboratory of the Department shows the following composition : WOM GREENEST O Co Gut che eck syd Shehs ws cee ACI WS ee yee 0. 100 IVER 2 te cha St Soe EE ee nee ee <2 2, SR oe eee Pag he® Beth AL 34, 655 eM NTe OPO EOMs ANC ala. Se hn 5... epee we w cis aininin Paminies) Aaiclom ole 14. 542 aOR ELC CLO ete sce eerie ein cia Vo =o ea ein ct shares Ween aa be a igre 0. 563 ie k, oll a IM et S08 Bs ba 98 Daa 28 Bea ee Sy Se 2, Rd ees Pease eee nee ee 22. 207 “MI DSTRY ES eC ie AS PE ei tee a Ne SE ae CREE Ba eee Sy SERS Pars 9. 614 SPR PRN ORF RRCIECHECL NEES chs nt ee cicero oS et ie Ak ak ak Sk Ny ee 17. 448 errr tee ae eee eer BRO ee 8 Renda oa aisla ache = o.2 ate e oarea eis HL EAICOSs LDS neg eo SERS Sik ear A ee ARS | cS ice AS ip eS tS PA (Do 100. 000 Owing to the absence of notable quantities of phosphoric acid and potash, its value is evidently due to the amount of lime and magnesia which it contains. THE MESQUITE.—It seems that the mesquite-tree of the Southwest- - ern States, in addition to the many other uses to which it has been ap- plied, such as that of a food and gum producing material, has another valuable property which may bring it into greater popularity and more | frequent use in tie arts. It has for some time been considered by the inhabitants of Western Texas a valuable tanning material. Dr. J. Park, of Seguin, Texas, made some investigations with regard to its value in this respect, and found that the whole body of the tree was rich in tan- nin, and considered the leather produced with it of better quality than that tanned with oak-bark. It is stated that it is very abundant throughout Texas, Arizona, and Mexico, and may be cheaply reduced to a form convenient for tanning purposes. With a view to a deter- mination of its value in this respect some shavings of this kind of wood were sent to this Department for analysis by Mr. Daniel Ruggles, of Fredericksburgh, Virginia. The following resultsiwere obtained : 32 | : it 4 Jem ava eA ee eee, 2 Jee Sa gages: <2 ee She seas Sos elle. 13 per cent. Woody fiber, &¢...-. 2... 2-2-2. 2-2 + eee eens eee eee eee eee eee eee eee 87 per cent. 100 per cent. It will be seen that this, when compared with other tanning mate- rials, is certainly a very valuable product. According to E. Wolff dif- ferent oak-barks, of trees from five to fifty years old, yield from 10.86 to 15.83 per cent. of tannin, the lower results having been obtained from an examination of the crude bark of old trees, while the higher results were obtained from examination of the inner bark of young trees. Biichner, in his researches in 1867, determined that the best kinds of oak-bark contained but 6 to 7 per cent. of tannic acid. The bark of the hemlock, (Abies canadensis,) so much used throughout the United States, contains, according to J. Feser, from 5 to 15 per cent. of tannin, while Dr. Wagner finds but 7.3 per cent. It will be seen that the amount of tannin contained in the mesquite-wood is higher than that of many other tanning materials, and thus when compared with them this product is as valuable as any other material used in this branch of industry. USE OF SULPHUROUS ACID IN MANUFACTURE OF ALCOHOL.—The in- creased yield of alcohol, obtainable from different kinds of grain, by the use of- sulphurous acid, has led to its very general use in many parts of Europe. From the investigations of Hemilian and Melnikoff it would seem that the weak solution of sulphurous acid used dissolves the gIn- ten and other albuminoid substances, thus allowing the starch to come into more perfect contact with the solution of diastase. It has, there- fore, two different actions, the one being the partial destruction of the fermenting power of the diastase, while the other promotes the inversion of the starch. It was determined that the largest quantity of glucose is obtained when the cold maceration is continued five or six hours with a solution containing an amount of sulphurous acid equal to 0.1 to 0.13 per cent., the quantity of malt and meal used. If, however, the maceration be continued for eighteen hours, with cold water alone, the effect is the same as when the sulphurous acid is used, except that we have acidification and incipient putrefaction. The use of sulphurous acid in the most favorable conditions is found to increase the yield of glucose from 2 to 3 per cent. of the weight of the grain employed. The method of using it, as suggested by Hemilian and Melnikoff, is as fol- lows: The meal only, without the malt, is macerated in the cold with the solution of sulphurous acid, of the strength above mentioned, and then heated to 50° C., so as to volatilize any free sulphurous acid. The malt is then added, and the mixtare, being all the time well stirred, is heated from 70° to 75°, these temperatures being best suited to the saccharification. The principal utility of sulphurous acid is due to its power to prevent the formation of free acids, which are always gen- erated at the expense of the alcohol, while the decrease of free acids in the spent wash renders it more valuable as food for cattle, since its nutzri- tive value is thus increased and it is less injurious to health. SULPHUROUS OXIDE ON VEGETATION.—It has been observed that trees in the neighborhood of smelting-works are injured by the fumes of sul- phurous oxide proceeding from them, and that the Conifere suiter greater injury than ordinary foliaged trees. The fumes are absorbed through leaves entirely, not by the stomata alone, but by the whole surface of the leaves. It could have no influence upon the plants _ through the soil, since the sulphurous oxide would be oxidized and sul- 33 phuric acid be formed, which, in the small quantity in which it would exist, could have no injurious influence, but rather beneficial. The amount of injury is also influenced by the condition and temperature of the atmosphere. If the air be dry and cold, the injury is much less than when a warm, moist condition prevails, accompanied with strong light, such as exists in the summer seasons. INDIGO-CARMINE IN SUGAR MANUFACTURE.—Indigo-carmine easily dissolves in water, furnishing a clear blue solution. For the preparation of this solution in practice, one pound of indigo-carmine is dissolved in ten pounds of water, the water being added little by little, with con- stant stirring, in order to dissolve it uniformly and produce the clear blue liquid required. This solution is poured into the material to be cleared, until the whole acquires a light-blue color. Determined proportions cannot be given, since some manufacturers make their sugar more blue than others, and this also depends partly upon the quality of the ma- terial. Besides, it is quite easy to determine the correct proportions by a little practice. The use of this solution is much preferable to ultra- marine, since the sugar treated with if shows an extremely brilliant luster, and appears dazzling white. Liguip GLuE.—C. Puscher, in Polytechnisches Notizblatt, states that a mixture of one part grape-sugar in three parts water, when spread upon paper, shows little adhesive power or brilliancy, and when dried, and subsequently moistened, will not stick to the fingers. But if tothe su- gar solution be added an amount of slaked lime equal to one-fourth that of the sugar present, and the whole be heated to 60° to 75° C., (140° to 170° Ff.) and allowed to stand for several days with occasional shaking, the greater part of the lime will be dissolved, and the mixture will act like gum, having ail its glistening and adhesive properties. If to the sugar solution thus prepared three parts of glue be added in small pieces, it quickly dissolves on being warmed, and the whole remains fluid on cooling without losing its adhesive properties. LAURUS A FEBRIFUGE.—The ereat success which has attended the use of the leaves of Haurus nobilis in cases of intermittent fevers, on ac- count of their febrifugic and antiperiodic properties, will probably bring them into general use in medical practice. The leaves are dried ata low temperature (in a closed vessel, to avoid loss of volatile matters) until they become brittle. They are then reduced to a fine powder and 15 to16 grains of this powder is then macerated from ten to twelve hours in a glass of cold water, and about two hours before the attack is expected the liquid and the powder are administered. No abnormal effect is produced, and the attack does not appear after the administra- tion of the first mass. No particular treatment or dietis necessary dur- ing the good days. This medicine is thus administered during the three . following days. This treatment has proved etfectual in cases of quoti- ’ dian and tertian fevers, which have rebelled against the action of sul- phate of quinine, and it is probable that if administered in the same manner in cases of quartan fevers it would produce the same effect. Of 34 cases reported in which it was used, only six failed, and these were all related to quartan fevers. _ EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS.—From the results of certain investigations upon the leaves and bark of Hucalyptus globulus used in cases of inter- mittent fevers, M. Rabuteau maintains that the leaves do not contain an alkaloid similar to quinine, as has been stated, and that the substance suc- cessfully used by the physicians of Corse is an undetermined salineresidue obtained by treating an alcoholic extract of the bark with sulphuric acid. | 3A B4 BOTANICAL NOTES. By Dr. Grorcr Vasry, BOTANIST. ° 2 BRANCHING PALMS.—In the Agricultural Gazette of India for Sep- tember, 1872, we notice an interesting account of some singular devia- tions from the general law of growth which governs the development of endogenous trees. Trees of the temperate zone are almost entirely of the exogenous structure, 7. e., they ramify during many years, and in- crease in diameter by the annual addition of a layer of woody matter external to the preceding ones. In palms, however, the growth is dif- ferent; the stem shoots up in one unbroken column, sometimes to an immense height, and at the top develops a mass of leaves and sends up its flower-spikes, upon which is produced the fruit. Such trees rarely or never produce branches, but the article quoted below gives interesting details of some of the rare exceptional cases. The notes were communicated to the Agricultural and Horticultural Society of India: i Gave much pleasure in communicating to the society the following notes by Dr. Beaumont, descriptive of a unique example of fasciation and branching in a date-palm, (Pheniz sylvestris,) with a very instructive sketch of the same by Mr. Daly, in whose garden the palm grows. This is a remarkably good sketch of a common date-palm in the residency garden, Indore. The trunk is 22 feet high to the lowest branch and 3 feet 6 ingches in girth at 4 feet from the ground. The branches are twenty-two in num- ber; eighteen of them rise vertically, and are so closely packed that it was not possible to give a clearer idea of them in the picture. Ihave examined the tree and determined that it is really branched, and that the branched appearance is not owing to seeds having germinated in the axils of the leaf-stalks. I take this opportunity also of noting a few cases of palms which have produced branches near Caleutta, and for the knowledge of which I am chiefly indebted to the native overseer of this garden, Babu P. G. Sein. 1. Phenix sylvestris—A large specimen of this palm, near Oolcobariah, had a tall erect stem, branching irregularly at a considerable height into seven distinct and well- developed heads. This specimen was uprooted and destroyed by the cyclone of 1864. A second specimen of this palm at Sookhchur, near Barrackpore, of a smaller size, had also six lateral branches overtopped with the main crown. This specimen seems also to have been uprooted, by the cyclone. I have accounts of other less numerously branched specimens, but I can hear of none of this palm pow existing in the vicinity of Calcutta. 2. Cocos nucifera, (the cocoa-nut tree.)—A most interesting example of branching in this palm was illustrated by a large specimen in the garden of Babu Luckinarain Dutt. This tree was about 25 feet in height, and had five well-developed fruit-bearing heads. It was held in great veneration by the Hindoos, and annually in June, about the time of the Moonsha Poojah, flowers, fruit, rice, &c., were scattered around its roots by the many Hindoos who visited it. The late Dr. Falconer tried in vain to purchase the specimen, and I hear that he sent a native from this garden to measure it carefully, but he does not appear to have anywhere recorded these. Asin the case of the date- . palms, this specimen was also broken and uprooted by the cyclone of 1864. I have just. heard that a two-headed cocoa-nut palm may be seen in the garden of Ghofal Babu, at a short distance from the Conaghur Station, on the East India Railway. POTENTILLA FRUTICOSA, AGAIN.— We gave in last month’s report a letter from Mr. T. 8S. Gold, objecting to the cultivation of the shrubby cinquefoil, in apprehension of its becoming a nuisance by spreading, through the dispersion of the seeds. We had been acquainted with the shrub for many years, and had never known of its disposition to spread unduly, and it has been’in cultivation in the grounds of the Department here for many years without showing any such tendency. Mr. H.C. Beardslee, of Painesville, Ohio, has written to the Department concern- ing this shrub, and says: I have collected botanical specimens of the plant in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Canada, and more recently in Northern Ohio. Ihave met with it often in the more northern regions, and never in any locality sufficiently abundant to prove troublesome. Nor have I 35 anywhere heard it called “hardhack.” That name, I suppose, belongs everywhere to Spirea tomentosa, L. This last abounds in the wet and stony pastures of New Eng- Jand, especially of Northern New England. But, where most abundant, it, the hard- hack, is far from being a nuisance. The leaves and young shoots are rich in tannin, and once in three years the plant is mowed, cured, and sold to the tanners, at prices which afford a fair profit for the use of the land. An intelligent and successful farmer in Middle New Hampshire informed me that the discovery that hardhack conld be so utilized had increased the value of their low and wet lands. Both the Potentilla Jruticosa and the hardhack (Spirea tomentosa) are pretty shrubs. FACTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. RAILROAD FREIGHTS.—The burden of railroad freights is a heavy tax upon agriculture which is sorely felt at present from two causes; the increase 1n production, which reduces prices, and the advance of freight- rates by railroads, which tends to depress prices still further. The evil is becoming unendurable, and should be remedied by the speediest and wisest method practicable. Hon. Samuel Shellabarger, of Ohio, has in- troduced into the House of Representatives the following bill to secure uniformity in rates of local and through freight : Be it resolved, §c., That the compensation authorized and contemplated by the second section of the act of the fifteenth of June, anno Domini eighteen hundred and sixty- six, entitled “An act to facilitate commercial, postal, and military communication among the several States,” for the several descriptions of service named in said section, shall be charged at uniform rates per mile for the transportation of the same amount ‘and description of freight, and the same description of passengers; and way-passen- gers and freight shall not be subjected to higher rates of charge per mile than the lowest rates charged by the same line, for the same services, over any other part of the said line; and any person or persons who shall be subjected to, or demanded to pay, any excessive charge in violation of the provisions of this act, may recover, from the party making the charge, such excess so either demanded or paid, together with costs and reasonable counsel fees, in any court of competent jurisdiction: Provided, That the provisions of this act shall not prohibit any common carrier, coming within its provisions, from receiving just compensation for the necessary expenses of lading and unlading way-freights: And provided, moreover, That the provisions of this act shall apply to all common carriers in carrying passengers or freight on their way from one State to or through another State. . IMPORTS AND CONSUMPTION OF COFFEE IN THE UNITED STATES.— In 1872 there were imported (into all except the Pacific States) 277,636,- 258 pounds of coffee; exported, 5,856,700 pounds; retained in the eountry, 271,779,558 pounds. In 1871 there were imported 322,700,479 pounds; exported, 5,768,695 pounds; retained in the country, 316,931,- 784 pounds ; showing a decrease in 1872 of 45,152,226 pounds. By add- ing the stock on hand January 1, 1872, and deducting the stock on hand January 1, 1875, the actual decrease in consumption in 1872 is shown to be 44,891,027 pounds. In 1872, New York imported 165,252,428 pounds—just about three-fifths of the total; the sources of the coffee sup- ply of the country will therefore be pretty fairly indicated by the ship- ments to New York. These were: from Brazil, 83,304,960 pounds; Maracaibo, 20,947,510 pounds; Java and Sumatra, 17,923,979 pounds; Laguayra and Porto Cabello, 9,464,905 pounds, and San Domingo, 7,812,502 pounds. The remainder was-from Costa Rico and New Gran- ada, Bolivar City, Jamaica, Porto Rico, Curacoa, Cuba, Manila, Singa- pore, Ceylon, Bombay, Africa, and Mexico. A considerable amount of coffee is reshipped to the United States from European ports, which is produced in Brazil, and it is estimated.that from 70 to 80 per cent. of our supply is drawn from that country. The estimated consumption of the Pacific States for 1872 is 12,000,000 pounds, making total for the country 282,718,738 pounds. 36 The value in gold of imports of coffee at ports of shipment, (exclusive of the Pacific States,) as shown by custom-house returns, was, in 1872, $25,284,179; in 1871, $16,041,387. It will be noticed that though the amount of coffee imported in 1872 was much less than in 1871, it cost much more. These results are mainly attributable to the very short crop in Brazil, and a partial failure of the-crop in Java in 1871. The average wholesale price in gold at New York was, in 1872 and 1871, respectively, for Brazil, $18.42 and $15.91 per 100 pounds; for San Domingo, $15.37 and $13.55; for Maracaibo and Laguayra, $18.18 and $16.22; for Java, $21.30 and $21.29. The following statement shows the receipts and consumption of the country, exclusive of the Pacific States, for the past 22 years: | || Wear. Receipts. ‘Consurfiption.|) Year. Receipts. |Consumption. TANS Ree suls forbid 2 , | | Pounds. Pounds. — || | Pounds. Pounds. TRV ORE soe 977, 636,258 | 271, 718,738 || 1861............-..--- 182, 244,627 | 187, 045, 786 ihe gd (yb et 322,700,479 | 316, 609, 765 || 1860...........22222.. 185, 779, 689 | 177, 111, 923 MAVOSsei es ol cise! Aas s 282, 540, 737 |} 280, 911, 672 \| Vici! Pe Se a es 248, 527, 306 222, 610, 300 EB BU pee tees a vecetln 242, G09; 202, | 243, 445 117 |) Teepe eee ceo 227, 656, 186 251, 255, 099 11/299. 200, 937 | WBE eae eee es Ses eee ie. 217, 871, 839 172, 565, 934 1 a203).006, 620, || Wipperman aes | 230, 913, 150 218, 225, 490 459°918.'981 ‘||"1agomeee eee tee | 238,214,533 | 218, 378, 287 TBGa a RAL 133, 574, 397)| 128, 146, 356 || 1854.1. ..-.22262. 2-262 162, 473, 853 | 179, 481, 083 USNS SE =f Se i S04 9o7 |* 109, 086, '703,,)| eibeee et oc tac. os an~- = 193, 112, 300 175, 687, 790 OCLs aes BA aiseale i ik as 75, 260,417 | 79, 719, 641 i Roly a ee oS eS 205, 542, 855 204, 991, 595 MGGSE Y fe oe os 98,558,680 | 88,989,911 || 1851...........-..---. | 216, 043, 87 184, 225, 700 | COAL IN PENNSYLVANIA.—The in- crease in the amount of anthracite coal annually mined in Pennsylva- nia has been very steady from the beginning, in 1820, when 365 tons were produced. umount mined in eaéh successive year : or oO) The following tabie shows the ¢ Yeai Tons. Year Tons. Year | Tons. Year Tous. | MOB tes HeOnie |) Lesaeeewe aoe 376, 636. || 184722. 2, 882, 309 || 1860........- | °8,513,123 fegoees 3-5 a 20 |) P8aos 0 ests 560, 758 || 1848222... | 3,089, 238'|| 18611... 7-1 | "7, 954, 264 SS ere “oye ll pales See 684, 117 || 1849__._/..2. 3, 242, 966. || 1862 ..-...-- 7, 869, 407 Ta a ee TUNES) Mia kok (ee eeeete 869, 441. |) 18500... =... | 3,358, 899 || 1863.......-. 9, 566, 006 BSS we Kl 34,893 || 1838. !....2. 7138, 6971) 18512 SE... . 4,448 916 |! 1864... 1.2.1 10, 177, 475 TSP) pena eee | y #48, 047 |) 1839........ 818,402) |) USO AM oi 4,993, 471 |) 1865....::..- 9, 652, 391 ip Gpeaa es 63, 434 || 1840._....- 864,379 || 1853.02. 5) 22 5,195,151 || 1866......-.. |% 12, 703, 882 Usge Ss case: UgDIS i l840. 'o22.2 959,773 |) 1854.4....--. 6, 002; 334 || 1867 2.2. . 4:2. 12, 988, 725 R20! eee | 112,083 || 1842 . 1,108; 412 || 18o5 Sie. | 6,608, 567 || 1868.-....-- 13, 834, 132 er a ee 174, 734 ] hey ee 1, 263, 598 |) 1856.....-.-. 6, 927,580 |) 1869.4 25.522 13, 723, 030 Mee ae i es 176, 820 || 1244.2_..... 1.630, 850.1). Soqeeee eee 6, 644, 941 || 1870..-...... 15, 849, 899 2 Rebs ee iSGatzien| tesa 12. ff o. 9:1013, 013) |) ABagtee 6, 839, 369 || 1871...-..-.. 15, 113, 407 AGES a et ek | 487, 749 ||, 1846........ 2, 344, 005 } IBS ee 2t 7(808;255 4) USP op. sees 18, 400, 000 9” The production (estimated) of 1872 was 3,286,595 tons over that of 1871.’ This large increase is accounted for in part by the fact that in 1872, for the first time in several years, the work of mining anthracite coal in Pennsylvania was prosecuted without the interruption of strikes through the whole year. It is found that the increase in consumption has equalled that of production, and, from data deemed reliable, it is es- timated that the increase of consumption in 1873 over that of 1872 will be nearly, if not quite, as great as the latter was over that of 1871. Of this coal, 7,513,115 tons were transported from the mines by the Read- ing Railroad Company, which now owns or controls 1,335 miles of single track. Its receipts for transportation, based on the tonnage of the main line, were, in 1871, $1.808 per ton; in 1872, $1.544, the average re- ceipts per ton for the previous ten years being $1.94. COST OF GROWING OATS AND CORN IN ILLINoIs.—Mr. H. Bb. Gurler, of De Kalb County, reports to this Department the cost, per acre and ne nS 7 per bushel, of growing oats and corn on his farm, as ascertained by keeping a careful account of each item of expense. Interest on the value of the land, estimated at $40 per acre, is charged, as is each day’s work by man, boy, or beast, but there is no charge for seed and no credit given for straw or corn fodder. In seeding, cultivating, and harvesting, improved farming tools and machinery were used. A field of oats, con- taining 15 acres, yielded 800 bushels, or 53 bushels per acre; the cost of raising was $9.45 per acre, or 17,7, cents per bushel. The cats when thrashed were worth in market 16 cents per bushel. One field of corn, containing 33 acres, yielded 45,°, bushels per acre; the cost of raising was $10.16 per acre, or 224 cents per bushel. Another field of 13 acres yielded 50 bushels per acre, and the cost of raising was $12.27 per acre, or 244 cents per bushel. Because it costs Mr. Gurler more to raise oats than they will bring in market, he does not consider that he is thereby doing either an unprofitable or an unwise business. His farm is stocked with cows, hogs, and long-wool sheep, and his rule is to feed out to them all the corn, oats, and hay it produces; on which account he reports that it is constantly improving in productiveness. The fifteen acres of oats were sown on corn-stalk ground without plowing, and cultivated with sulky corn-plow, and well harrowed. Cost, 1 day’s work in sowing oats, $1.50; 35 in cultivating with man and team, $9; 24 in harrowing, $7.50; 3 men two days in harvesting, at $2.50 per day, $15; 1 boy two days, at $1 per day, $2; 1 team 2 days, at $1.50 per day, $3; 4 men 1 day in stacking, $8 ; 2 boys 1 day, $2; 3 teams 1 day, $4.50; 6 men part of a day in thrashing, at $1.50, $7.30; 4 teams 2 of a day, at $1.50, $4.50; 1 boy 2 of a day, at 75 cents, 55 cents; board of thrashers, $4; of teams, $1; paid thrashers $11.84; interest on fifteen acres at $40 per acre, at 10 per cent., $60; total amount, $141.69, or $9.45 per acre. The cost of raising 33 acres of corn was, for plowing, at $1.50 per acre, $49.50; 3 days’ harrowing before planting, $9 ; marking with four- row marker, $3; planting : 2 men 2 days, at $1.50,$6; 1 team 2 days, at $1.50, $3; 1 planter 2 days, at $2, $4; cultivating: 6 days’ harrow- ing before the corn came up, at $3, $18; 22 days’ cultivating, man, team, and sulky-plow, at $3, $66; harvesting: 30 days’ work, at $1.50, $45; interest on 33 acres, at 840 per acre, $132; total amount, $335.50, or $10.16 per acre. The product was 1,500 bushels of corn. FYOREST-TREE PLANTING IN KANSAS.—A correspondent of the De- partment, in Republic County, Kansas, in urging public attention to the subject of forest-tree planting in that State, remarks: Many thousand trees planted last spring grew well, both native and foreign. A great many are putting ont fine groves and orchards; but homestead settlere are gen- erally too poor to plaut as large groves as this bleak, windy country needs. We are all much in hopes that Congress may do something to help us. Hf they would give any one all the land he would plant in trees, perhaps some would be planted. But if they would give four or ten times as much as was well planted and taken care of, it would be some inducement for eastern capitalists to have trees planted here ; and would benefit the nation and the State more than many settlers could do withont capital. Where there is a soil so fertile, something should be done to make it fit for comfortable homes and a virtuous people. A bill is before Congress for the encouragement of tree-planting and other agricultural development on the western plains. The Western Forest-tree and Hedge-growing Association, of Kansas, bas been incor- porated in that State with the design of encouraging systematic forest- culture on a portion of the great treeless plains. Its board of directors is mainly made up of men who have gained a wide reputation as tree-growers and agriculturists. Among them are Dr, John A. Warder, of Ohio; Robert 38 Douglas, of Illinois; and 8. T. Kelsey, Alfred Gray, J. K. Hudson, W. H. Smallwood, and T. J. Peter, of Kansas. The billreferred to grants to this association one section of land for each mile in distance between Fort Dodge and Pueblo in Colorado, (both points being on the Arkansas River,) on the condition that it shall grow eighty acres in forest-trees on each section so granted, and shall put in cultivation one experimental farm of not less than forty acres in every fifty miles between the two points named, upon which shall be cultivated all the varieties of seeds and grains adapted to that climate, and, furthermore, shall annually report to the Departinent of Agriculture acgurate results of all experiments in growing grains, trees, and other products from seeds. FRUIT FROM THE MOST VALUABLE SEED DISTRIBUTED BY THE DE- PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.—The secretary of a stock association in Pendleton County, Kentucky, reports that the annual and monthly reports of the Department of Agriculture, which have been distributed in that section, are leavening it with an increased desire for agricultural information, and are already showing good results in attempts to intro- duce better modes of agriculture and improved breeds of stock. DESPONDENCY IN lowA.—The secretary of the Cedar Falls Farmers’ Club, Black Hawk County, Iowa, after reporting that hogs are selling at 2% to 34 cents, three-year old steers at 3 to 3$ cents per pound, live weight, and oats and corn at 15 to 18 cents, and wheat at 63 to 95 cents per bushel, adds: We are suffering severely from debts, low prices of farm products, and enormous railroad charges on freights. Real estate is worth 30 per cent. less now in Iowa than three years ago, and money is very scarce. The general cry everywhere is, “The rail- road companies will ruin us.” Last year our apple crop was abundant, but all varie- ties ripened prematurely, and were badly injured by the codling moth. A majority of many varieties of apple-trees in our oldest orchards were badly injured by the cold of December 23 and 24, 1872, when the mercury ranged from 23° to 35° below zero. The bodies of very many of them are burst from the limbs to the ground. I know but few varieties that are sufficiently hardy to endure this climate—latitude 42° 30’. The only varieties that I can recommend are Dutchess of Oldenburg, Tetofsky, Red Astra- chan, Fameuse, Haas, Saxton, Plumb’s Cider, and Ben Davis. Ben Davis is the only variety we have which is a good keeper, and that is of poor quality. We are experi- menting with seedlings, for the purpose of getting, if possible, a few good winter varie- ties. All varieties of the tame plum have failed here, except the Lombard., That is hardy and productive. We cultivate a number of varieties of the grape, but the Con- cord is worth more than all other. Peaches are too tender. The only variety of the pear which I have tried that has not been ruined by the “ fire-blight,” is the Early Catherine. The Early Richmond and English Morello cherries are hardy enough, but not productive here. CROPS AND FARM ANIMALS IN KANnsAS.—The secretary of the Neosho Valley Agricultural Society, Labette County, reports as follows: The weather has been favorable for prosecuting all kinds of farm work. It was warm, and very dry, from October 1 to December 18; at the latter date we had snow fall to the depth of a foot. Notwithstanding the very favorable fall weather, there remains in the fields about one-sixth of the entire crop of corn, not including a small portion of shock-corii. The area sown in wheat is 50 per cent. greater than that of any previous year. About 90,per cent. of the seeding was done with the drill, be- tween September 12 and October 8. The ground was in good condition, and the pros- pect for a crop is at present altogether favorable. Our work-horses do not receive requisite care. Indeed, the greater proportion are little better cared for than range- stock, which obtains no better shelter than is furnished by a patch of brush or a rick of straw. At this time (January 7) all the horses in the towns, and about half in the country, are affected with the epizooty. The disease is of a mild form, partially disa- bling horses for two or three weeks, resulting in no deaths, except where horses have been hard driven while sick. With proper diet and rest there is no ground for appre- hending serious trouble from the distemper ; in fact, it seems to be affecting the people here worse than it does the horses. But asmall number of hogs are fatted for the market as yet, but there is a fair showing of stock hogs. Our farmers are manifesting a very commendable spirit in procuring imported breeds. There is only a very limited num- ber of sheep in this county. 30 STATIONARY FARMING.—Our correspondent in Douglas County,. Georgia, reports that the 1st of January, 1873, finds most of the farmers in that section where they were on the Ist of January, 1872. After paying for fertilizers, belp, and provisions, they have little or nothing left for the pocket or to pay debts with. FERTILIZERS FOR TOBACCO.—Mr. James M. Crafts, of Whately, Franklin County, Massachusetts, sends to this Department the following interesting account of the extensive use of manures and other fertilizers, and of the manner of applying them in raising tobacco in that section: Tam one of a company of five persons who, in the last two years, have bought and shipped from Whitehall, New York, over 80 car-loads of horse-manure. Other parties have bought fully as much in Middlebury, Rutland, Montpelier, and Saint Johnsbury, Vermont. The cost at our station has averaged about $10 per cord. Other parties have bought manure from the East Albany cattle-yards—perhaps 50 car-loads in less than two years—all of which, I think, has been sheep-dung. Others have been to New Haven, Connecticut, and still others to Boston and Cambridge; and now two of our farmers have been to Canada and bought 25 car-loads. A car-load of horse-manure con- tains about 7 cords, perhaps 6} on the average. This is generally obtained from livery- stables. That from Whitehall, New York, is from stables where canal horses and mules are kept. These are fed highly with grain,and the manure is very valuable. It is used on tobacco lands at the rate of about 10 cords to the acre. Probably there is no other species of manure which affords in such abundance all the elements of tobacco. It is rich in potash, phosphoric acid, magnesia, &c. I will add a word about our mode of applying manure to tobacco. If, after spread- ing broadcast, we plow it under,\the plowing is very shallow—not more than 5 or 6 inches deep. But as a rule we prefer to allow the manure to ferment and become fine, then spread it even and work it in upon the plowed surface with the gang-plow or with one of the wheel pulverizing-harrows; and we like the kind that is attached to a straight piece of. plank with a tongue and seat. We would like to go oyer the ground as many as eight times with it; in fact we generally do go, say, four times one way and as many the other, finding our pay for the extra labor in the fineness of the soil. We are doing this work more thoroughly than we used to, and think we are well paid for it. We next fit the hills by ridging the land 3} feet apart and the hills 2 feet. Under this course we have found that we do not get much advantage from the use of superphosphates in the hill. Some have tried experiments by using wheat-shorts as a fertilizer for tobacco, at the rate of 3 tons to the acre. A member of our club raised an acre of tobacco with shorts as a fertilizer, and the crop was a good one, estimated at 1,800 pounds. On another piece he tried Indian meal at the same rate with not nearly as good results. On 4 acres he used 800 pounds of shorts and 100 to 150 pounds.of superphosphate strewed (after marking) on the marks, and then ridged so that the hills were made over the shorts and superphosphate. This gave him the best tobacco he ever grew, though he had used, by working in on the plowed surface, about 8 cords of manure and 800 pounds of Peruvian guano to the acre. - IMPROVIDEN'T HABITS OF THE FREEDMEN.—A casual correspondent writing from Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, says: preparing the middle or the latter part of February; in July and August there was little or nothing to do in the field; he finished gathering about the Ist of November, making 300 bushels of corn, and 15 bales of middling cotton, worth 19 cents—clearing about $1,300. Considering loss of time for Saturdays, (which are regularly kept for holidays,) and rainy weather, you will see that this crop was made and put on the market in about four months of working time. Can any other crop beat that? He works for two-thirds of the corn and three-fourths of the cotton; that is, we receive one-third,and one-fourth for rent, which pays us about $14 per acre when well worked, as in the above case. But nearly all the others, who have rented on the same terms, ° have failed to make money, either for themselves or us; in fact, the only full erdps, outside of the above, have been made under my own supervision, where they had to do as I said. 40 RAINFALL IN CALIFORNIA.—The crops of California depend, as nowhere else in this country, upon the comparative amount of rain-fall of the winter or rainy season. If the amount is above an aver- age of a series of years, a good crop of grain is assured. As the rain-fall of different seasons is exceedingly variable, the rain- gauge is consulted carefully, and rain prospects, are canvassed with much solicitude. Nearly all the rain of the year falls be- tween October and April, and a large proportion within ninety days from December 1. Yet there is no invariable law regarding it. There is much interest felt regarding the probable rain-fall of January, Feb- ruary, and March, with small data for accurate prognostication, as a study of the record of former years will show. If any weather bureau could deduce from these or any other facts a law governing rain-fall, it would prove of immense benefit to agriculture. The record is as follows: | lial aa = Sa a5 | gag | Be | Bee | ca | EBay | Bil est Be Cat Piss (| Bye, | so) RES Years | 2 Piece Wediotenle Years. 2 | SOS a beieeeee te | or | fy te | oF | a ee ae | sae | em. | sub eienl soe Resa. | 35 |) ae ae co) 5 | o) | | . | Inches. | I] Tiches A BHOI IO gd: i. 5.38 9.38 | 14.76 || 1867 | 16. 66 15. 82 32. 48 Tah. Zoe 10. 81 29,92 | 33.73 || 1868.. 3.39 | 12. 60 15. 99 TRG eye cee 2. 68 8.54 | 11.32 || 1869.. 1.93 | 8. 37 13. 30 TSGS A esses Ve 3. 30 3. 64 6.94 || 1870-.: 1.58 | 6.13 7.71 ake a 14. 70 7.34 |. 22.04 || 1871.. 11,20 | 11. 30 22, 50 TGS stastsite,. Ut s. NCEA) 12. 19 15:46 || Denes esas | 7. UBg |. 2.8 a eee ASG Gee gol SEl Bee acter do. 49 to 50 Sie Choice’... .-...~--- per ton | 45 00 to — — PIiNOwe san Sake aerate do..-| 42 00 to — — Pork, mess........--.---per bbl.| 13 50 to 13 75 Beef, Texas mess, old an : peiw..... sae per bbl.| 900 to 17 50 western mess. .------- do.--| 16 00 to 21 00 Fulton market .....-- do...| 21 00 to 24 00. Woarueeee a). --.---- tase per lb. 84 to 10 Butter, choice western ..--. do... 25 to 26. choice Goshen ....-.. do... 36 to 37 Cheese, western factory. ...do-.-- 133 to 16 New York cream ..do-.- 17 to 18 Cotton, ordinary to good ordi- ha BAT . - see er Ib... 17 to 18% low middling to good middling. ....-- per lb. 193 to 21 Ropaceo, lugs. 2... s0aaeees do... 8 to 9 low leaf... 32258 do. - 9 to Of medium leaf...... dons: 92 to 10} SAN FRANCISCO. Flour, superfine -........perbbl.| 420 to 4 59 extra superfine....-. do...| — — to — — higher grades ...---- do..-| 600 to 6 25 Wheat, State -..-...-- per cental.| 1.80 to 2 00 , megou) 9e-ue eee do...| 180 to 205 by eee leeds seek Ses do 130 to, 1 45 ats 2252-08. oh SN Te do...| 2,00 to 220 orn. whites sa) s do...| 3 to, — = VOLOW, sous ce eas do--3 Si aye States scene te use» per ton Oo uf orks MESS.) se aces cata per bbl.} IS Oo prime mess. -/202 5-2 = do... t Beem mess F246 aso... do... family mess. ..per half-bbl. AG ’ LIVE-STOCK MARKETS. CATTLE.—NEW YORK: Common to ) fair, $10 to $1. to prime, $12 to $13. 50; extra, $13.75 to $14.25; 3; holi $15.—Average, $11.75 .” Mileh cows, $45 to $90 per head; calves, $11 per head ; fat milch veals, 9 to 10 cents r po CINCINNATI: Prime to extra shipping grades, $5.25 — Toss; prime to extra butcher's stock, $4.50 to $5. 25 ; $. 3 iy ‘evior, $2.50 to $3. Receipts light. CuHicaco: Extra graded steers, averaging 1,450 pine $6. 15 to $6.30 per cental, gross ; choice beeves, fine, fat, wel 3 to 5 years old and upward, averaging from 1 250 to 1,4 $5.75 to $6; good beeves, well fattened, finely formed steers, from 1,100 to 1,300 pounds, $5 to $5.50 ; medium grades, steers i averaging 1, 100 to 1 ,250 pounds, $4.50 to $4.75 ; butcher’s stoc $4.50 ; stock cattle, $3 to $4; inferior, $1.75 to $2.50; Te northern- fed, $2.75 to $3.50; do., corn-fed, $3.75 to $4. 50. Samnt Louis: Choice native blood steers, $5.50 to $6 per cental geoond class do., 1,150 to 1,400 pounds, $4.50 to $5; good third ¢ to $4.50; fair butcher's steers, $3.50 to $4; choice corn-fattened ! $4 to $4. ‘505; inferior to common do., $1.50 to $1. 75; 5. ate cows, $50 per head; veal calves, $6 to $10 per cental. ¥ 8 SHEEP.—NEw York: Supply limited and market good. Fat l $7 to $7.50 per cental; extr a, $8 to $8.25; poor, $4.75 to $5.50; avera, $5.56. J CINCINNATI: Prime to extra, 34.50 to $5 per cental, gross; common to 4 good, $3.50 to $4; lambs, $4 to $6. « CHICAGO: Common to choice, $3.25 to $5.25. : Samnt Louis: Bxtra to choice mutton grades, $4.50 to $5 percental, — eross; fair to good, $3.25 to $4.25; common to medium, $2.75 to $3. Hocs.—_NEw York: Live ‘ome $4.6245 to $4874 per cental; city- dressed, $5.25 to $6.50; western, $5.124 to $5.62. CINCINNATI: Good to prime lots, $3.65 to $4 per cental, gross. Re- ceipts light. _ CuicaGo: Extreme range, $3.55 to $3.90 per cental, gross. Samnt Louis: Letra to choice, $3.60 to $3.65 per cental, gross; fair to good, $3.30 to $3.50; common ‘to medium, $3.25 to $3.35. FOREIGN MARKETS. WueEAtT.—The weekly average prices of wheat in London during De- eember, 1872, were, respectively, 56s., 55s. 10d., 56s. 3d., 56s. 9d., and 5dS.” er quarter, the aggregate sales being 252, 555 quarters. "The stant tations of the Mark Lane Express during the same time, were as follows: British white wheat, 50s. to 67s. per quarter; do. red, 50s. to 63s.; American, 58s. to 61s. ; German, 59s. to 81s. 5 Russian, ATs. to 60s. ; Danish and Holstein red, 60s. to 63s.; California, 65s.; Chilian white, 67s.; Australian,’ 64s. to 66s. In Liverpool American white ranged, with some fluctuations, between 15s. and 14s. 6d. percental; do. red winter and southern, steady between 11s. 8d. and 12s. 2d.; do. No. 1 spring, 11s. 6d. to 12s. 2d; do. No. 2 spring, lls. 3d. to 11s. 8d.; €alifornia white, 12s, to 13s. 8d.; Canadian white 138s. to 14s. 6d. ; 47 do. red, 128. to) 12s.y7d.; Chilian whitey 12s. to 12s. 6d.; French white, 12s, 3d. to 13s. 6d.; sy do. red, Is 4d. to 128. 7d.; ” Spanish 128. 4d. to 12s. § .; Danubian, 8s. to 9s. 10d. ; ; Egyptian, 8s. to Paris, during the first two weeks, the wheat trade tended ywnward, but the decline was arrested, and prices subsequently rose what they were at the commencement—white wheat, 56s. to 58s. “i quarter ; red, 54s. to 55s. In England the weather Was subject of ronic complaint among agriculturists, the intervals of fine weather g¢ few and brief, while the unfavorable meteorological conditions re varied by storms and floods. But little wheat had been sown, and fears were entertained that even that would be rotted by the excessive - moisture. This fear was also manifested on the continent, where the sowing was more successful. Yet foreign wheat was arriving in London | - in such quantities as to make it difficult to maintain standing rates. { London averages were about 1s. below the country AVELALES ; hence the poor qualities of British wheat in that market. Fxiovur.—In London, British best town households flour steod uni- _ formly at 50s. to 57s. per 280 pounds; country households, 43s. to 47s. ; Norfolk and Suffolk, 40s. to 42s. ; American flour, per barrel, 25s. to S208. ¥ extra and double extra, 30s. to 34s. Supplies of both native and _ foreign flour were good. At Liverpool, English and Irish superfines were quoted at 40s. to 46s. ; ; do. extra, 43s. to bis. ; ; Trieste and Hungarian, 61s. to 75s.; Chilian and Californian, 44s. to 50s. : ; American, per bar- rel of 196 pounds, western, 28s. 6d. to 31s.; extra State, 29s. to 34s. ; Baltimore and Philadelphia, 30s. to 35s. ; Ohio, 51s. to 35s. ; Canadian, 30s. to 54s. In Paris, during the period under consideration, the flour market exhibited a continued improvement, froin, however, a depressed starting-point. The weekly range of prices for ‘consumption for each week were, respectively, 41s, 9d. to 46s. 2d.; 428. 3d. to 46s.9d. ; 42s. TW. to 47s. 5d. ; 43s. 6d. to 4380 45s. 6d. to AS. per 280 pounds. INDIAN CORN. —The standing quotations of the Mark Lane, Lotion, market, during the month, were 32s. to 34s. per quarter for white corn, and 288. to 29s. for yellow ; Liverpool, per 480. pounds, American ities dls. to 32s. 6d.; do. yellow, 29s. to 29s. 6d.; Trieste, 30s. to 31s. 3 Danub- ian, 29s. 6d. to 32s. Woor.—The market in London for English wool was firm and well maintained, though transactions were by no means large. Southdown hoggets were quoted at 1s. 93d. to 1s. 11d. per pound ; Southdown ewes and weathers, 1s. 8d. to 1s. 10d.; Leicester ewes and weathers, 1s. 11d. to 2s.; Kent fleeces, 1s. 104d. to 28. Odd. BurrEer.—The Mark Lane Express quotes English butter, in London, at the close of each wéek, as follows: Dorset, per cwt., 140s. to 144s. ; 124s. to 140s.; 120s. to 140s.; 112s. to 140s. Friesland, 110s. to 130s. ; ; 120s. to 130s.; 130s. to 134s. ; 120s. to 132s.; 120s. to 130s. Jersey, 104s. to 1128.; 98s. ’to 112s. ; ; 106s. ‘to 12 2085; 108s. ‘to 1248. 5 ; 104s. to 120s. CHEESE. . see Cheshire cheese ranged from 50s, to 84s, per ewt.; Doubl Gloucester, 58s. to 788; Cheddar, 64s. to a 50s. to 728. = LIVE-STOCK.—Aft the great annual sale of fat stock for Christmas con- sumption, held at the Metropolitan Cattle-Market, in London, Deeem- ber 16, 1872 , both the number and quality of the animals. offered. ex- ceeded all expectation. Late rains had saturated the pastures, espe- cially in the great northern cattle-raising counties and in Scotland, where the season was one of the most disastrous on record. Scotch hay was secured in an indifferent condition, while the root crops turned eut poorly. The fine show of animal from those regions Was, ” — 4g cially gratifying symmetrical, ve, awkwe rd beasts form 1e e,and inferio niper Spouiide!.. Os Ae i md Rt Mg ion J ponds... . 2.2.07 cope SWE Pn Mau tel soled; por'® poundal... ts eee 6.6 to Prime Southdown, per 8 pounds t.... «fp ek ce) ce ai Hogs: ie a i SE Fs ee ae. per e pounds .--... ia ten all a oe acter aaene Ae eat, peas porkers, perm? pounds ....-- isa neee 2 eee . __ Supe: 5 ae eee ' cay ne - - . ; 4 a 76 lh sp ne ie tote ? CH 8 ett > » Sha et eee MONTHLY REPORT or THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE KOR MARCH, 1878. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1873, a , 2 ae K MONTHLY REPORTS ey te el DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURKE= yt, OG Statistical Division I ch 43, Sir: I herewith present for publication a digest of headin mor ite March circular of the Statistical Division, showing the extén whi rotation is practiced in the country, and in what its courses consist; the methods of fertilization and soil amelioration practiced; hints of the relative profit of the different branches of farming, and the comparative practice of a restorative system; the comparative value of farm lands, ‘and the causes of discouragement existing. and remedies proposed. Ac- companying are reports of the work of other Divisions of the Depart- ment. . J. R. DODGE, Statistician. Hon. FREDERICK WATTS, Commissioner. CONDITION OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. It has seemed important to obtain facts showing the present status of our agriculture, especially with reference to such vital points as rotation, soil-improvement, and the present comparative profit of its principal crops. It was not expected that so large a subject could be treated exhaustively, but it seemed probable that the views and facts of the farmers themselves, presented in homely garb, might at least furnish a glimpse of the truth upon the great questions involved. The following list of queries elicited responses from regular correspondents of more than half the counties of the United States: 1. Is systematic rotation practiced by any portion of the farmers of your county? If so, what proportion of the whole number. of how many years does the course consist, of what crops, in what order, and with what preparation of soil for each? 2. With those whose practice cannot in any sense be described as a rotation, what crops are most grown, with what preparation, and how many years in succession is any crop cultivated ? 3. What efforts toward soil-improvements are made? What fertilizers used, and to what extent—“ commercial,” barn-yard, or green-soiling? Is “clovering” practiced ; and, if so, how, and to what extent? 4. What proportion of your farmers consume the larger portion of their field pro- ducts upon the farm? Give illustrations, with accurate figures, of the comparative profit of selling and feeding hay and grain. 5. What branch of farming (as the growing of corn or wheat, the raising of stock, or production of wool or meat, dairying, fruit-growing, market-gardening, &e.) is at present deemed most profitable, and why? — : 6. Are farm-lands increasing or decreasing in value at present, and what is the average market-value of farms compared with their value in 1860? ‘ 7. What causes of discouragement exist among farmers, and what suggestions of remedies can you make ? What form of co-operation or combination will aid in giving effect to such remedies ? RK NG 57 ere 52 SYSTEMATIC. ROTATION OF CROPS. A thorough system of crop-rotation is found in but few counties of New England, and in these the routine varies. The large number of towns and cities creates a demand for dairy and market-garden pro- ducts which do not admit of any rotation. In some counties systematic rotation, and, in fact, systematic farming of any kind is pronounced “out of the question.” Farming is here pursued upon too small a scale, or in subordination to some other calling, such as manufacturing, lum- bering, &c. A tendency to indefinite repetition of the same crop is strongly developed in many localities. A few small farmers repeat corn and small grain, as they allege, with good results, but such cases are exceptional. Others plant potatoes every year. In Coos County, New Hampshire, India wheat is said to produce twenty successive good crops where the land has been annually manured. In Hampshire County, Massachusetts, tobacco has been raised for twenty years on the same land, highly fertilized. In Hartford County, Connecticut, this crop has been treated with domestic and commercial fertilizers to the amount of $200 to $300 per acre, securing returns of $600 to $1,200 per acre. In Rhode Island field-crops of onions are repeated from five to eight years, or until the smut destroys them. The high prices of hay, averaging $25 per ton in the Boston market, keep a large area of land in grass. Very frequently the sod is broken up only at long intervals, either for reseeding in timothy or clover, or for a brief alternation of root or grain crops, to rest the land and pre- pare it for anew departure in grass-cropping. The period is length- ened by heavy annual top-dressing with barn-yard manure and plaster. In Newport County, Rhode Island, meadows are kept growing for ten or twelve years, by a liberal application of sea-weed every year. Here, however, the white worm, a larva of the May beetle, frequently destroys the grass in two or three years from seeding. In some counties a three years’ course—l. corn; 2. potatoes; 3. wheat—is practiced. In others cornis followed by small grain, and subsequently by several crops of grass, extending the course to 6 or 8 years, as in some localities in Rhode Island. The sod is sometimes top- dressed with manure before breaking for root or grain crops. Grass seed is commonly sown with small grain. Systematic manuring is reported as the rule in three counties in M aine two in New Hampshire, one in Massachusetts, two in Rhode Island, and two in Connecticut. The periods range from three to ten years, Generally sod is broken for corn or potatoes, which are followed by small grain and then by grass for several years. In these counties cul- tivation is generally very thorough, the land being sometimes plowed to the depth of 6 inches and subsoiled 12 inches. Unprogressive farmers sharply criticise the subsoil process, but its results are stated to be very satisfactory, retaining the strength of the manure and saving subseqnent cultivation. In the Middle States systematic rotation is pursued to a greater extent and with more marked results than in any other part of the country, yet here special industries very largely interfere with the routine. About a third of the reported counties in New York pursue a regular and uniform system; another third pursue a partial rotation, while the remainder seem to ignore it entirely. The following remarks of our correspondent in Seneca will give some idea of the first class: Comparatively few ignore rotation and practice slip-shod farming; that class soon drops out. Two general courses are pursued by intelligent farmers: the first is to 53 turn over a piece of clover or clover and timothy sod for corn; the next spring the field is plowed again and sown to oats or barley; in the fall the ground is again. turned over and fitted for winter-wheat, receiving a top-dressing of barn-yard manure. The next spring the winter-wheat is seeded to clover or clover and timothy and allowed to remain in clover for one to three years, when the foregoing process is again repeated. The second course is to spread during the winter all the available manures made upon the farm on a piece of sod intended for corn; turn early and harrow thoroughly at proper time to plant to corn, then follows the rotation as practiced in the first case. Near the large cities the market-garden system prevails, while in the rural districts large areas are devoted to dairying and cheese factories. In the Jatter the leading aim is to secure as large an amount of forage crops as possible. Even in those countries where farming is intelligent and systematic, there still exists a class of so-called farmers, whose sole method is found in a merciless succession of the same crops, generally grain or root- crops, with shallow cultivation and little or no fertilization. This shiftless husbandry, however, is undermining its own existence, and promises shortly to relieve the country of its presence. As the soil finally refuses to answer this destructive system with a bare subsistence, the farmer sells out in order to “go west” and diffuse the blessings of his exhaustive system over a quarter-section of frontier virgin soil. In Delaware County, rye and buckwheat have been repeated through a whole decade. In Cattaraugus, five to seven successive crops of oats are raised year after year. In Chemung County, tobacco crops are raised, the leaf, it is said, growing finer and cleaner every year. On the cheaper highlands of the same county hay and oats have been raised till they would not bring a half crop. Onondaga County seems to have measureably got rid of this system, which left large areas covered with Canada thistle. In the valley of the Mohawk, crops of broom-corn have been raised for thirty years without any apparent exhaustion of the soil. In New Jersey this class of farmers do not render themselves so prom- inent in our reports as in most of the other States. Ina majority of the counties, reported rotation is pursued with greater or less regularity. The following summary by our correspondent in Cumberland County will give an idea of the extent and character of rotation in the State: Our farmers are of two classes, grain farmers and truckers; the former class practice a five years’ rotation ; they first plow up their sward-land usually in the early spring for corn, applying some kind of fertilizer usually in the hill; after the hen-roost manure is exhausted, either phosphate or bone dust is used ; the second year the same ground is either replanted in eorn, or oats, or potatoes are put in, with a dressing of ° barn-yard manure, or for oats a light dressing of some commercial manure, and in the fall of the same year, wheat is usually sown in with another coat of manure, sow- ing down to grass and allowing it to lay two or three years, the grasses sown being usually clover or timothy. The truckers do not usually practice any routine, often putting in the same ground, year after year, and dressing heavily with manure. The exceptions to rotation seem to be mostly the result of some great industry, such as market-gardening or dairying. Cultivation and ferti- lization are generally thorough. In Burlington County a considerable area in cranberry-marsh indicates the necessity of a constant succession in that peculiar product. In Pennsylvania but three counties are reported as entirely ignoring rotation. In a large portion of the State the system is general if not universal. A routine known as the “‘ Pennsylvania rotation” is especially noted in Cambria and other counties, which ranges through five years. Corn is planted on sod broken in the spring and thoroughly manured. Then follow oats,. wheat, and two crops of grass, the wheat being treated with super-phosphates. The other systems reported are mostly modifi- cations of the above. Our correspondent in Lehigh County develops 54 a transition phase of agriculture in Pennsylvania resulting from the extension of mining and manufacturing enterprise: At present there is no particular system practiced by the farmers here. Especially in what is termed the Lehigh Valley farmers have suffered considerably owing to the iron business having forced wages to a point beyond which the farmer could not en- gage. A revolution in the system of farming has commenced which should have begun earlier. Owing to the short crop of wheat and rye for a number of years, low prices and high wages, farmers were almost ruined. The great number of hands required in the iron business made it apparent that more meat and vegetables should be produced, and which are also more remunerative. Our farming community is mainly composed of the old German element, who are slowly leaving an old-beaten path for a new un- trodden one. A number of our farmers are confining their attention principally to corn, grass, and vegetable raising. Market-gardening, grazing, and dairying largely interfere with rota- tion in different localities, but the class of shiftless, exhaustive farmers, though still too numerous, grows small by degrees. t In Maryland rotation is very general, though in some districts there is a decided tendency to excessive grain and grass cropping. The most general order is to begin with corn or potatoes on broken sod, and fol- low with one or two crops of small grain, the last being seeded with grass. Sometimes the last-named crop is continued till itruns out, and the rotation again begins. In Washington County, wheat, on good soils, is raised many years upon the same soil freely fertilized with bone, phosphates, &c. In Somerset, corn has been raised thirty years with little culture. The tendency to repeated croppings is found mostly - among small farmers and tenants. Market-gardening and dairying are extensively pursued in some localities. Of the South Atlantic Coast States, Virginia shows a considerable tendency to crop rotation. In several counties a regular system, for- merly existing, was broken up by the disasters of the late civil war and the change in the labor system. About one-fourth of the counties report a somewhat regular routine, embracing: 1. corn; 2. wheat or oats ; 3. clover; another fourth ignore it entirely, while in the remainder partial and dubious efforts are maintained. As aspecimen of the first class the following, from Williamsburgh County, may be cited : It is practiced by three-fourths of the farmers in this county. What is known as the three-field system is being adopted universally, almost, for the old four-field system. The second year after cultivation, with or without clover, a dark mold is formed in the soil, which will last only one year; and if the farmer fails to turn it in in the spring of the third year, he will almost certainly fail in a corn crop. In the following summer it is supposed the “acids arise,” and then comes the sage-sod, which soon ren- ders the soil very poor. Our Nelson correspondent says: One of the best farmers here has his farm divided into three fields, and works one every year, but turns under once always in three years a good crop of clover; this farm is improving rapidly in productiveness and the owner says he is making more money than before the war. Some prefer (on the five-shift system) corn, wheat, or oats, followed by three crops of clover, other produce in the order of wheat, corn, oats, and two crops of clover. For the first of these crops the farmers aim to turn the clover sod early in the fall and finish by what we call “fallowing for corn” by Christmas. Where clover sod is prepared for wheat a two or three horse turning-plow is used in July, August, and sometimes continued into September, when dry summers prevent early plowing. Where tobacco is cultivated it is almost invariably followed by wheat. Henrico presents an example of the non-rotating counties: The only pretense at rotation consists of corn first, then wheat or oats, followed by clover, which is left, usually, but a single year. If near a city, the clover is cut and sold in the market; at a greater distance from a market it is frequently turned under after having been pastured off or mown once. But little attention is paid to the land in any case. I have seen fields so wet when plowed for spring-oats that the water would accumulate in the furrows after the plowman. ; 55 The repetition of crops in long succession, without manure and with superficial culture, finds numerous illustrations in different parts of the State. In Princess Anne, corn has been grown for fifty years with an oe- casional crop of weeds as arest. Near towns and cities this treatment is rendered more tolerable by the amount of stable-manure accessible 4 but in many places it has told severely upon the soil, as is thus stated by our correspondent in Cumberland County: ' The best land is selected for tobacco and corn, following the tobacco with wheat, and some may suw a few clover seed to afford a scanty pasturage for their poor stock the next year. Others seed their corn-land year after year in oats, until they bring it to broom-straw, then go to their wood land for a fresh tobacco crop. In North Carolina the majority of the counties reported indicate an entire absence of crop rotation. In other counties a partial and varying routine is noticed in rather dubious terms. The following is a specimen of the more systematic and intelligent but isolated efforts at rotation: About half my cultivated land is not adapted for the growing of cotton; this half I reserve for corn and oats, not planting the whole of it to either crop, but a part to rest. every year, and always following the rest with corn, and the corn with oats. I have divided the other half into two equal parts, one of which I plant to cotton, manuring with home-made compost or commercial fertilizer; on the other part I put a few acres in sweet potatoes, and remainder of the field in pease. The potatoes and pease are fed off on the land to hogs and beef cattle. The next year this part goes to cotton and the other to potatoes and pease. Thus, in the cotton land the course is two years; 1. potatoes and pease; 2. cotton; in the remaining portion the course is three years: 1. corn; 2. oats; 3. rest. The repetition of crops is pursued to an astonishing degree. In Ca- tawba and Caldwell Counties, for instance, low lands have been planted in corn from seventy-five to one hundred years; in Pasquotank, fifty years; in many others from ten to forty years. In river-bottoms, where the soil is annually renewed and fertilized by overfiow, this process seems capable of repetition ad infinitum. In some counties every agri- cultural interest is subordinated to cotton, which is grown year after year till the land refuses to yield apayingcrop. In some instances cot- ton-fields are liberally manured, but in others very little effort is made to supply plant-food. Our correspondent in Stanly says: The absence of market facilities, and the lack of cheap and improved implements of husbandry, prevent the poorer class of farmers from following a systematic rotation ; and if the plan should be adopted by the wealthier class, it necessitates the farming out of their lands to colored laborers ; who, though very industrious and well-behaved, cannot be brought to a perfected system in anything. Exhaustive cropping on the old plan is therefore the rule, and any attempt at a systematic course the exception. In South Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas, and in all the Gulf States, systematic rotation is very little thought of. Our correspondent in Columbia County, Georgia, thus reflects a leading phase of popular opinion in the South: Although the benefits following rotation are acknowledged by the majority of farmers in this section, yet it is practiced by comparatively few. Many think the extensive use of “ commercial fertilizers ” does away with the necessity for this annual change of crops, and the fertilizer used is selected with direct reference to the crop to be produced, and the crop is thus fed and grows by this outside help, thus preventing too great a drain upon the soil itself. This creates an idea in the minds of those who practice this system that the outlay of money is a salve to the soils, and to this extent not only preserves but increases its fertility ; others maintain that this extensive and general use of stimulating manures, while they may and do increase the production, do it at the expense and the ultimate deterioration of the soil, in other words they “kill the land,” and the old, worn-out lands of Virginia are cited in vindication of this theory. Cotton, corn, small grain, sugar-cane, sweet-potatoes, and a few other crops are grown according to prospective localor general demand, 56 and often in exhausting succession upon the same land. Soil prepara- tion and fertilization are often entirely ignored, and when practiced at all are very imperfectly attended to except in the case of cotton. Many counties report the repetition of this crop through twenty or twenty-five years, while in one—Wilcox, Alabama—lands have been kept fifty years in cotton without intermission. Occasionally this crop is alternated with corn, small grain, or grass. In some districts the soil appears to bear this strain with but little indications of exhaus- tion. In other cases, however, the normal results of this ruinous system are painfully apparent. In Louisiana new-comers occasionally attempt to introduce improvements, but are unable to resist the influ- ence of universal example, and ultimately fall into the old routine. Some idea of this routine may be gathered from our report from Terre- bonne Parish : For the first year the land is put in corn and cane, it being too rich to put in solid cane; usually two rows of corn and two rows of cane are planted alternately; the corn ripens and is bent down before the cane gets very high, this admits the sun to the cane. The following year the two rows of corn are planted in cane, and all is thus kept in cane for two years more ; then corn follows, and when it gets its last plow a row of pease is sown on each side of the row, which covers the surface of the groun with a dense mass of vines; these vines are then turned under with four-mule plows, having revolving pea-vine cutters attached in front like a colter. Generally one year in corn and pease is sufficient to enable us to plant cane again. If the land is old, corn and pease are continued until the desired fertility is reached. The most approved plan is to keep old land two years in cane, i. e., one year of plant and one of stubble, and then follow one year with corn and pease; this course steadily improves the land. Among the special industries of this section of the Union, rice-culture is especially mentioned in Georgetown district, South Carolina. Two- thirds of the rice-lands have lain waste since the war. In Tennessee, West Virginia, and Kentucky; though in the majority of the counties reported there is an entire absence of systematic rota- tion, yet in other counties it is practiced with considerable regularity and with excellent results. The rotation generally embraces corn, small grain, and grass, tobacco being sometimes interpolated in the series. In Robertson County, Tennessee, it is found that wheat follows clover more advantageously than corn. A three years’ course commonly adopted is: first, corn; second, wheat; third, clover. This is changed to five years, as practiced by others: first, corn; second, wheat or other grain; third, clover three years. Others still practice a course of four years, with two years in clover. In Monroe County, West Virginia: Twenty per cent. of our people are tobacco-growers; they grow on new land gener- ally two crops of tobacco, followefl by wheat, which is considered a-sure crop after tobacco; about one-third seed-clover on the wheat in the spring, and retain as perma- nent pasture, or turn over in two or three years for corn, and follow with wheat on corn-stubble. In Oldham County, Kentucky : About one-third practice rotation, the remainder plant corn in new timber-land 60 long as it will yield twenty bushels to the acre, then sow oats and repeat corn, and tinally become so poor themselves they are compelled to sell the land and “go west.” Another class, when the land has become impoverished, try clover for two years, then put in corn and follow by wheat or oats; this is what we term ‘four years’ rotation ; ‘M about two-thirds follow this plan. Others, after corn, sow orchard-grass seed, one bushel to the acre, and one bushel of clover-seed to the eighth of an acre, with wheat or oats for two years, at the end of which time the clover has pretty well died out ; the four following years cut for seed, which is one of the principal crops in this imme- diate neighborhood; this is termed the “eight-year system,” i. e., two grain crops, two years in pasture, and four years’ cutting. According to the practice of the best farmers in Fayette County, Kentucky : Clover-sod is turned under in the fall or early spring, and two crops of hemp or 57 corn are made, then grain is sown in the fall or spring, clover (mixed with timothy or blue-grass where permanent pasture is desired) is sown upon the small grain, if design- ated for grain crops subsequently. After two full years’ growth of clover, it is again plowed and small grain sown in the fall. Those who are yearly tenants have no sys- tem of rotation, but get all they can out of the land by cropping. Injurious repetitions of corn and tobacco crops on bottom-lands and of small grain or hemp upon uplands are frequently mentioned. Of the States north of the Ohio River, considerable portions of Miehi- gan and Wisconsin have been settled too lately for the organization of any system of rotation or, indeed, for the introduction of any but or- dinary methods of cultivation. Even here, however, the rudiments of a system of rotation are already discernible. In many of the older counties there is a more or less capricious shifting of crops, which some term rotation. In other counties however, regular systems are found extending through three to five years, and embracing corn, potatoes, small grain, and grass. In these States the temptation to repetition is mostly in small grain and potatoes; a temptation too frequently yielded to. Rotation is the general rule in about half the counties reporting from Ohio, while it is considerably diffused through many others. In the great river-bottoms fertilized by annual overflow the tendency to repeated crops is inveterate. Scioto bottoms, for-instance, after fifty years of repeated crops of corn, still yield 60 to 100 bushels per acre. The large proportion of this class of landsin the State greatly restricts the scope of rotation. Large areas are also devoted to grass-crops, stock-raising, and dairying, in which rotation is not practiced. In Logan County— About three-fifths of the cultivated land is under a varied system of five or six years’ rotation. A three-year-old clover-lay is turned under in the spring and planted in corn; the corn-stubs are dragged down in the fall, and wheat drilled in the wheat- land being seeded to clover in the following February or March, making a five-year course of corn, winter wheat, succeeded by three years of clover; otherwise varied in a six-years’ course by two crops of corn or wheat—the small amounts of oats, beans, potatoes, and buckwheat we grow making but an exceptional variation to the speci- fied course. In Morrow County, rotation is practiced— By about one-half the farmers. Meadow or pasture land is plowed up in the spring, sometimes in the fall; when plowed in the latter season a more thorough harrowing is required. The most successful ones find it pays best to pulverize thoroughly pre- vious to putting in the crop; the first and sometimes the second crop is corn, then fol- lows oats, and next wheat. In preparing for oats, as soon as the top of the ground is dry enough in the spring, sow the oats on the corn-stubble, and put on a rolling-cutter or wheel-harrow. The crop is generally more certain than to wait until the ground is dry enough to plow; as soon as the oats are off give the land a deep plowing, from seven to nine inches, put on barn-yard manure on the poorest spots, from ten to twenty cords to the acre, and on the whole field, if there is manure; during Septem- ber harrow the manure in with the soil, usually drilling is the most remunerative. This is the course usually followed with soil. Subsoiling and underdressing is but little practiced, although it pays to do it. Rotation is the rule in about one third of the counties of Indiana; in another third it is the exception, while in the remainder it is unknown. Non-rotating farmers are found mostly in bottom-lands, but in too many cases the rich uplands have been ruined by their destructive practice. In Dearborn and Park Counties forty successive corn-crops have been gathered. The rotation series generally embraces corn or potatoes, small grain, and grass, though wheat frequently is sown upon fresh- broken sod. German farmers in Owen County practice a three-fold system of duplicate crops—two of corn. two of wheat, and two of clover. Of clover, the first crop is generally cut twice, once for hay and once for seed. The second crop is pastured till July, and then permitted to run to seed, after which it is turned under by deep plowing. 58 In Illinois nearly two-thirds of the counties reported ignore rotation -in toto, while of the remainder at least half pay but little attention to it. Corn has been repeated for fifty years on alluvial bottoms, and wheat on uplands for twenty years. -An annual decline of yield has been a significant but too often unheeded commentary upon this ruin- ous practice. Our correspondent in Cass County remarks: Corn being our main crop, the only rotation is to either oats or wheat, the former producing a sure crop, the latter a very uncertain one. On land that has been under cultivation for a number of years, we raise two crops of corn and one of oats, thus making a rotation of three years; but one-half our best farmers keep about 50 per cent. of their land in pasture for seven years; it is then prepared for corn: a sod-plow drawn by two horses, followed by a subsoil plow drawn by two more, breaking the ground to a depth of six inches, completely covering up the sod; the ground is next well harrowed, check-rowed and planted. Ground thus prepared will yield from fifty to eighty bushels per acre, and will produce good crops for four years; then a crop of oats prepares it for two more crops of corn. The course thus described con- sists of seven years, four of corn, one of oats,and followed by two of corn again; then it is ready to be sown in grass again, which is done by putting in timothy and clover; about February and 1st March, broadcast, on land where corn grew the previous year, In the States west of the Mississippi the same general facts are ob- served. Rotation is almost unknown in three-fourths of the reported counties of Minnesota, in seven-eighths of those of Iowa, and in two- thirds of those of Missouri, while in Kansas and Nebraska it is but lit- tle more than nominal. Destructive repetitions of particular crops are too frequent to particularize. In Bremer County, lowa— The great majority of farmers break up the prairie sod in June if possible ; it is sown to wheat the following s pring, generally with a broadcast seeder, and then well har- rowed ; some few cross-plow in the fall, the same season it is broken; others plow the same direction it was broken and turn the furrows back. Wheat is usually grown upon this land two seasons in succession, and sometimes longer. Stubble-land of wheat and oats is almost invariably plowed in the fall. The land is afterward culti- vated alternately with corn and wheat or oats. Occasionally a piece is seeded with timothy or clover, or both, and mown for hay, or pastured for a year or tw9, and some- times longer, then plowed up and sown with wheat. One of our correspondents in Missouri writes: The farmers of this section mainly belong to that well-known class yclept “old fogies,” whose ancestors, hearing of this goodly land about half a century ago, came hither trom Kentucky and Western Tennessee, literally following the leadings of Divine Providence, upon whom they relied with unfaltering faith for support, doing as little as possible themselves to interfere with the Divine arrangements. Our correspondent in Nemaha County, Kansas, says: I came here in 1860 from New York, where I had farmed land worth $100 per acre, following a systematic rotation with good results. I commenced nearly fhe same course on our new prairie soil, excepting the manure and clover. I alternated corn and small grain, but found it would not answer; corn will not do well after small grain. I then adopted the plan of corn for two seasons, then summer-fallow; then spring grain, followed by winter grain; then summer-fallow again, and follow with corn. In three or four counties of Utah there are rotations of corn, small grain, and pease, but the order is not very uniform. In no other por- tions of the Territories have any approximations toward rotation been reported. On the Pacific coast rotation is but little known. In California, where the great staple wheat crop has been grown in destructive suc- cession, if is becoming common in some localities to very the crop every few years, either with a volunteer crop of wheat-hay, or by seed- ing in barley, oats, or corn. The increasing growth of weeds and the constant multiplication of foul seed is compelling some alternation of crops. In some counties, Humboldt for example, new land is planted from two to five years in potatoes, followed by several years of wheat, and finally by grass crops, which are sometimes continued till they run ae | 59 out. The best wheat-lands, which have astonished the world by their enormous production, are visibly declining in fertility. In Oregon, only two counties report even an approximate system of rotation. The abundance of land owned by individual farmers enables them to rest the soil, yet there are instances of long succession of crops. In Linn County a thirteenth wheat crop (Australian spring) averaged 264 bushels per acre. The cultivation in this case was thorough, em- bracing two plowings, the first 10 or 12 inches and the second 6 inches. Very few of these repeated crops, however, have received any such cul- tivation as is seen in the declining fertility of some of the finest wheat- iands. SOIL IMPROVEMENT. In many counties of New England efforts for the permanent improve- ment of the soil are intelligent and energetic. In others, however, but little is done except with reference toimmediate results. Many farmers are more or less dependent on manufacturing, lumbering, fishing, or some other outside calling for a living, and consequently give but minor attention to the cultivation of the soil. Others own but a few acres, and are destitute of the capital necessary to make improvements or even to arrest the deterioration of their lands. Hence from some quar- ters come complaints of declining fertility. But the necessity and the practicability of retaining and even of enhancing the natural fertility of the soil have lately awakened more general attention and have led to some systematic and well directed enterprise in this direction. Barn-yard manure is universally used. The accumulations of the stables and vaults of the numerous cities and manufacturing towns, after supplying the market gardeners and truck-farmers in their imme- diate neighborhood, are in some cases transported hundreds of miles into the interior by river and rail. . This long transportation, however, renders the material too costly for extensive employment in general farming. On the farms it is sometimes saved with extreme care, while in many cases it is to a great extent wasted. Among the best-farmers, in all this region, barns have been constructed with especial refer- ence to the saving of both solid and liquid excrements of farm ani- mals. These are composted with muck, sawdust or any other material that will absorb ammonia. The droppings of the hog-pen and of the hen-roost are, by many farmers, carefully gathered and added to the barn-yard heap. Night-soil is used near the cities. Sometimes these fertilizers are plowed under for the corn crop; sometimes they are ap- plied as a top-dressing, especially upon grass crops. Near the coast large quantities of lobster-refuse, menhaden, and other fish manures are used. On some soils they produce valuable results, but upon others their application has not been so satisfactory. Sea-weed, salt-marsh hay, and other vegetable débris are eagerly sought after. Commercial fertilizers are extensively used in a few localities, but in others they have lost favor. Nova Scotia plaster is a great favorite in Chittenden County, Vermont. In several localities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, guano and superphosphates are extensively employed. The tobacco-growers of Hartford, Connecticut, especially favor concen- - trated fertilizers and claim very remunerative results from their use. ‘Haney farmers, gardners, and fruit-growers, with city business,” also use them extensively, but it is intimated that in many cases the expense overruns the profits. Green-soiling and clovering are but little used. Our correspondent in Carroll County, New Hampshire, censures the plowing under of green crops upon the following grounds: 00) Ist. One year’s rent of the land is lost. 2d. The cost of seed and labor would pro- cure and apply compost-manure enough to insure a better crop the present season, and benefit the land for a longer time than any crop raised on the ground without manure, and plowed in, will insure the next season. It is a fact that compost-manures will get their reward one year sooner than a turned-under green crop. For an illustration : Farmer D’s land is naturally good, but it has run out by poor management; he adopts the green-crop fertilizing principle and expends, in seed, labor, &c., $200, and puts his whole crop under the soil, and the income is nil: thus the farm stands Dr. to tash and interest, $230. Now, Farmer K expends on his land $200, in compost and labor, and the result is, he obtains a crop worth $230, and the following spring his account will stand thus: Farm, Dr. to cash and interest, $230. Farm, Cr. by crops, $230. Considerable underdraining and subsoiling are reported in some lo- calities. In York County, Maine, underdraining is confined mostly to clay lands, and is not gaining favor. Farmers here contend that it is not necessary in hill lands. The genial effects of improved cultivation are especially remarkable in many counties. In some localities a feel- ing is gaining ground in favor of more systematic rotation. Im Kent County, Rhode Island, it appears to be demonstrated, ‘* whether from upwards of two hundred years of successive croppings or original lack of organic properties in the soil,” ‘“‘that no amount of manuring will keep the soil in profitable tilth beyond the seventh year.” In the Middle States farming is more an exclusive pursuit than in New England,and is pursued in many counties with intelligent reference to soil- improvement. This, however, is not always observable in those counties in which rotation of crops is most generally observed. Fertilization as well as cultivation are too often directed to immediate and superficial results, regardless of subsequent impoverishment of the soil. Domestic fertilizers are used by all farmers, and in general are economically treated. The towns and cities supply a very large fund for the supply of market-gardeners and-truck farmers, but the chief resource of the general farmer is in the accumulations of his own farm. Stock-raising and sheep-husbandry add very considerably to the amount of organic matter returned to the soil for plant-food. In New Jersey extensive deposits of marl are found in accessible positions, and are freely used as fertilizers. Lime, also, is a favorite in counties where it is readily ob- tainable, especially in those regions of Pennsylvania which are under- laid by extensive coal and lime-stone strata. Fish manure, sea-weed, and other marine organic matter are largely used near the coast, and night-soil, well composted, is in demand among market-gardeners. Commercial fertilizers are growing in favor in some counties, while in others their value is seriously questioned. Clovering and green-soiling are, in many counties, the mainstay of recuperative farming. The green crops, heavily top-dressed with either barn-yard manure or plaster, are often inverted in full and luxuriant growth; even buckwheat is treated in this way, though the practice is sometimes sharply criticised by in- telligent farmers. The high prices of hay tempt the farmer either to mow or pasture his grass crops too closely, thus limiting the benefit that might be derived from this process. Lawrence County, Pennsyl- vania, especially relies on clover as a fertilizer and raises unusual quan- tities of clover-seed for market. Underdraining, subsoiling, and im- proved tillage are cited as effective agencies in soil-improvement. The results of systematic efforts in this direction are especially seen in Mon- mouth County, New Jersey. the soil of which, though remarkably poor forty-four years ago, bas become very rich and productive. The same might be said of many other counties in the Middle States, but marked examples of a contrary character are not wanting. Of the South Atlantic coast States, Maryland and Virginia practice an agriculture more assimilated to northern than southern systems. In 61 the former, which measurably escaped the devastations of the late civil war, farming appears of late to be prosecuted with greater energy and success, and to have embraced within its scope a more earnest effort for the permanent improvement of thesoil. Special efforts in this direction are reported in Frederick, Caroline, and Howard Counties. Barn-yard manure is the special reliance in such movements, but lime is of very frequent application. Wicomico County uses about 100,000 bushels per annum; Frederick spreads 40 or 50 bushels of lime per acre. In Queen Anne it is applied in moderate quantities to clover before plowing for corn, and then 500 pounds of superphosphates per acre are placed on corn-ground to be plowed for wheat. This application, it is said, will double the wheat crop and treble or quadruple the subsequent clover crop, besides leaving the ground in better condition for subsequent tillage, while the use of only 100 pounds of superphosphates would do a positive injury by causing the crop to run to straw. Commercial fertilizers, however, are generally less used. Clovering is considerably. practiced in the western counties. In Virginia the majority of our reports show little or no effort for soil- improvement. The waste of the late war and the change in the labor sys- tem are alleged as the reasons of this backwardness. This, however, is not universally the case. In Cumberland County, ‘ within the last two years considerable advance has been made in the improvement of lands owing to the increased circulation of agricultural works and the dissem- ination of better varieties of seed.” Intelligent farmers in Khockingham are making strenuous efforts, saving manure, composting, clovering, &e. In Williamsburgh County— Great efforts were made by farmers, followed by many and disastrous failures, in their attempts to improve their lands with the modern quack fertilizers ; finally they have determined to use nothing but lime and the farm products, and which we con- sider the only salvation of the farming interests of this county. Experiments in clovering have been quite unsuccessful lately on ac- count of the extreme drought. Commercial fertilizers have greatly disappointed expectations, but lime has produced very favorable results. In North Carolina some isolated efforts are made by intelligent men to improve their lands, but generally the idea itself is entertained by few. As an excuse for inaction it is alleged in some quarters that crops are seldom housed till after Christmas, and that the weather after that period is too cold for out-door labor. This from the latitude of North Carolina will sound oddly to northern and western farmers, who find time for extensive and important farm labors during each winter. In South Carolina the phosphates, of which large deposits have been found in that State, are extensively applied, but not always with intelligent reference to their specific effects. These applications are mostly made for immediate results and not for permanent improvement, which ap- pears to be but little regarded. Georgia makes an extensive use of com- mercial fertilizers upon cotton. Gwinnett County consumed about 2,000 tons during 1872. In Franklin County they have been applied at rates varying from 300 to 1,000 pounds per acre. In a few counties, such as Gordon, clover is raised in increasing quantities, and in some cases has been plowed under in full growth. Of the lands within ten miles of railroads in this county about 25 per cent. are in clover. The diii- culties.of recuperative farming are thus stated by a correspondent in Talbot County : Nothing is regarded by farmers so profitable as cotton. The lands generally produce such small crops of corn that it will not pay the expense of the laborers we are obliged to employ, owing to the fact of their having buat little regard for loss of time, even 62 when they are interested in the crop; moreover, an acre of land that will produce 8 bushels of corn will produce 125 pounds of lint-cotton, which of course is much more profitable. The following, from Gadsden County, Florida, presents the case of that State in a nutshell: : The efforts in this county are rare and feeble. A few are impressed with the impor- tance of the subject, and are making some efforts in the proper direction, but the great majority of planters have ignored it entirely. Under the present system the land iS either rented to the laborer annually for a specified sum per acre, or he receives aS compensation for his services a share of the crop produced; in either case his interes? ceases with the housing of the crop. In Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana, efforts at soil-improvement are but little more than nominal. In some cases farmers working their own lands haul manure, but neither the large planter nor the tenant-culti- vator thinks of such an extra exertion. A few experiments in subsoiling and deep plowing are disparagingly spoken of. In Texas, in some local- ities, soil-improvement is considered a proper subject of amusement. In all of these States, where any effort is made to utilize barn-yard manures, the purpose of saving labor is everywhere prominent. Occasionally a truck-patch or garden is manured by ‘“‘ cow-penning,” or confining farm animals within an inclosure, in order that the soil may receive the bene- fit of their droppings without the labor of hauling. Cotton-seed and commercial fertilizers are used largely for stimulating the growth of cotton. In Arkansas there is manifest a greater interest in this subject, and efforts, though partial and feeble, show an appreciable difference from the other cotton States. Very considerable efforts are made by a portion of the farmers of Tennessee to improve their soils. Clovering is the main stay in a part of the State. Our correspondent in Knox County gives the following: But few fertilizers are used, and not much barn-yard manure. Farmers rely chietly on clover and plaster, and the result is astonishing to northern farmers. After our lands have become so exhausted that five bushels of wheat to the acre cannot be counted on with certainty, by the sowing of clover, or clover and timothy, and using one bushel of plaster per acre for three years consecutively, the land will yield from fifteen to twenty bushels of wheat with almost an absolute certainty; and during the three years in clover will yield from one and a half to two tons of hay per acre; and if again sown in clover and timothy, and allowed to remain two years, will be restored to its original productiveness. During the past five years the hay and clover-seed will net the farmer more clear profit than any other crop he can grow, aside from the improvement of the land. Green-soiling is but little practiced. Grasshoppers have deterred the raising of fertilizing crops in some cases. Some counties report great improvements in the last five years, but the general indications are that public attention, as yet, is but little awakened to the subject. In West Virginia and Kentucky general efforts at soil-improvement appear to be wanting, yet there is, in many counties, a growing atten- tion to the subject. Clovering has not been so successful during the past two seasons, on account of drought, but it is largely used in some counties, though often too closely cut or grazed to be of signal value. Live stock, and especially sheep, are increasing in numbers, enhancing the productiveness of the soil. Manuring is practiced with greater care, but still it is too much neglected or confined to ‘* poor spots.” In Boyle County, Kentucky, four-fifths of this material is wasted. In Pocahontas County, West Virginia, there is “very little effort toward soil- improvements; barn-yard manure is not economized, while limestone and lumber lie moldering side by side.” Our correspondent in Daviess County, Kentucky, says: Within the last few years the people are beginning to awake to the value of fertili- zers. Much waste land has been reclaimed by their influence, such as red clover, red- 63 top or berd grass, or barn-yard manure. Clovering is practiced by almost every farmer to a considerable extent, but not half enough. Our reports from the States north of the Ohio present a remarkably variable character. In Ohio the use of barn-yard manure is generally among upland farmers, though there are conspicuous examples of its neglect even among them. The large area in bottom-lands is fertilized to a very moderate extent, and often not at all. Clovering is a leading idea in some counties; in Logan 40 per. cent. of the farmers use plaster to stimulate its growth. Ditch and tile draining and subsoiling are largely practiced, and stock-raising, especially sheep-husbandry, is in- creasing. The following from Richland County represents the methods of a large portion of the State: Of late deep plowing is more practiced than formerly, so deep as to find a new farm which lay under the old one, which latter is quite as valuable, if not of greater value, than the old one. This is assisted with all the manure on the farm. This course is the general one; some purchase large quantities in villages and cities. Green- soiling is practiced to some extent. At present prices, it is unprofitable to buy “commercial fertilizers” for the production of our common cereals. At the prices asked for such fertilizers, the expenditure is greater than the income. Those who formerly practiced this method have returned to the barn-yard again. For corn, we think a compost from the pigeon and hen roost, with plaster, is attended with quite as good results as are “commercial fertilizers.” This is usually applied in the hill, sometimes upon and sometimes under the seed; some have placed it upon the hill after planting, but with precarious results. This compost is needed for the early nour- ishment of the tender plant upon its first appearance above the ground, and for the first ‘three or four weeks afterward; it is especially needed at that time, whatever may be its effect afterward, which is no doubt beneficial; but for the maturation of the plant we depend upon the decomposed manure and seed turned under. Clovering is very generally practiced with us; our rolling and hilly lands are welladapted to its growth or culture. First crop for hay, and the aftermath for seed generally, but sometimes for hay also; then, again, others prefer the aftermath for pasturage, leaving the refuse upon, the soil, which is not exhaustive to it, while both the others certainly are. Our correspondent in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, says: - Gypsum is the only commercial fertilizer used, and that not uniformly or generally by the mass of farmers. Of late years barn-yard manure is appreciated enough, so that if farmers have time after everything else is done they will draw it into the field. But afew years since the accumulation of manure around the barn was con- sidered a great nuisance, and many barns have been moved to new ground to get away from the evil. ‘ Clovering,” so called, is practiced to a large extent in the growing of wheat. The land is left fallow until about the middle of June, when the clover and the other vegetation is turned under by a plow especially adapted to this purpose. It is afterward worked thoroughly with a two-horse cultivator previous to seeding, which is done with a seeder and cultivator combined. Where this plan is foilowed results are uniformly satisfactory. Without it, I incline to the opinion that the wheat crop of this State would be fearfully diminished. One fact has been demon- strated that is important to know, and that is, that the increase of yield per acre is almost in exact ratio to the amount of cultivation. In many portions of Michigan very great efforts are made for the per- manent improvement of the soil. In about one-fourth of the counties of Indiana, as reported, recuper- ative enterprise is very backward, if it has any existence at all. In about one-half there are indications of an awakening to the necessity of soil-improvement; while in the remaining fourth the movement 1s promising and growing. In some counties only one-half or one-fourth of the farmers haul manure, very often merely to get it out of their way. More care is now manifest in saving and applying it. Clovering and green-soiling are reported in some quarters, as are also subsoiling and ditching. Commercial fertilizers are of limited use. Improved methods of culture have also exercised a beneficial influence. Our correspondent in Crawford County, Illinois, says: As our lands are reduced by cultivation and so much increased in price that they cannot buy a new field cheaper than improve an old one, our farmers are paying much nore attention to fertilizers. 64 The above remarks indicate a satisfactory reason for the long con- tinuance of the exhaustive process of culture upon the rich lands of the Northwest. Economic considerations of immediate weight and bearing are now pleading for a recuperative system, and it is scarcely possible that such should plead in vain. The use of barn-yard manure has be- come quite general. The burning of straw and other residual organic matter is less frequent than formerly. Clovering, green-soiling, trench- plowing, subsoiling, and other improvements have been extensively introduced. The rich soils of the new counties of Wisconsin have, as yet, given but little uneasiness to farmers in regard to an ultimate but inevitable exhaustion, but in the older portions of the State this question has assumed a practical aspect. Some intelligent and successful efforts have been made to maintain the productiveness of lands by a careful saving of domestic fertilizers, by stock-feeding, and by improved pro- cesses of culture. Many aggravated cases of a contrary character, however, are reported. West of the Mississippi the farming of a very large number of coun- ties is thus graphically described by our correspondent in Linn County lowa: . No efforts are made toward the improvement of the soil, but on the contrary the most strenuous eitorts to impoverish it by getting from it all that can be got and giving nothing in return. Barn-yard manure, if it can so be called, only is used. Systematic soil-improvement is merely nominal in from one-half to three-fourths of the counties reported, yet there are isolated cases of the most advanced and intelligent effort. Between these extremes there is a wide range of effort, which on the whole gives promise of improvement. The exhaustion of some of the richest lands in the older portions of these States has challenged attention to a grow- ing necessity for recuperative culture, and hence domestic fertilizers are coming into more general use. Commercial fertilizers are occasion- ally tried, but with no remarkable results. Clovering is inereasing, while subsoiling and other improved processes are becoming more frequent. Our correspondence abounds in severe strictures upon the general status of farming in these States. In the Territories farming is too new and unsettled, and the virgin soil too recently brought under cultivation to secure any attention to this matter. On the Pacific coast sammer-fallowing and irrigation are the leading methods of soil recuperation. The dry summers render it difficult to rot manure sufficiently to render it serviceable in fertilization. What little is made is in many cases absorbed by the garden or truck-pateh, leaving but little for field crops. In Placer County, California, it is estimated that summer-fallowing increases the subsequent wheat-yield at least 20 per cent. In Linn County, Oregon, grain is cut with “* head- ers” which leave most of the straw on the ground. This is plowed un- der and forms a very good fertilizer. The large area of land owned by individual farmers admits of frequent and continued resting from cropping. THE PROFITABLE AND RESTORATIVE IN OUR AGRICUL- TURE. ; The questions in our March circular, numbered four, five and six, were designed to elicit facts showing the comparative prevalence of “restorative” farming, (any system by which the farm annually be- comes more productive by the return of an equivalent for that which 81 facturing, increase of transportation facilities and an effort for improve- ment. The decline in prices of farm produce, and the various diseour- agements complained of inthe West, have had some effect upon prices there. ; The following table shows the comparison between 1860 and 1868, as reported in the former investigation : 7 & | us 22 | 38 a | as States. 25 BS States, os os a5 | 23 33 | 38 ae Aa hair) Aaa WING Sees ae eee «| waa 2 - Sob on EO} esc Sects MMISRISGIP PIE spor Joe See - tr =| Smee ce 65 New Hampshire..-.-..-.-.--------- UTC | see ceie - 1 TR TET SSS Se eae e ee eresser 70 Wit ae ee ere d 7 (il Baye 5 PLS MAS Soon ote oa oR nip esc mentton |= xsme2 28 Massachusetts -...-- .-----.------ 1 Ot ee PAT KANSAS. fon cclcaciens con om ee oe = tees 55 DPT G Asi G eee A ee eee 1 Se = PRONNIESSOB se) stad dock sceane cassie tenes 1g Connecticut.---...--------------- Ai oats || West Virginia...........-..-...- S| BE RAR e ie BeNOR So eps ool cjas oes win 2 NEP Bees MenibuCk ye one = olen - - se 2 aseciny LON eee SN ROMOLNGY inane sane a nie Se ime SH eee BOE SS Leta ea ae ete amo 27d eee Pennsylvania .......-.------- tec 7 Rap ee oe MUTT OTS ere ane tae cies aielars sale ADs Eves Oo DOPED ys ee eee ee ze GBF i ccae df PRIUGRATI Y= = 22 Se = ees aa a or (| Se WWanyiant 2) 2c ae oo. 22 - =< Uti) (eee ee ]) CULO ese o- neces Gon Sens 32 eee pratt 85 oa = mis - 2 eet Zhi Wena 2s Sens h aang em AE eee North Carolina..... so aay ims oo P| (ee eee DOM VISCOMBIM es =~. oases < San nS cS eee ROUT ALON 025 ncaa os ceo les mtnie o ate GG Pp iittnmesatad: 2. 2-5 2. Sue ese a CN (Ae MERRIE Seed oe el acclahe iw ca buna ONES iat eile ea ae Sod WMO Waha- Geawe nate soda aces Sista ae (SS es ee MUIR es tie on acta nle Soelanow cst DOMINIC ONRANY eo ke oan on Saka. AO) eee. Pra alii ose te oo. too oe en eect cat GOP PENG DIAS Kaito oS tare eins os arene = i! (p18 Cees The returns upon this portion of our circular for March were not com- plete, and the attempt to establish State averages is therefore less satisfactory, yet the results of such generalization harmonize substanti- ally with the averages of 1868, allowances being made for the modifying influences at work upon prices in the different sections. These are not given as State averages, but averages of the counties reported in compari- son with 1860. ae ae 6 = Increase. | Decrease. 3 = Increase. cil oO | Oo States. 3 re States. 1 Bia oO 2h sea Per cent. | Per cent. Sea Per cent. | Per cent. Nii) 252.5. =~ - Cad Behe dople AR. 13ul|f Wexaeey-20 fo se2: 38}. 5Ouleeeeee New Hampshire. -. ANE corer anes 11 |} Arkansas .-.-..--.. 13 | 20) zee sae Ke Wermmen 2.2.22. 2. i Doe es. - 3526 Tennessee. -...----. 35 bral ile aoe ue Massachusetts ---- 5 Se ils =o tie West Virginia ---- 18 | AU a aaa oe Connecticut .-.---. 2 1S ee) (eae Bee ais Pe Kentucky .--.--.-. 28 oy || ewe ator oe 3 Wew Work (-----.. / 28 By a eee 2 Ohig.- 22. eeee 40 |" BO LEE RSEE New Jersey .. .--. 6 BE ME IAS ) Michigan. .....-:.- 24 | GOyibesos2. 55 Pennsylvania - .... 30 BOR ose t eee. Miglianicn) jc. eeeee 43 ira eee Mey hie: OS SN eens |S oe eeee ene ee Amos ee CEN ia sults) See ae ae Maryland ......... Bit Re aaa eee 17 || Wisconsin. --....... 22 WAS (3 Sele» Nana eee AAR ROIS 83572 25 || Minnesota. .....--- 23 Biilecesmeccn.: North Carolina... . ce ae bey ivy | iiihevs eee esse 2 40 (| eee Sonth Carolina .-.. (SES ERR ee 38 || Missouri -..--..-.- 44 AM RSE Georgia .-..-----.. a1 [see 15 || Kansas.........-.- 19 dtr ene see Mlgride-------_--=- eee ener 47 || Nebraska ......... 6 fr) Bee or i PAUAAINA|.~ -- = =<. | ele ae 42 || @aliforhia -....---. 13 UM eros oP ce Mississippi---.---- 5) | eS a 44 || @regon ....-------- 5 45) \t accor = Louisiana .....--.. Le Oe Cee 29 || Utah Territory ---- 3 yh) Steere A few extracts, which exhibit something suggestive as to prices and the cause of change in rates, are appended : Mainr.— Androscoggin: Value has increased to some extent in the vicinity of villages. Piscataquis : Farm-lands are-increasing owing to the lumber manufacturing and open- ing of a railroad through the county. ul oA 82 VERMONT.— Windham: On the line of railroad the farms are increasing in value, while at more remote points from market the price is decreasing. MASSACHUSETTS.— Middlesex : Suburban lands increase in value from the influence of increasing population. Bristol: Farm-lands in the immediate vicinity of cities are worth at the present time double their price ten years ago. Berkshire: Farm-lands are higher than in 1860; but not so high as in 1865. RHODE IsLanp.— Washington: Farm-lands have steadily increased in value along the shore, while those a few miles distant have as steadily and perhaps more rapidly de- creased. Shore-farms are worth 25 to 45 per cent. more at present than in 1860—remote lands remain about the same. New YorkK.—Chenango: Farm-lands are not selling as high as they were two years ago. Ontario: Landsare firm with an upward tendency. Monroe: Average price about $100 per acre, small places much higher. Livingston: Farm-lands are improving in value at the present time; not much higher than in 1860. Good farms in this county are worth $100 per acre; those near railroad-stations often sell for $200 per acre. Rensselaer: Farm-lands are increasing in value from 25 to 100 per cent., and more in some cases. Jefferson: Farms can be bought 10 per cent. less than two or three years ago. Ulster: Land in this county has doubled in value since 1860 on account of our good markets—caused by manufactures, working quarries, and building railroads through the county. Montgomery: Farm-lands are decreasing in value at present. Otsego: Owing to falling prices farm-lands are not as ready of sale or at as high a price as two or three years ago. Madison: The value of lands compared with 1860 is about $10 per acre higher. NEw JERSEY.—Bergen : Farming lands for farming purposes, all things considered, are worth no more to-day than they were in 1860. Warren: Farm-lands have advanced since 1860; from 1865 to 1869 they advanced 80 per cent., and have now fallen back about 40 per cent. Hunterdon: Farms are worth about as much in currency as they were in 1860; lands are going down both in fertility and value. PENNSYLVANIA.—Clearfield: Timber-lands have increased in value at least 300 per cent. since 1860. Washington: Farm-lands are increasing in value slowly and steadily by reason of improvements, both public and private. Mercer: Farm lands are inereas- ing in value. The causes of rise are large mannfactories of iron, and large export of coal, and the facilities of five railroads traversing the county. Fulion: The best of farms here that could have been bought in 1860 for $40 or $50 per acre, would bring now from $75 to $100; the poorer farms that could then have been bought for $10 to $15 per acre, would now bring $25 or $30. Indiana: Land ranges here from $15 to $60 per acre; rough timber-land has advanced more than 50 per cent. VIRGINIA.—Spotisylvania : The price has fallen 50 per cent. since 1860. The farmers are anxious to sell their surplus land, and will give a cordial welcome to all who may wish to settleamong them. Chesterfield: Increasing; our cheap lands, which have been so long overlooked, are beginning to be appreciated, with a little disposition to advance in the middle and nortbern portions of the county, especially along the lines of the three railroads running through it, and more especially near and in the growing town of Manchester. Roanoke: Our best farm-lands are increasing in value, while thin lands are decreasing in about the same ratio. Nelson: Decreasing; from 20 to 50 per cent. less. Very poor lands can scarcely be sold at any price; where the fertility of theland has been maintained and the buildings and fences kept in repair the reduc- tion in price is much less. Nansemond: For truck-lands, increased ; tor farm-lands, very much diminished since 1860. Powhatan: Lands have been sold in the county, recently, at $3 to $10 per acre, and there are numbers of farms for sale which could be purchased at those figures. NortH Caro.ina.—Warren: Lands immediately on the railroad have advanced, probably, to their price in 1860, on account of immigration; but those removed from the railroad are not in demand. There are not less than 50,000 acres in the county for sale. Jones: Lands adapted to cotton have increased in value at least 25 per cent., and some as much as 50 per cent; while lands not adapted to cotton, but only to grain, have decreased in a corresponding ratio. Burke: Good farms of from 200 to 500 acres can be bought at from $1,000 to $5000. Pasquotank: Increasing. . Because of the large number of farmers who have emigrated from Pennsylvania and New York to this county in the last three years, (they now own one-fifth of the land and pay one-fourth of the taxes,) land has advanced in price very much. It is not generally as high as in 1860; but in some instances, near town, it is much higher than ever before. Bertie: The lands that are cultivated regularly are improving in quality, but decreasing in quan- tity. ‘The large farms, say of 1,000 acres and upward, have decreased in value since 1860 about 50 per cent., except those on the water-courses, the value of which remains about the same. Cumberland: Increasing ; worth about as much now as in 1860; from $7 to $20 per acre, half cash and one or two years time on the balance. SoutH CAROLINA.— Union: Farm-lands were higher before the war than at present, but are gradually increasing in value. Darlington: Improved places are worth $8 per acre; unimproved, $4 per acre. Marion: The average value is about the same as in 83 1860, though not nearly so uniform. Well-improved lands seil higher than in 1860, while poor, unimproved, sell cheaper. GrorGIA.— Hart : Good farms, since 1865, have, in many instances, doubled their value. Poor lands, thousands of acres of which are turned out, have not increased much in value since that time. Marion: In 1860 farm-lands were worth from $10 to $20 per acre; at present, from $7 to $15. Forsythe: Worth 60 per cent. more than in 1860, and 25 per cent. more than four years ago, and still are low, ranging from $2 to $20 per acre. Brooks: Lands that sold freely, in 1860, at $20 per acre, are upon the market now in large quantities, at low prices, say $3 to $5 per acre. Wilkes: Cer- tainly decreasing in real value, and, under the present system, their becoming entirely worn out and worthless is only a question of time. From tightness in money matters, mostly, lands generally will not command as good prices as two or three years ago; but within a few miles of town or railroad communications, they are much higher than in 1860. Franklin: Farm-lands worth $10 per acre; wild lands, $1 to $3. Douglas: Increasing; 20 per cent. higher than 1860; but timber-lands 20 per cent. cheaper. Effingham : Not improving in value; worth from $1 to $3 per acre. Cobb: Increasing; average value equal to that of 1860, or $10 per acre. In some cases land that sold in 1867 and 1868 for $5 per acre would now sell for $20. Barton: Increasing; notwith- standing the ravages of war and consequent impoverishing of our people, their lands are all 10 per cent. higher than in 1860, and very much higher than in 1866. Gwin- nett: Increasing rapidly; one-third higher. Carroll: Increasing on account of new railroads running through the county; 100 per cent. more valuable than in 1860. Pickens : Have decreased in value, uplands at least 100 per cent. compared with 1860. Know of nothing that will remedy us.except a railroad. We have one of the finest counties in the State, abounding in iron ore, marble, and inexhaustible, never-failing water-power. All we need is to have our resources developed. Friorma.—Madison: Have decreased in value astonishingly. Plantations which in 1860 sold for $10 to $15 per acre could not now be sold for $5; indeed there is no demand. A man will pay for the rent of an acre for one year more than he will agree to give per acre for the whole farm. Lands worth in 1860 $5 to $10 per acre are now a “drug” in the market at $1 to $2 per acre. Hamilton: A farm valued in 1860 at $5,000 would not sell now for $500. There has been no immigration to this county, and there are none to buy; yet we have as good lands as can be found in the State, and far better than some counties in which lands are valued at much higher figures than ours, be- cause there happens to be some immigration. ALABAMA.—Conecuh: About as low as they can get. Lands that would sell for $10 to $15 per acre in 1860 will not sell now for more than $3 per acre. Good lands can be purchased cheaper in this county than in any other place in the Union. Causes: taxes, emigration to Texas, and want of money. Dallas: Many farms here can now be purchased for $5 per acre that could not have been bought for $30 per acre in 1860. Macon: The average market-price is now about $3 per acre; in 1860, $8 per acre. Perry: Farms worth $30 to $50 per acre in 1850 are now worth $5 to $10. Clarke: Have decreased; average price about $5 per acre. Wilcox: Nearly valueless. ‘There is really no market-value. Well-improved plantations can be had from $5 to $10 per acre. Lauderdale: Had increased in value since the depressed prices of 1865 and 1866 up to 1870. Many northern farmers had come in, bought, and made a demand, and land went up. But they have nearly all failed to succeed with the labor, and many of them have left, and there being no demand land is down. There is a German settle- ment forming, and as they use their own labor, and buy cheap lands and manure, we hope they will succeed. The best improved river places, with bottom-lands in part, are rated about $25 per acre; uplands, with good improvements, from that all the way down to $1 per acre; average about $8. MississipPi.—Noxubee : Increasing ; prairie lands worth about 60 per cent. of what they were before the war, (present value $12.50 per acre;) sandy land, being in small bodies, admitting of small settlements, and giving wood and water, is worth nearly as much as before the war; (present value, $10 per acre.) Lovuis1ana.—Richland : Everything is depressed in this county. Farms that would readily have brought $40 per acre in 1860, can now be purchased for $10. Jefferson : There is no sale for farms. I attended the forced sale of a plantation a few weeks ago ; the property was worth $300,000 in 1860; it sold for $50,000. Tensas: Farm-lands are decreasing in productiveness ; but the market-value is increasing just in proportion to amount of available labor in the parish. This increase of labor comes from the poor hills of Mississippi, and from Virginia and the Carolinas. Concordia: The price of Jand is nominal; there is very little capital to invest; a desirable plantation can be bought for 430 per acre, that being about the highest price. Franklin: Compared with their value in 1860, prices range at about 25 per cent.; for example, lands which commanded $10 and $20 per acre at that time, cannot now be sold. Trxas.— Freestone : Increasing constantly. From the great decrease in value caused by the recent war, they areabout recovered. Victoria: Lands that will produce from 30 to 80 bushels of corn per acre can be bought at from 50 cents to $20 per acre, the location 84 determining the relative price. Atascosa: Farming lands that could have been bought in 1860 for $3, are now worth $5 to $10 per acre. Titus: The uncertainty of labor of late years has done{much to decrease the value of farm-lands ; but this uncertainty is now tosome extent giving way, and they are again increasing, and prices now. range about the same as in 1860. Lampasas: Average price of good arable unimproved lands, $1.50 per acre; improved tracts, $4 to $5. ort Bend: Farm-lands that now command $10 per acre, in 1860 commanded $50. Many plantations which then changed hands at $40 to $60 per acre, have within the last three years changed hands at $3 to $10 per acre. (Shee ae Mules SARL ase * ees see eR tts oc 2. Re eeistepsenes 5.61 6. 10 STEM Ge SRSA SESSAS Gae6 G5e+ no Ce DB SOSEREED So. 2-5: cp seb easoae 2. 45 2. 66 (iNT. Sot eeee He Sea es. Sa 0.97 1. 06 AS aedepc debate hein, io A oc emt a a 1.45 1.58 Su HRCA Ie be Ra or ST TE LSS eee ee St ee 70. 36 76.50 PAVE MOMS? 22S yosisceerce S)dcisdebrewey-- .. Seppe [fcc cctds bis 8. 36 9. 09 (Chania oe, eee OS oT ee a) ee ee De Se ee eae 1, 66 ARLE, po etl AO HE SRE A a lS A, TS a a 1, 24 i ss 100. 00 100. 00 NOTES FROM FOREIGN JOURNALS.—We quote the following from M. Maumevé’s “ Fermentation without Ferments,” published in Les Mondes: ‘Heretofore no real explanation of the réle of manures has been given, but a little reflection readily shows the interest con- tained in the explanations furnished by my theories upon the alter- ations of the salts and their application to the nourishment of plants. It is quite clear that the soluble matters employed as manures are either very stable or are easy to decompose. Their degree of stability affects their nutritive value. But this stability has not, as yet, been attached to any known principle. The principle of my theory, just spoken of, shows the enormous influence of the inequality of the equivalent weights of the acid and the base upon the salts. An active manure is one which presents this inequality, because it will certainly give rise to other salts which show but little or none. The manure will be not only active but especially nutritious, if the products of de- composition, conformably to the law of mixtures, are of a nature to be ‘absorbed by the plants, thus facilitating their production by means of the powerful effects of the osmose of the walls of the cells, tubes, &c. The separation of a certain quantity of alkali, as in the alteration of acetate of soda, or a certain quantity of acid, as in producing other salts, explains the movements of vegetation, the formation of insoluble ‘deposits, &c. This subject is one to which I shall return, in order te show, by examples, in what manner my new discovery may become val- uable.” 170 ' Sugar-beets.—M. Corenwinder, in the name of the Agricultural Station of the North, in France, has determined, from experiments, that those © beets are richest in sugar which produce less weight. Cultivators should, however, consider the fact that it is possible to obtain beets which are at the same time rich in sugar and of high specitie gravity. For this, it is necessary to increase the number of experiments, sow seeds producing rich beets, improve by judicious selection, and renew the varieties which may degenerate. M. Corenwinder also relates the following fact which he has recently observed: “It is disadvantageous to cut the leaves from the beets after they have been gathered, for when they are left for some time in this decapitated condition, the sugar dis- appears in considerable quantity,on account of an elaboration which takes place in the cells with a view to the production of new buds.” Professor Jellet, president of the Royal Irish Academy of Dublin, has made the following experiments upon the growth of sugar-beets in Ire- land: Four specimens were taken, and in the growth of one the manure used was common Salt: in the second case sulphate of potash was used 3 in the third case no manure was used, and in the fourth case sulphate of ammonia. By optical experiment it was determined that the yield in the first case was 79.99 per cent. of water and 12.72 per cent. of sugar; in the second case, $0.27 per cent. of water and 13.18 per cent. of sugar ; in the third case, 80.60 per cent. of water and 12.42 per cent. of sugar; and in the fourth, 80.52 per cent. of water and 12.54 per cent. of sugar. Tunar light upon vegetation—Mons. P. Charbonnier, in a com- munication to the Journal d Agriculture Pratique, states that lunar light exerts a material influence upon aquatic vegetation. This fact was first noticed from the increased growth of cryptogamic vegetation upon the sides of an aquarium. It was observed that during the time of full moon it was much more luxuriant than during the time of the new moon. This led to other observations with regard to it, and it was found that aquatic vegetation generally is affected in a similar. manner. New coloring matter.—M. Harston has extracted from Agaricus fascicu- latus a coloring matter soluble in ether and crystallizable in plates, to which he gives the name Mycoraphine, and another matter, which he named Mycostearine, insoluble in ether and water, and present under the form of granules which have a reniform structure. The red berries of Solanum duleimara, those of Tamus communis, and Asparagus officinalis have also furnished ared granular substance, crys- tallizable in plates. It is insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol and ether, and especially in benzine. Sulphuric acid colors it blue. It is easily fixed upon silk. Rhizoctone-—Les Mondes of February 6, contains a statement to the effect that beets grown in the vicinity of Eghezer are affected by a pecu- liar malady heretofore unknown to agriculturists. The roots are covered with numerous and tangled filaments, which upon examination prove to be a fungus of the genus Rhizoctone. This fungus is developed upon the roots of certain vegetables, constituting a terrible malady. It has heretoforebeen noticed upon saffron, lucerne, &c. Whole fields of these have been destroyed by it. 1t has also been found upon potatoes, and now it has appeared upon beets in Belgiuin. Lacquer.—C. Puscher preparesa lacquer of oleate of alumina, which will stand quite high temperatures, in the following manner: to a solution of alum is added arather dilute, boiling solution of soap. The precipitate which is formed is allowed to settle, the fluid decanted, the former col- lected upon a filter, washed with boiling water and dried. It is quite trans- bi parent, and is soluble in all proportions in turpentine, and when dis- solved in it may be applied to all the purposes for which lacquer is used. After its application it should be dried quickly at about 50° C. Freezing of plants——Professor Fr. Mohr, reasoning from certain observed facts, believes that the destruction of plants by freezing is due to the expansion of the fluid in the cells, thus bursting their walls and stopping the processes of vegetation. The destruction is effected prin- cipally in those plants which have large cells, and therefore containing a large amount of fluid, while those provided with small cells, and con- sequently containing but a small quantity of fluid, remain uninjured. If, however, the latter be attacked before the fluid has disappeared from them sufficiently in the fall, or after it has re-appeared in the spring, they will also be affected. He also states that it is impossible to determine the temperature at which plants (sprouts of vines, potatoes, &c.) are destroyed, since it is probable that they may become much cooler by radiation than the shining bulbs of the thermometer. BOTANICAL NOTES. By Dr. GEORGE VASEY, BOTANIST. INTERESTING EXAMPLE OF FASCIATION.—Several specimens, showing an abnormal vegetable growth of the variety called fasciation, have been sent by Dr. A. Schottman, of Texas, who gives the following history of the case: About twelve years ago a small shrub of a kind of sophora, growing in the moun- tainous region of Texas, was planted in my garden. It grew very well, and a few years afterward, in early spring-time, it became covered “with buds, promising an abundance of flowers. But the first year all, these buds dried and disappeared, but the peduncles increased, both in length and breadth. A few weeks later the shrub was adorned by handsome hangings of a silvery-gray color, like white cockscombs. The stipules of the aborted flowers were very numerous and somewhat aculeate. In the winter following, these hangings (malformed peduncles) fell off, and in the spring of the next, year new buds made their appearance, on new peduncles. Since that time, about six or seven years ago, my shrub has been every year very ornamental, bearing an abundance of violet flowers and handsome legumes. In the fall of 1871 the soil around my sophora was cleaned, manured, and plowed, and in the spring of 1872 the shrub anew failed to produce flowers; only the above-described hangings covered it. Last winter, although a long and hard one, did not kill these deformities, and now, in the middle of March, 1873, they are almost all covered with flowers. This kind of abnormal growth occurs in many herbaceous plants, as in celosia or cockscomb, and occasionally in woody plants. It generally consists of a flattening and expansion of the stem or branch, with an unusual development of buds produced without regular order. Several causes have been ascribed for this monstrosity. Professor Hinks ex- plains it on the principle of adhesion, arising in cases where, from su- perabundant nourishment, especially if accompanied by some check or injury, numerous buds have been produced in close proximity. It is stated that the means enrployed by horticulturists in the cultivation of the cockscomb, so as to insure the production of the very large flower- stalks for which this plant is admired, is the application of a large quantity of stimulating mannre and the ‘maintenance of a high temper- 172 ature. In woody plants this deformity is generally confined to some of the branches, its occurrence in the flower peduncles being rare. The specimens of the sophora above mentioned (Sophora speciosa, Benth.) are affected in different degrees, some showing the peduncles but little flattened and expanded upward like a club, while the largest is 9 inches long, swelling out in the shape of a trumpet, but perfectly flat, 5 inches broad at the summit, which is plaited, scolloped, and gashed or split into several sections. The flattened surface is covered with a multitude of small points, which are undeveloped flowers, each of which has a small pointed bract below the bud, and in several places toward the summit a number of the buds have developed into ordinary flowers, irregularly scattered, each with a short pedicel. About twenty-five of these flowers occur on one specimen, while the undeveloped buds amount to several hundred. In the normal state the flower peduncles fall off after the maturity of the flowers or fruit, as they did in this case until the last year; the persistence of these abnormal, hypertrophied pe- duncles, and the subsequent development of flowers upon them, being very remarkable. The tree which is the subject of this peculiarity much resembles the Sophora japonica, and would probably be equally ornamental in cultivation. In Texas it is evergreen, the specimens showing last year’s leaves and also young ones of the present season. CONSULAR COMMUNICATIONS. THE VINE DISEASE IN FRANCE.—THE PHYLLOXERA VASTA- TRIX.—The Department of Agriculture has received, through the De- partment of State, the following communication from M. M. Price, esq., United States consul at Marseilles, embracing © variety of statistics in reference to the origin, nature, and extent ‘of the disease which for several years has so extensively devastated the vineyards of France: It is now nearly ten years since certain cultivators at Pujaut, Roqnemaure, and Vil-- leneuve, in the department of Gard, a few miles from Avignon and on the right bank of the Rhone, called attention to a new disease of the vine. It was first called “la pourridie,” (the rot,) from the fact that the vines which died were found to have their roots completely rotten. No attenticn was paid to the matter except by those imme- diately interested, who found their vines rotting away from year to year, without any of the remedies tried having proved efficacious in arresting the increasing mischief. Four years passed, and the * rot” continued, thus unnoticed, to pursue its destructive work in the best-cultivated wine district of Provence and ‘Languedoc, until the se- vere winter of 1867--’68 developed the evil in such proportions that at length, in the summer of 1868, was sounded the first note of alarm, which came from a committee appointed by the prefect of Gard to examine the nature and explain if possible the eauses of the new disease. The committee reported the discovery of a microscopic insect feeding upou the roots of the diseased vines. Professor Planchon, of the Col- lege of Montpellier, claims the honor of having classed and named the interesting bug. He called it at first the Phyzaphis vastatria, but afterward changed it to Phylloxera vastatric. It was found upon examination that the insect commenced its work by at- tacking the hair-like filaments of the vine-root, thence gradually extending its ravages through the entire plexus of radicles and larger roots, till all was rotten and destroyed. A singular thing noticed was that generally the vine preserved its usual he: thy ap- pearance, gave its usual complement of grapes, and then suddenly collapsed and died. By degrees public attention was excited. The Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, the Academy of Sciences at Paris, and the Society of Agric ulturists of Fr rance, instituted inquiries. A reward of 20,000 francs was offered by the government to whoever should discover an effectual remedy, and other smaller rewards were offered by departmental societies, which have never yet been claimed. In the fall of 1868, M. Mares, secretary of the agricultural society ‘of Hérault, made an excursion through the infected re- gion to ascertain the extent of the disease and the direction of its course. He found it to extend from Roquemaure in Gard, north to Rochegude, in Dréme, and south 1% a little beyond Arles, in the Bouches-du-Rhéne, a distance of nearly one hundred miles, while east and west the distance was about seventy-five miles. Of Roquemaure, he says: ‘That beautiful vine-country, which last fall was in full prosperity, covered with vines, young and old, che cultivation and care of which are perfectly understood, is this year in greater part attacked and most of its vines dead or dying.” He found the district of Ramiéres completely devastated, and the disease extending in every direction. No remedy having yet been found, the march of the disease has been unim- peded, and is thus traced in a recent publication: ‘‘ In 1864 the Phylloxera crossed the Rhone from Gard to Vaucluse, and in that and the following year desolated many vine- yards at Sorgues, Camaret, Sainte Cecile, and Chateaunent du Pape. In 1866 it de- scended to St. Rémy, Graveson, and as far south as La Crau de St. Martin in the Bouches-du-Rhone. In 1868 it was at Terrascon, Senas,and Cadarache. In 1869 it had invaded the country around Arles, Orgon, and Miramas, the plain of Vannage, and the famous vineyards of Langlade, in Gard. In Langlade it destroyed vines planted in the days of the regency—one hundred and fifty years ago. In 1870 it appeared at Lunel, St. Jean de Lucules, and St. Gely du Fesc. The country of the famous Muscat wines, in the department of Hérault, up to that time had been 'con- sidered untouched. In 1871 it continued its march through Hérault in a southwesterly direction, and attacked Manguio, Cadenet, Boisteron, Lattes, and Vendargues, to the south of Mont- pellier, and in the same year advanced north as far as Valence,in Dréme, and east to some points in the department of Var. It appears that this scourge, after having crossed the Rhone several times, is now marching upon Lower Languedoc, in two nearly parallel columns. One appears to kave taken its departure from St. Rémy, in Vau- cluse, or from Arles, in the Bouches-du-Rhéne, and to have proceeded, going south of Nimes, toward Cette, crossing Lewel, Mauguio, and Lattes; the other starting from Gigondas, eight or ten miles northeast of Orange, in Vaucluse, crossing Chateauneuf du Pape, in a line north of Nimes, threatens Béziers in the southern center of Hérault. The district of Laveyron, on the border of Dré6me and close to the southwestern cor- ner of Isére, has been reached. Taking the monntain-range of the Cévennues on the west and the departments of Hautes Alpes and Basses Alpes on the east as bound- aries, we find all the intervening country more or less ravaged by the Phylloxera. Starting from Laveyron, in Dréme, going in a southwest line to Cette on the coast of Hérault, thence to Toulon, and back in a straight line to Laveyron, we have a vast triangle of the seven departments whose vineyards are being slowly destroyed. Includ- ing Gironde, eight of the most important departments in the richest wine-growing country in the world are redueed to-day to a melancholy condition. Taking them in the order in which they have suffered, they may be placed as follows: First, Vaucluse ; second, Bouches-du-Rhéne; third, Gard; fourth, Dréme; fifth, Hérault; sixth, Ardéche; seventh, Var; andeighth, Gironde. A few figures taken from official sources will give a more correct idea of the amount of damage suffered. Vaucluse had about 75,000 acres planted in vines in 1868, the average production of wine being about 160 gallons to the acre. At this time last year 40,000 acres around Orange were destroyed. In the present year, of the 75,000 acres of vines existing in 1863, fully two-thirds are utterly de- stroyed, and the other third is seriously threatened. The saddest reflection is thatthe . work of destruction has been most complete among the most celebrated brands. In the district of the Chateauneuf du Pape, all the varieties, La Nerthe and others, have been swept away in the common ruin. In the Bouches-du-Rhéne fully one-half the vines are dead or dying. In 1868 there were about 125,000 acres, producing, on an average, not more than 80 or 100 gallons per acre. The disease exists in all the country from near Avignon along the western border to Arles ; thence southeast to Berre, and northeast to the river Durance. The most famous brand is produced at Cassis, on the southeast coast, near Marseilles. All the country east of Marseilles may be said to be more or less devastated. The department of Gard had about 440,000 acres of vines in 1868. Although about 100,000 acres have been injured, the wine-crop will not be sensibly diminished this year. The average production, hitherto, has been about 300 gallons to the acre. The most esteemed brands are those of Tavel, Langlade, and some light wines. Tavel and Langlade have disappeared. In 1868, a vine produced at Vauvert ob- tained a gold medal at an exhibition. The Phylloxera appears to have appropriated it and several other gold-medal vines to its own use. The department of Droéme, with over 60,000 acres of vines, has suffered more than Gard. The vineyards along the Rhone, in this department, are being rapidly destroyed. Here is produced the renowned “ Her- mitage,” and probabiy the last crop has been harvested. The wines of Dréme are all of a superior quality. Hérault is the first in rank as a wine-producing department, both in respect to the number of acres and the quantity of production. In 1867, of the 750,000 acres of the cultivated land of the department, there were 410,000 devoted to vine-culture. In the present year there are 530,000 acres. The product per acre was 500 gallons in 1867, and in the remarkable year of 1865 it was estimated at 750 | 174 gallons of wine to the acre. In the present year, in spite of the Phylloxera, the product of Hérault will reach a probable total of 350,000,000 gallons. As usual, the best brands have been among the first victims of the disease. In Ardéche, situated along the right bank of the Rhone, there are about 30,000 acres of vines. Up to the present the dis- ease has destroyed or badly damaged from 25,000 to 30,000 acres. In the department of the Var there are about 200,000 acres of vines, producing about 100 gallons to the acre. The principal brands are Gaude and Lamalgue, Bandole, Bansset, Castellet, St. Cyr, and la Cadiére, all deep red, solid wines... The damage done in this department will not exceed one-third of the vines. There are in the Gironde about 325,000 acres of land devoted to the vine. The average product is about 200 gallons to the acre. Two years ago the quantity of land attacked by the Phyllox- era was estimated at 50 acres; but the disease now extends over ten kilometers and is rapidly spreading. Jt would be wonderful if it did not continue to spread, when during the past summer wagon-loads of diseased vines were carried from the country around Floirac, across the river, to be burned on the Médoe side—an insane proceeding and a sure means of spreading the disease. We shall probably have one or two more crops of the renowned Chatean Lafitte, Chateau Margaux, before they disappear. The vineyard of the famons “ Hermitage” occupies the side and summit of a hill on the left bank of the Rhone, a short distance north of the town of Tain, in the depart- ment of Dréme, and contains about 375 acres. It is worth from two to six thousand dollars per acre. The product of the Hermitage is 212 to 264 gallons per acre. The universal testimony is, that no soil and no species of wine can claim exemption from the Phylloxera. It first followed the course of the Rhone, south through a soil which is nothing more than a pine detritus. It next attacked the marshy deposits or paludian soi] north of Avignon, and since then every variety of ground, whether light or heavy loam, calcareous, argilaceous, or sandy svil, has proved a matter of perfect indifferenee to the Phylloxera, which makes itself at home everywhere. In connection with its appearauce at Roquemaure, two phenomena have been noticed, which preceded, and it is supposed may have had much to do with, itsrapid development. The tirst is the ex- traordinary length of a period of drought in a country accustomed to mild visitations of that nature; and the second is the unusual severity of the winter of 1867~68. The drought lasted eighteen months, and the cold froze everything that would freeze, splitting the vines and opening the ground in long, deep fissures. The vines thus split open were found in almost every instance to be tilled with Phylloxera, and the theory is, that the insects left those insecure dwellings in search of better, using the fissures in the ground as sheltered roads through which to travel. This is all very plausible, aud even true, but it is now known that at a certain period of its short life this micro- scopic animalcule becomes a winged creature. It is extraordinarily prolific. A single female will become, in the third generation, the happy grandmother of eight millions of her own living images. It has not yet been settled whether this insect is male and female or exclusively female. The winged individuals are all females, and so far as observed, those that do not become winged are also females, and much more prolific than the former. The hope was indulged by some that the insect, whether the cause or consequence of the disease, was generated by the climatic conditions spoken of and would disappear of itself in time, if the unfavorable conditions ceased. But here again science is at fault. The word ‘‘ unfavorable” here means favorable to the insect, and it would appear that all kinds of weather are equally favorable to it. Intense cold and intense heat find and leave it in the enjoyment of robust health and perfect content- ment. Never was there a living creature so charmingly resigned to all the accidents of checkered existence. It cannot be drowned, for after having been kept in water for two weeks, it emerges from its bath a fresh and frisky creature ready for the next vicissitude. Professor Planchon asserts that the Phyllocera is a ‘ Yankee invention,” which others deny. The professor quotes C. V. Riley, of Missouri, Asa Fitch, of New York, and Mr. Flagg, of Cincinnati, who say that the American Phylluxera is identical with that now ravaging France. It was introduced with certain American grape- vines, says the professor, sent to France by the State Department at Washington. The pamphlets upon the subject of the Phyllorera abound, but none have discovered a remedy. Sulphur has failed in some places, and been pronounced effectual in others. Quicklime shows no better record. A distinguished member of the French academy said that the disease was simply due to bad cultivation and negligence, and recom- mended to pull up the sick vines by the roots and burn them, and it was even proposed to make the thing compulsory upon the cultivator. Inoculation with turpentine, earmine, sulphate of copper, sulphide of potassium, &c., has been tried. Lime in various shapes, pyrites, soot, ashes, a variety of composts, coal-tar, carbolic acid, hot water, petroleum, naphthaline, sulphuric acid, mustard-plasters, arsenic, and a hun- dred other remedies have: been tried, and all have failed to have any effect upon the indurated heart of this horrid little bug. It may be possible that this disease will not cross the Cévennes from the east, but it is just as possible that it may extend west from Gironde and destroy the vines of the intervening country within the next two or three years. 175 DutcH oR HOLSTEIN CATTLE.—The following article, written by Charles Mueller, esq., United States consul at Amsterdam, with a view to its publication in the reports of the Department of Agriculture, was communicated to the commissioner by J. E. Whiting, esq., of Concord, Massachusetts, to whom it was addressed : “Dutch cattle—Holstein cattle—are they kindred or distinct breeds? If kindred, what qualities do they possess in common, and in what do they differ? If distinct, what are their respective merits and demerits?” Questions of similar tenor have poured in upon this office from different parts of the Union in such profusion that I almost felt duty bound to prepare a reply somewhat exhaustive of the subject. I hereby submit it. I do not claim originality for the production, it simply being a compilation of ex- tracts from standard works, some of which might not be readily accessible to the American cattle-breeder, and of scraps of information gathered from the lips of differ- ent scientific and practical cattle-breeders of Holland. Of the latter, none but acknow!l- edged authorities were consulted, many of the informants at this moment holding prominent and responsible positions in various Dutch agricultural societies. In one of your letters you ask: ‘Are, or are not, the general dairy-stock of Holland, including South as well ds North Holland, Utrecht, and Gelderland, as well as Friesland and Groningen, commonly considered, in Holland, as of one race or breed ? “2, Are the cattle of any portion of Holland known or recognized.as Holstein cat- tle, to distinguish them from cattle of other parts of Holland having a different origin ; or have you in Holland a favorite breed presumed or believed to have originated in Holstein ?” Both questions have long since been definitely settled, historically as well as physi- ologically. Historical authorities upon the subject are numerous, and they generally accept Dutch cattle as the parent stock of not only the present cattle of Holstein, but of many other well-known European breeds. Extracts from all the works examined in furtherance of this communication would lead to too great voluminousness, for which reason only the more prominent authors are cited. As it is, it becomes necessary to go back some ways toward the days of Adam in order to gain a proper starting-point ; and I hope your patience may be ade- quate to,the tediousness of the perambulation. Scientific farming flourished in the Netherlands* at atime when in other countries agriculture stood where the Roman invader had left it;t and there is every reason to believe that many appliances of modern farming were known to, and made use of by, the Dutch peasantry of remote days. At the agricultural museum of Utrecht may be seen machines handed down from immemorial times, which, beyond all doubt, served ‘to facilitate the process of thrashing, mowing, and other agricultural operations. However, extended remarks upon this head would here be ont of place. Moreover, through Mr. Motley’s works on the Netherlands, the American reader has fully been made aware of the singularly high degree of Dutch agricultural advancement during the Middle Ages. , This glaring agricultural superiority of the Dutch could not, even at that period, remain unknown to other nations. As a natural consequence, foreign potentates and ecclesiastical magnates exerted themselves to securé the services of Dutch and Flem- ish farmers for their own selfish purposes—a development of agricultural resources necessarily increasing princely incomes and church-tithes. Thus Dutch settlers found their way to divers parts of Europe, taking with them their cattle and farming imple- ments. It is, therefore, not surprising that such authorities as Professor Law, of Edin- burgh, L. Raw, Arthur Young, and others, trace the descent of the celebrated *‘ Short- horns” of England to Holland. Borchgravet shows that as early as 1087 William Rufus, who had espoused a Flemish princess, called Dutch agriculturalists to England; and under his snecessor, Henry I, several Dutch settlemepts took life in Pembrokeshire, while a flourishing Dutch colony is reported in Yorkshire in 1111. In 1430 a large Dutch colony was founded in Scot- land.§ The high estimation in which Dutch cattle must formerly have been held in England may be inferred from the fact that in 1601 the legislative assemblies of the provinces of Holland and West Friesland presented, through the agent Caron, as & valuable gift, six Dutch milch-cows to the lord high admiral of the British Empire.|| The first Dutch colony in Germany (Thuringia) dates -back as far as the year 525, and still recalls itself to mind by such names as the towns of Friesenteld and Belge- * The Netherlands as they formerly existed—the present kingdoms of Belgium and Holland. + Meiner, Hist., vergl. II + Borchgrave, Emile de : Histoire des Colonies Belges. § Ibid. || Koenen: Geschiedenis van den Boerenstand. 176 sheim.* From 801 to 864 St. Anskar, (Ausgar, Auscharius,) primate of Bremen, Ham- burg, Holstein, &c., himself of Flemish birth, attracted many of his countrymen to those northern regions. Also Charlemagne colonized Flemish peasants on the shores of the Elbe. That stretch of teeming lowlands east of Bremen to the Baltic wore a vastly differ- ent face in early days. Marshy and uncultivated, the coast-edge of those parts stood exposed to the tender mercies of the sea to such a degree that even a slight breeze would suffice to cause submersion; while the inhabitants, through intestine wars demor- alized and habituated to strife and broils, evinced little aptitude for the peaceful pur- suit of husbandry.t It was then that the attention of German princes was drawn to Holland, where similarly situated regions had been brought to a high state of product- iveness. The great tide of emigration, however, did not set in until the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, from which period the origin of the fine grass-lands along the Elbe and Weser must be reckoned. It was a mighty flow of emigration that wound its way toward those seemingly unfriendly shores, and to this day the peasantry of Holstein have preserved a Dutch dittyt which points to the east of Europe as the promised land, just as in our time the Great West of the American Union is the goal of the European emigrant. To conceive the extent of this wave of emigration, a look should be cast upon the map accompany- ing Borchgrave’s work, from which it appears that Dutch settlers gradually spread as far south as Silesia, and even Austria. In the year 1106 the bishop of Bremen ceded several districts of his possessions to Dutch settlers, with the understanding that all occurring marshes should be drained and converted into meadows, according to the Dutch method of reclaiming lands. Other ecclesiastical, as well as temporal princes, followed his example, and many sim- ilar cessions were made to Dutch settlers. It would be quite a task to recount all the charters thus granted; yet I cannot refrain from mentioning some which directly refer to Holstein. St. Vicelin, having observed how the marshy lowlands near Bremen speedily assumed the character of luxuriant pastures, was the first ruler of Holstein who resolved upon giving his country the benefit of Dutch agricultural science; and.to — him and his successors that principality is indebted for the great transformation it underwent in the twelfth century. Three districts—Welster, Stor, and Helmshoen— received large Dutch settlements under Adalberon’s charter of August 27, 1139, the same containing the proviso that the clergy of said districts should be entitled to har- vest and cattle tithes upon the lands of Duteh settlers. This prince, July 25, 1144, further ceded a tract of land to Dutch emigrants in the district of Elmshorn. On Jan- uary 10, 1221, Albert d’Orlamunde transferred to Dutch emigrants that range of lands situated between the settlements of the Saxons and the Dutch, known as the Vetus Terra. Here it may be mentioned that in 1470 Charles I, King of Denmark, abolished the Dutch land-laws then still prevailing in the districts of Welster and Kemper- marsh. There is yet extant a deed of conveyance, in the Dutch language, dated 1340, relating to certain territories in the district of Stor, wherein the Dutch land-laws, then in force, are spoken of. Christiani, Holstein’s historian, states that, as regards Holstein, at no time is mention made of other than Dutch colonists, and that Dutch emigration may be said to have commenced in the year 1120. The Count of Holstein personally undertook a journey to Holland, returning with colonists who settled in Wagria. The historian Helmold, in speaking of this colony, admits its importance by stating that it was reported to have consisted of 400 families, but that the number of Dutch settlers in Wagria might safely be taken at 8,000. In 1516 Christian II intro- duced Dutch settlers on the island of Amack, who soon transformed that waste into a perfect garden-spot. The inhabitants of to-day have preserved their original lan- guage, costumes, and habits, and number about five thousand souls. There can be no doubt of the Dutch land-laws having prevailed in Holstein from the emigration period down to the close of the fifteenth century. They were known in Germany under the name of “Hollandereien,” (Hollandized lands.) In the present acceptation of the term, however, “ Hollandereien” simply means dairy-farms—in itself proof that the Germans consider themselves disciples of the Dufch in this branch of farming.§ Yet enough of historical citations. If they have been introduced rather freely, it was for the purpose of historically establishing the fact tat Dutch cattle did not origi- nate in Holstein, but that on the contrary Holstein is indebted to Holland for any superior dairy-stock she may possess. 4 Whoever visits Holstein cannot help being struck with the Dutch aspect of the country, the prosperity of her farming community offering a strong contrast to the generally wretched condition of the German peasant. It is true a German author sought to disprove the assertion of German agriculture having materially been in- fluenced by Dutch colonization. But Borchgrave, it may be safe to say, bas effectually disposed of this point of controversy. Probably no author ever will attempt to refute his arguments. Luow proceed to examine the subject in hand physiologically. Quite a number of * Borchgrave. . t Ibid. t Ibid. § Wersebe II. Ve authorities have been searched in this connection, yet the gist of my remarks has been taken from Professor Hengeveld’s* great work on cattle. Although the human family is composed of many distinct races, physiologists have reduced them to five representative types, the Caucasian race taking first rank. It has’ preserved its distinguishing characteristics through all ages, no matter what changes, climatical influence, or industrial pursuit may have wrought upon one or the other of its branches. In this sense Dutch cattle may be called, and in fact are admitted to be, the type of all the different breeds of cattle of Northwestern Europe, and especially of the North Sea and Baltic regions, such as Normandy, Flanders, Denmark, Sleswick-Holstein, Mecklenburg, Pomerania, as far as Dantzic, and the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, and - Alderney. The cattle of Hanover, Oldenburg, the Nether-Rhine, and Belgium also must be classed here. ; The different cattle-breeds of all these countries, whether of larger or smaller size, whether lighter or heavier, superior or inferior as milkers or beef-cattle, possess the distinguishing characteristics of the cattle of the Lowlands, of which the cattle of Holland are thetype. Neither artificial nor natural influences have caused any remark- able degree of outward or physiological changes with any of them. As a sufficient evidence of the high estimation in which Dutch cattle are held by breeders, the increasing exportation of breeding stock to all parts of Europe may be mentioned. Nor is this exportation of recent date. Buffon relates that Dutch milch- _ cows were successfully transplanted to Poitou, Aunis, and the marshes of Charente, where they are called Flemish cattle. Villeroy makes the same statement, adding, however, that in the valley d’Auge* (Normandy) they are known under the name of Dutch cattle. Weckherlin does not rate Dutch cattle as high for their fattening pro- pensities as he does for their milk-yielding qualities. But it must not be forgotten that the present improved heavy English breeds are of Friesish crigin, and that the cattle of d’Ange are chiefly renowned for the enormous weight attained by them. Although Dutch eattle are of one common race, yet there are many varieties, in time produced through the influences of climate and soil, the greater or less degree of fer- tility of the latter particularly affecting the animal in its development. Thus the Dutch farmer talks of clay cattle, marsh cattle, sandy-soil cattle, and heath cattle. And now the question, What are the distinguishing qualities of Dutch cattle? 1. Their milk-yielding properties, in which respect they surpass all other known breeds of cattle. Formerly the averege yield of a Dutch cow has been 3,000 Dutch canst of milk per annum. At the present day it cannot be rated at over 2,850 cans. This de- crease in milk-supply is not owing to a deterioration of race, but to the’ bad practice of overfeeding the calves, a habit which the Dutch dairyman follows in imitation of the example set by his ancestors, and which is carried to the extreme. In the nature of animals it is a fixed law that food, over and above what is required for sustenance and growth, seeks an outlet, thereby more than ordinarily developing one or the other function of the animal organism. With cattle this surplus may take’ the shape of fat or meat. A calf receiving more food than is required for its suste- nance and development must necessarily grow fat, the milk-channels not yet being opened. In this manner a tendency for accumulating fat is created in the young organ- ism at the expense of the milk-yielding properties. On the other hand, let the young animal be sparingly fed up to its first and timely calving, subsequently to be put on a more liberal supply of food, and the foundation for a large milk-supply is laid. Pro- fessor Hengeveld considers calving in the early part of the animal’s life, together with spare feeding prior to that period, one of the chief conditions of breeding good milkers ; because by that process, ere the animal is yet fully developed, the milk-producing organs are early exercised and enlarged by an increased supply of blood; in other words, a good udder is attained. 2. A further physiological quality of Dutch cattle is their capacity for fattening. It is true, they do not attain the enormous weight of some English breeds; however, this fact is entirely owing to the mode of breeding adopted by the Dutch breeder, who prefers good dairy-steck to heavy beef-cattle. About a century ago prize oxen weighed 3,000 pounds, prize cows 1,200 to 1,500 pounds. At the agricultural fair of Groningen, 1849, there was on exhibition a four- year old cow weighing 2,000 pounds. It is beyond doubt that Dutch cattle, and on their own native soil too, can be brought to as great a weight as the English and Swiss heavy breeds, while it is generally acknowledged that the meat of Dutch cattle is more palatable than that of the so-called fat races. q 3. Another characteristic quality of Dutch cattle consists in their capacity of bring- ing forth large and powerful calves which are easily fattened. There are instances on record that fattened calves reached 400 old Dutch pounds, dressed weight. Their bulk and vigor endow them with considerable power of endurance, and to this peculiarity *G. J. Hengeveld, at this moment professor at the Veterinary College of Utrecht. tA gallon equal to 4.5435 Dutch cans. 178 it is partly to be attributed that the future milch-cow matures and prospers in spite of the great hardships Dutch cattle are subjected to. They are turned out early in the spring, and.remain in the field until late in the fall, without once tasting the luxury of stabling. And in a climate like that of Holland this is no trifling matter. : Here the report of the Paris (1856) International Fair may be referred to, wherein it is maintained that Dutch cattle, with proper treatment and breeding, can rival the best and noblest cattle-breeds of Europe, irrespective of their qualities as milkers. 4. As the last quality peculiar to Dutch cattle, their stability of race must be named. Artificial as well as natural influences brought to bear upon them during centuries, the former with a view to milk-supply, have given them a constancy of outward form and physiological characteristics, to such a degree that the same can be traced even after many years of propagation upon foreign soil, as, for instance, in England, Normandy, Bavaria, and the Weichsel. The defects of Dutch cattle are few, and confine themselves exclusively to the out- ward form. Dutch cattle lack symmetry of form when compared with some cattle- breeds of other countries. Even the several varieties of Dutch cattle, when compared with each other, differ in the outward form. One is bony, coarse, and angular, while another is, to a degree, smooth and finely built. Yet all possess the one fault in common, i.e., disproportion between the bone and soft parts, the former being in ex- cess, so that even in fattened animals a certain degree of boniness can be observed. It may also be said that, as a general thing, they are provided with too long and too heavy a head in comparison to the length and volume of the body. They are further frequently too long in the leg, and in but few instances are they well developed about the chest. Yet these shortcomings are the natural result of the simple way of keep- ing, and of the mode of breeding. Butter and milk are the chief products of the Dutch farmer. For centuries past he has, in breeding cattle, aimed ata plentiful milk-supply. To obtain this a large udder is required. Now, by continually exciting and early exercising the milk-secreting organ, its development is aided; and as the udder belongs to the genitals, a free sup- ply of blood is necessarily imparted to the balance of the generative organs. In con- sequence, the hind part of the body receives more blood than the fore part during the period of development, a circumstance which physiologically explains the phenomenon of Dutch cattle, as a rule, showing light fore parts, but well developed hind parts. Particularly is this the case with the most celebrated cattle of Holland, those of the Beemster and Drechterland. Upon these animals the “milk form” has been ingrafted to a higher degree than upon any other breed of cattle known. Nowhere can be found cattle with broader and more prominent hips and hip-bones, while, in consequence of this extraordinary development of the hind parts, the fore parts remain light, letting the fore legs appear high, the chest does not attain sufficient depth, and the shoulders present a bony aspect. This bodily structure, the result of breeding, must be accepted as peculiar to all Dutch cattle. Scientific breeding can easily remove these defects. As to the question, “ whether Dutch dairymen give universal preference to black and white cattle for dairy purposes, or whether this preference is based upon mere fancy,” I must answer that the latter is unquestionably the case. With the great majority of Dutch dairymen, this preference for black and white cattle does exist, although I have met some of the heaviest breeders of the Beemster, Purmer, and of other parts of Holland, who prefer red and white, others silver-gray. Yn Friesland, the prejudice against red, gray, and white cattle is great. There rarely any other color than black and white is found. But when asked why he prefers black and white, the Frieslander is unable to advance any satisfactory reasons. Some, indeed, contend that red and white cattle attract the heat too much, thereby impairing the quality of milk. However, this assertion being so palpably against all teachings of science, refutation would be superfluous. Dutch scientific agriculturists unani- mously agree that this preference for black and white cattle is a mere fancy, handed down from father to son, just as the Dutch farmer prefers a black coat to a red one. in nowise whatever does the black and white color indicate superiority of race. I must here touch upon the prevailing and erroneous notion of one or the other strain of Dutch cattle being mongrel Holstein breeds. There is no such thing known in Holland. It has been clearly shown that Holstein cattle are the distant but direct ofispring of Dutch dairy-stock, and as such approach the latter nearer than any other breed of cattle. Yet, in milk-supply, they are by no means equal. That the Germans entertain the same opinion is evidenced by their heavy importation of Dutch cattle for the purpose of improving their dairy-stock. Dutch cows and choice bulls have of late been shipped to Germany in such large numbers that high Dutch officials, I understand, contemplate the enactment of prohibitory measures against that class of exportations. Professor Hengeveld hag specially been written to upon the subject of Dutch cattle and Holstein cattle. The learned author kindly replied, and I herewith subjoin a translation of his remarks. He says: “The cattle of the Beemster and Drechterland are not only the best dairy-stock in 179 the Netherlands, but, as milkers, surpass any breed of cattle in Europe, the celebrated Swiss stock of Bern and Saéne not excepted. . Necessarily it follows that they are to be preferred to the Holstein, Oldenburg, Breitenburg, aud all other so-called marsh or polder breeds of those countries. They yield more abundantly, and their milk is of a richer quality, while, as beef-cattle, they show a less angular frame and finer tissues. “When transferred to Duteh pastures, the above-named polder breeds improve wonderfully in every respect, although they never equal the native stock either as beef- cattle, or milkers. J may here add that, in former days, the Northmen were in the habit of shipping cattle from the marslies to the rich meadows of Holland for fattening purposes, but at no time did importations take place with a view to the improvement of Dutch stock.” At the present day, cattle importations from those countries to Holland are of rare occurrence. Now and then the Dutch farmer, in order to supply the increasing demand for cattle, effects a foreign purchase; but that he considers the imported inferior to the native stock is evident from the fact that he brings the former to market in pref- erence to the latter. The English demand for Dutch beef-cattle is very heavy. Of Holstein and Schleswick cattle there are many. varieties, how many would be diffi- cult to determine, their distinguishing qualities, as in Holland, depending on the circumstance whether they are bred on the lowlands or on the higher sections of the country. The original lowland breeds, however, have much in common with Dutch cattle as found in the provinces of North Holland and Friesland. The prevailing color of Schleswick cattle is red and white. Of late pure Holstein and Schleswick breeds are more rarely tobe found. Toimprove their natural coarseness of frame, rnggedpess and boniness, in short, to enhance “their value as beef-cattle, they have within the last twenty years been largely crossed with Durham stock, the massive fat and flesh layers of the latter, and the heavy, broad hind quarters of the former, offering the required elements for such improvement. The crosses thus obtained mature earlier, but generally lose about 30 per cent. in the yield of milk. In conclusion, permit me to add a description of what a Dutch farmer would call a “beste koe,” (best cow.) It presents, if such a term may be used in this connection, the Dutch beau-ideal of a-cow, and I am indebted for it to Mr. W. Sluis, one of the best- informed cattle-breeders of the Beemster: ; “A ‘beste koe’ must show a finely molded head; large nostrils; thin, ¢ransparent horns; a clear, bright eye; thin, large, and not excessively wrinkled eyelids; rose- colored inner membranes of the eye; purely red lachrymal glands; a kind, mild coun- tenance; blue nose; thin neck; free respiration ; fine bones; well-formed body, with rather broad hind parts; straight back; long, thin tail; round but moderately bent ribs ; developed belly ; stout, yet not heavy legs ; smooth joints, thin, mellow, movable skin ; soft hair; delicately haired broad and drooping udder; four well-formed, dark- colored teats; well-developed milk and blood vessels; vessels on the belly and about the udder to be proportionately broad and vigorous, and of a wen-like swell, and the vessels of the udder and inner hans to spread net-like, the openings through which the milk and blood vessels enter the body to be large and roomy. A cow thus formed is also apt to show a perfect escutcheon.” From Mr. Sluis I also learned why the Dutch farmer prefers black and white to white and black cattle, namely, because it is the general belief that cattle with too much white about them do not endure cold as well as those with which black is the predominating color. As another Dutch notion, I may mention the prejudice enter- tained against bulls that carry black spots on the ponch, or on the hocks. I failed to be enlightened as to the reason of this prejudice, although at ecattle-exhibitions it happened that otherwise unobjectionable animals were rejected by the judges on this account. And now I bid farewell to the subject. Enough, I trust, has been said in the foregoing pages to assign the proper places, In the world of cattle, to Dutch and Holstein dairy- stock. If my remarks may guide one or the other of American cattle-breeders in the selection of imported dairy-stock, I have not labored in vain. UNITED STATES CONSULATE, Amsterdam, August 9, 1872. 180 EPIZOOTIC CATARRH. WAR DEPARTMENT, QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL’S OFFICE, Washington, D. C., February 13, 1875. Sim: I have the honor to inclose a copy of a memoir of M. Decroix, veterinary-surgeon, barracks of the Celestins, Paris, on the “epizootic catarrb,” or distemper, prevailing among the horses of the United States, the original of the treatise having been transmitted to the Hon- orable Secretary of War, by Wickham Hoffman, esq., of the United States legation at Paris. . The memoir is sent to you with a view to the publication, in your Department report, of such portions as you may deem of sufficient interest and value to agriculturists and stock-raisers, for the benefit of whom, in particular, your report is published. The receipt of the treatise will be acknowledged by the War Depart- ment, and such printed information relative to the disease as can be obtajned will be transmitted to M. Decroix in return. If the files of your office contain any special information on the sub- ject, it is respectfully requested that the same be furnished this Office, in order that it may be communicated to M. Decroix, in care of United States legation at Paris, with the reply of the Honorable Secretary of War. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General, Brevet Major-General, U. 8. A. Hon. FREDERICK WATTS, Commissioner of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. ; a i Paris, November 19, 1872. Sir: For some time the American and English journals have announced that 2 serious epizootic has attacked a great number of horses in North America. No scien- tific description of the malady has yet come to my knowledge; but the symptoms that have been mentioned in the articles that I have read cause me to think that this dis- temper may be of the same nature as that which severely visited a very large number of the civil and military horses of France during the year 1871. Supposing this to be the case, I feel it to be a duty and a pleasure, sir, to address to you a succinet account of the distemper that I have treated in my regiment, in order that, if you think proper, it may be transmitted to your Government, for the informa- tion of your fellow-citizens. Will you accept, sir, the expression of my respectful sentiments. E. DECROIX. To the UNITED STaTES MINISTER at Paris. 2 HORSE TYPHOID-FEVER, OR GASTRO-INFLAMMATORY EPIZOOTIC. This malady presents itself under the epizootic form at intervals of ten, fifteen, and ‘twenty years, and attacks great numbers ef animals over a vast extent of country. Principal symptoms —The affection usually begins by sluggishness, inappetency, drowsiness, and a swelling of the eyelids. Among one-lialf of the horses attacked the malady has a mild form, and disappears in a few days by a purgative and laxative treatment and a dietetic regimen. When the malady is aggravated, from the second day the mouth is hot and clammy, the respiration and pulsations are accelerated, the mucuses ejected are of a reddish-yellow color, sometimes veined with small red pesti- lential spots. The gait is stumbling, the loins do not yield to pinching, the hair is easily pulled out, and the skin is sometimes hot, at other times cold. The limbs swell, the posterior members sometimes becoming enormous. The horses are very thirsty, especi- 181 ally during the summer season. The excrements are often covered with a bed of mucus, in a brownish, infectious liquid. Among some subjects the gastro-intestinal irritation determines a mild colic. Most frequently the thoracic organs are the most severely attacked ; the lungs are congested and become more and more inflamed. The plenra secretes a saperabundance of water ; the pulse is irregular, increasing from 60 to 70; the beatings of the heart are not always very strong, and the metallic sound is rare. — The blood collected in a gauge is black. The separation of the white and black clots of blood is effected in the usual limit of time. The consistency of both is almost healthy. The white clots are smaller than those in the normal state, and are rose- tinted, or sometimes lead-colored. This color is also to be remarked in the serum, the proportion of which does not appear to be the same as in the healthy state. When a cure is performed the symptoms gradually, but slowly, disappear. In some cases there is a relapse, and then the issue of the distemper is almost always fatal. Cases of passive foundering, of persistent running at the nose, or of rapid emaciation and areturn of appetite often predict the glanders, which generally ap- pears in the ange, between the lower jaws, by numerous large abscesses. In an unfor- tunate case respiration becomes more and more difficult the animal falls, struggles a little, and dies. Among certain animals death is preceded for twenty or thirty hours by a weakness of the limbs, which cannot sustain the body, being in a kind of para- lytic condition. In the fulminant cases the subject appears scarcely indisposed, sud- denly falls, and dies in five or ten minutes. Lesions.—Discolorations and friability of the muscular system; infiltration of the cellular tissue of the limbs, most frequently of the posterior members, sometimes of the lips. Effusion of three or four pints of clear red water in the abdomen. The perito- neum of similar color to the water. The mucus of the small intestine usually of a bright red color, thick, and covered with yellowish, bloody mucuses. The plaques of Peyer and the follicles of Brunner (small glands of the intestine) participate in these changes. The mucus of the large intestine is sometimes of a greenish gray or a light slate color. It is easily removed, and in certain cases it presents a dotting of small, scarcely perceptible, ulcerations, especially in the cecum. The liver is fria- ble and discolored. The mesenteric ganglions are black and congested. The breast contains from six to ten pints of a reddish, sanguineous water, without albuminons deposits or spurious membranes. The lower portion of one or both lungs is hepatized, like the tissue of the liver, and veined with yellowish albuminous de- posits. The pericardium contains from three to five deciliters (.176 of a pint) of water, usually clearer than that in the breast. The intensity and extent of the lesions of the intestines and lungs vary according to the mildness or severity of the affection, the abdominal form or the pectoral, and the more or less rapid progress of the malady. The heart is discolored and friable, as though partly cooked. It presents small, pesti- lential spots, principally near the fissures, (near the great vessels.) The blood inclosed in the right cavities of the heart, and in the large veinous trunks, is black, pitchy, and incompletely coagulated. The left ventricle incloses a black and white clot. The brain and its envelopes are strongly injected, but there is no notable change in the consistency of the white or gray substances. The other lesions are neither character- istic nor certain, and are of a secondary order. Denomination.—By the preceding symptoms and lesions the typhoid or gastro-inflam- matory, epizootic affection may be easily recognized. In 1825 this distemper visited France with similar ravages to those produced by the epizootic of the United States. Causes of the malady.—The epizootic attacks old as well as young horses, although the latter, especially if they are fat, may be more proof against it; it spares neither those that labor nor those that repose; those who may be quartered in good or bad stables, or even in the open air. The animals who have eaten the grass of spring, and those who have been deprived of it, cannot escape this distemper. Neither water nor forage can be considered as the cause of the malady. The epizootic appears in conse- quence of a medical atmospheric constitution that we believe is unknown in its essence, and that disappears after four or five months like the small-pox, cholera, and all other epidemics or epizvotics. Under the influence of this medical constitution, the small sores, the stamping and pulling at the halter, are followed by a considerable swelling. The abscess, when it is formed during the course of the malady, especially when in the lower jaw, suppurates but little in proportion to its size. Contagion.—In the epizootic distemper that I have had to combat with I have not been able to establish a clear case of contagion. Bnt there are veterinary physicians who pretend to have observed very positive instances of contagion. It is still, how- ever, a matter of doubt; it is always best to separate sick animals, no matter what the malady, from the healthy ones, and this course is more emphatically a proper one in a ease of epizootic. As a disinfectant, chloride of lime possesses very unreliable qualities; phenique (ear- 4A 182 bolic) acid, ten grams to a pint of water, is preferable. The best disinfectant, in my opinion, is boiling water thrown upon the racks, mangers, soil, and walls. Inoculation has been tested, but the result has always been negative; so that if the malady is contagious, it is by way of infection, and not by the transmission of a fixed virus, Jature and seat of the distemper.—The blood always changes, loses its plasticity, and often filters through the walls of the vessels in order to form, in grave cases, the en- gorgement of the ecchymosis, or to mingle with the urine, excrements, and native mucus. Here we encounter in greater abundance than in the normal state the ele- ments of bile, the liver being almost always diseased. The fatigues and privations of war do not suffice to account for the malady; the fresh horses having been attacked as the others. The blood being changed, all the organs are more or less affected by it; but the pectoral organs are more frequently and more gravely attacked. j Preventive means.—Avoid as much as possible the contact of the healthy and diseased horses. In the localities where the malady prevails, it is necessary to strengthen the thin, debilitated subjects by tonic powders—gentian powder, quinine, or oak-bark, about 2 ounces a day; on the contrary, it is necessary to administer to the fat, plethoric subjects 2 or 3 ounces of the sulphate of soda, each day, for five or six days. The sta- bles should be kept very clean and well-aired, even when the weather is cold. It is better to leave the horses in the opeu air or under sheds, than to keep them in badly- ventilated stables. If wearied by excess of labor, make no notable change in their habits. Treatment.—It is necessary to watch the horses in order to apply the treatment at the outset. The following means have proved most successful with me: First. Between morning and evening an ounce of the essence of turpentine incorporated in a tonic powder; Peruvian bark, gentian, and honey in sufficient quantities to make an elec- tuary. Second. A large sinapism on the breast and abdomen; sometimes the swelling that this provokes is very considerable and spreads rapidly around the poultice; it is then necessary to make incisions, which are cauterized. It is not important to bleed - any but the plethoric horses, whose pulses are strong and whose arteries are firm; and then the bleeding should be very moderate; about six pounds, according to the condi- tion of the subject. Setons may not take the place of sinapisms, as their action is too tardy, but, when the sinapisms do not arrest the progress of the malady, setons, two on each side of the breast, may be useful. If they do not suppurate apply fly-blisters to the flanks, when the abdominal orgaus are the most severely attacked. In very serious cases, where there are nervous symptoms, as in paralysis, profound coma, or a fit of vertigo, it is important to apply blisters to each side of the neck, upon the loins and breeches. In _ this case it is necessary to place upon the head a linen or spenge always kept moist- eved with fresh water. i When colic is consequent to abdominal irritation, the essence of turpentine should be replaced by acetate of ammonia in the electuaries. When there is a fit of cough- ing aud the broncbia is seriously inflamed, the tonic powders and astringents of which we have spoken should be replaced by kermes-mineral and a few grams of laudanum. These medicaments should be employed until there is a notable improvement. 1 Whatever may be the form of the malady, injections, two or three per day, should be adimivistered, During the epizootic of 1871, I tested different medicines, phosphoric oil, for in- stance, in the nervous (siderale) form of the disease, but I obtained no good results. With the phenique acid and sulphate of iron the success was doubtful. Mous. Salle, a military veterinary surgeon, is said to have obtained great success with aloes. Ihave never tried them and cannot pronounce upon them. I sl. ail not mention all the secondary means, that should be varied according to the age, temperament, and condition of the patient, and that every veterinary physician who is near the sick horses can best appreciate. Regimen.—During the acute period the sick horses should always have before them clean water, (a little meal in the water.) into which may be thrown a handful of the sulphate of soda; in case of the swelling of the limbs, the sulphate of soda may be replaced by salts of niter. It is important to give the diseased horses straw of good quality and barley or oat-meal. Carrotsare good. Assoon as the appetite returns the nourishment must be more substantial ; good hay and oats, a little at a time, but fre- quently, the quantity to be progressively inereased. Walking should not be forbidden uuless the horse is absolutely unable to walk. The horses should be well groomed and the limbs rubbed vigorously, in order to restore circulation and warmth. Complications.—W ven the distemper is serious, it produces a profound change in the whole organism; couvalescence is long, and during this period there sometimes ap- pears an inflammation of the synovial membrane of the fetlock-joints, (the treatment of which is known,) but what is more to be dreaded is the appearance of the gland- ~ ers. In view of this, the borses should be carefully inspected. Iam convinced that, connected with the American epizootic, whatever may have 183 been its actual character, there were more glandered horses than in ordinary years. It is therefore necessary to guard against tht disease by slaughtering the animals as promptly as possible in order to avoid contayion. Number of horses attacked. amen me) TAIN DO eras ee errr aan f.._ 2 ea eee M oe eevee acide es ee PE IE Np 612 Number of horses attacked so seriously as to be sent to the infirmary..-......._.. 165 SUPARNENES GUC COU, 3 ara ie ee aii a! mm ml ate em te a min ms wie, eld 144 PURINES | OL GG. 8 oe on ar aE eS, arta joie, ah ape Cheer rian: a a a oe Ena goo tore bet Ya oc 21 Number lightly attacked and put upon a proper regimen, in stable, about...-..-. 100 Total attacked ed Bec ee Statcrte ho cpe oy) Sh Ate ae A gins ae Bic od och Eh ore bye Sok ach 265 In many other localities the proportion was abont the same. Duration.—The epizoovic began about the Ist of June, was at its height at the begin- ning of July, and disappeared at the end of September. The duration for each horse was variable; ten or twelve days in mild cases, and thirty or forty daysin serious cases. Where the issue was fatal, death usually occurred from the seventh to the ninth day, sometimes much sooner in fulminant cases, and later in cases of complications. Such, Mr. Ambassador, is the relation that, in the interest of your fellow-citizens, I believe it to be my duty to request you to make kuown to your Government. If you should desire further information I should be happy to commuuicate it to you. I should be pleased if, in return, you would procure an account of the distemper from some American professional veterinary-surgeon, and transmit to me a copy. HK. DECROIX, Veterinary-Surgeon in Chief to the Republican Guard, Barracks of the Celestins, Paris. . FISH-CULTURE. The following communication has been received by the Commissioner from Hon. Robert B. Roosevelt, of New York City: Sir: Now that the artificial production and cultivation of fish has taken an estab- lished position among the industries of the world, and especially of this nation, a thorough investigation of its fundamental principles is a matter of public interest. That it has passed from the realm of theory and empiricism into that of permanence and success is well proved by the existence of namerous fish-breediug establishments carried on for profit, aud the creation of fishery-commissions by the legislatures of most of the older States of the Union. It is true that the principal varieties of the inhabit- ants of the aqueous element cannot be “cabined, cribbed, contined,” cannot become the subjeets of special property, and must be allowed to roam from one spot to another, passing under different legal, without actually coming within any permanent, jurisdic- tions. But at least one sort of fish has become a merchantable commodity, and is bred, raised, and sold precisely as sheep or cows or horses are bred, raised, and sold, and has a fixed marketable value, with a demand geuerally exceeding the supply. There are not less than fifty professional breeders of trout in this couutry, all making a living mainly or wholly from this employment, and several receiving large iucomes. They keep mature fish in restricted and controllable limits, supervise their gestation and parturition, attend to the proper impregnation of the eggs by natural or artificial means, protect and gnard the ova while batching, assist the young when first born, and when enenm- bered with the umbilical sac they are unable to take care of themseives, and finally feed them when the time arrives for them to receive nourishment, until they can be distributed in the localities where they are needed. This is no temporary or fanciful occupation, but a regular business. So with the public attempts to increase the suppiy of those sorts of fish which inhabit large rivers and lakes, and may be taken by any member of the community, or a number of different proprietors of fishing-rights, or which are anadromous and yearly descend into the ovean, the common property of the world. These efforts, under the legislative encouragement of the several States, have been uniformly successful to a degree fully commensurate with the time and money expended, and have entirely established the proposition that fish can be cultivated as easily and profitably—it might seem hyperbolus to say more so—as grain, fruits, or vegetables. As an instance of this, reference can be made to the Connecticut, in which 184 . some thirty millions of young shad were artificially hatched in the year 1868, and, as. a consequence, the yield at the proper time was made larger than it had been since 1¢02; or to the Hudson, in which ten millions of the same fish are hatched yearly, and the fishery is being rapidly restored, although it had run down until it was on the point of being abandoned. There are three facts which at once arrest the attention of the investigator into the art of pisciculture. In the first place, he finds that vast tracts of water are either almost depopulated or wholly bare of fish; not a reader of these words but can mention a dozen ponds or brooks which are simply stripped of all edible living creatures, while in other rivers or lakes the fishing has become so poor that it cannot be profitably fol- lowed for its yield, and is abandoned as a source of amusement. And yet the experi- ence of older countries and the evidence of experts prove that an acre of water can be made far more remunerative than an acre of land. Were a similar number of miles. square of valuable land equally neglected public attention would be aroused and states- men would be investigating the causes of such an anomaly. In a portion of France crops of grain or grass are regularly alternated with crops of fish—such as eels—and the latter are altogether the most remunerative, and yet in this country the nation’s boundless heritaye of water is left unimproved. Instead of increased development fisheries are being everywhere exhausted and waters everywhere depopulated. Efforts. are put forth on all hands to make two blades of grass grow where one grew before, and the successful inventor is called a public benefactor, while ignorance, neglect, and perversity are permitted to destroy a supply of food but little, if any, less important than the most valuable single production of the earth. Many of these streams at pres- ent deserted were once teeming with life. When Héndrich Hudson first ascended the river called by his name, the shad, which he mistook for salmon, were so numerous that he makes mention again and again of the “great stores of salmon” he enecoun- tered; and when the country was first settled every brook and rivulet could furnish in an hour its abundant meal of trout, bass,or perch. The rivers have not changed, the waters have not become unwholesome; except a few incidental localities where pernicious employments are carried on, fish could live, increase, and multiply, as freely and readily now as heretofore. Here is a fit object for the attention of the learned and the care of the law-maker. There is no better food than that of fish, and so long as the words ‘the poor ye havealways with you,” hold good, it is a duty to cultivate all the means of supporting human life that nature has placed within the reach of man. It is a sin to neglect the water while so many have all they can do to draw a meager living from the land. The next point that the investigator will note with wonder is the almost infinite productiveness of fish. Maize yields its four or five hundred grains for one, wheat and oats far less, and other agricultural products. in proportion, but the codand herring lay millions of eggs each, w,jile the shad and striped-bass, Labraz lineatus, produce as many hundreds of thousands. One of the least productive varieties is that of the Salmonide, and yet that contains twe thousand eggs to every pound-weight of the parent; while the black-bass, Grystes nigricans, although comparatively not prolific, guards its eggs till they hatch and the young until they can care for themselves. This fecundity is start- ling and leads to curious conclusions. It had some wise purpose under the kind laws of the Creator of all things, and yet had it been unobstructed in its operations it would have brought about disastrous consequences. Had all the ova of the cod, and hake, and haddock hatched, the sea would have been a mass of fish, and foul with their putre- fying carcasses ; had there been no counterpoise, no compensating law of restraint, the pure element that is needed to sustain man’s life would have been defiled and the human race conld never have existed on this planet. But there were proper and effectual bal- ance-wheels that entirely obviated such dangers. The enemies to young fish life are almost as numerous as the fish themselves; older fish feed on the ova and the fry, de- vouring both in incalculable numbers; bugs, entmacula, the pupe of water-flies and myriads of insects prey upon the immature spawn, while much of it gets covered with mud or silt, is never impregnated, or fails for one of a thousand reasons to hatch. So the yield is limited, and after it has reached a certain point never varies from that with- out some extraneous disturbing cause, a cause which usually comes from the interference of man. Were the human race extinct there would just be exactly so many fish in the seas and the lakes and the rivers, no more, no less, and rendered invariable by the unva- rying law of variations, the unchanging rule of cirenmstances. So they are found to be in all new countries, and once were here. But man steps in, he takes the kinds he likes for food, he neglects the worthless and inedible, he pays no heed to minute enemies, aud leaves the foes of the very sorts he appropriates to increase and multiply without limit. What is the result? Precisely what is seen in all the inland waters of this continent, and what will soon be apparent in the adjoining sea. The fish have disappeared, and their worthless foes either occupy their place or are themselves dying for want of food. Thirdly, the investigator will observe that of all sorts of human food none is pro- duced so cheaply as that of fish. It costs nothing for manure, it needs no tillage it 185 requires only the harvest, or, under artificial cultivaticn, the seed-time as well. The expense of the harvest, too, depends upon the amount of the yield; for, were fish as abundant as they should be, it would be but trifling. A shad, no longer than the first joint of one’s little finger, and not much thicker than a pin, is turned loose in the head- waters of some river, feebly it floats toward the ocean with the current, feeding be- cause it grows, but on food wholly invisible to the eye of man even assisted by the microscope of science. Slowly it is converting the worthless into the valuable. Ina few months it is an active, vigorous little fish of three or four inches length. Then it adventures out into the ocean, the vast store-house of incalculable amounts of its food; -animaleula, saspended in mud-water thick as motes in the sun’s rays; crustacea, on the bottom, only less abundant than the grains of sand; and conferve, floating about in masses an acre wide. It grows and grows, assimilating more valueless substances and turning them to man’s service, and at last it returns, of full size, in splendid condition, fit for the fisherman’s net, and worthy to grace the table of the epicure. It left its birth-place a poor, puny, worthless thing, of scarcely an appreciable weight; it returns -athree or four or five pounds weight of edible delicacy, not to be surpassed in strength- giving or gastronomic qualities. It demands no care, and draws but little from the world’s stock of food or food-making substances; the ox devours tons of grass, which has cost much labor and required valuable manure, ere he is fit for the butcher; but the shad prepares himself for the fisherman by his own exertions, and then comes voluntarily to the net when he is fit to kill. The warm-blooded animals are expensive to raise; they are active, full of motion and heat, and waste much of their food in assimilating the rest; but fish are cold blooded, dull, and quiet, rarely moving unless dis- turbed, and lying, hour after hour, in one position, unless tempted out to pounce upon their prey. They void but a trivial proportion of what they consume, and their active digestion quickly converts the greater part of it into their own flesh, yet medical investigations establish that fish-food is more nutritive than meat, and is especially adapted to the sustenance of the brain, marrow, and bones, as it contains large quan- tities of phosphorous. In every point of view, then, it is cheaper; and nature would seem te have expressly kept this reserve until the earth should be so crowded with people that man could no longer find in it a means of support, and should be forced to look for maintenance to the waters which once covered the world, and are still two- thirds of its extent. This provision seems doubly probable, when it is remembered that the principal dangers to fish-life exist in the ova state, and that it is in precisely that stage that man’s assistance can be given and is of the greatest use. UNITED STATES COMMISSION OF FISH AND FISHERIES. Professor Spencer F. Baird, of the Smithsonian Institution, acting as Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries under act of Congress approved February 9, 1871, has made his first report, which has just been printed for general circulation. This report embraces his investigatious con- cerning the condition of the sea-fisheries of the south coast of New Eng- land, in 1871 and 1872. It will be remembered that the act creating this commission was passed in view of the reiterated assertions that the most valuable food-fishes of the coast and the lakes of the United States were rapidly diminishing in number, ‘‘ to the public injury, and so as to mate- rially affect the interests of trade and commerce.” The commissioner was charged with the duty of prosecuting his inquiries with reference to ‘ascertaining whether any, and what diminution in the number of the food-fishes of the coast and the lakes of the United States has taken place; and, if so, to what causes the same is due; and also whether any and what protective, prohibitory, oy precautionary measures should be adopted in the premises.” It is a matter of surprise that, notwithstanding the material impor- tance of the fisheries more immediately to the States along the coasts, and in full view of the fact that the fish-supply was becoming less re- liable, and, indeed, in some localities failing almost eutirely, no oficial investigation or inquiries were set on foot until as late as 1869-70, when petitions aroused the attention of the legislatures of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. But the reports of committees of investigation were so utterly at variance as to conclusions and recommendations, that any- thing like harmony and concurrence of action through statistical regula- 186 tions was little to be hoped for. Not without reason, it was judged that the investigations of a scientific commission, acting under the authority of the General Government, and unembarrassed by local considerations, would carry weight, and its enlightened recommendations dispose those immediately concerned in the prosperity of the food-fisheries to co-oper- ate readily in the plans proposed for their preservation and improve- ment. Professor Baird began his investigations in the summer of 1871, at Wood’s Hole, Massachusetts, where the large number of “pounds” afforded material for inquiry. Simultaneously, investigations were being made off the coast of North Carolina, under the direction of Dr, C. H. Yarwood, United States Army, and by a deputy commissioner whose operations were to be confined to the great lakes. The latter, during the season of 1871, visited every pound and gill-net station on Lake Michigan, collecting a body of valuable information which will appear in another report. Investigations, taking in a greater extension of sea- coast, were continued in 1872, and the present report has reference in its data and conclusions to the south side of New England, especially that portion of it extending from Point Judith on the west, to Monamoy Point on the east, including Narragansett Bay, Vineyard Sound, Buz- zard’s Bay, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. In view of inquiries made upon these grounds, covering two seasons, Professor Baird has no: hesitation in stating that the fact of an alarming decrease of the shore- fisheries has been clearly established by his own investigations, as well as by evidence of those whose testimony was taken upon the subject. He reviews in order and at length the reasons ascribed to account for the decrease which, as commonly given, are: 1. The decrease or disappearance of the food upon which the fish sab- sist, necessitating their departure to other localities. 2. A change of location, either entirely capricious or induced by the: necessity of looking for food elsewhere, as just referred to. 3. Epidemic diseases, or peculiar atmospheric agencies, such as heat, cold, &e. 4. Destruction by other fishes. 5. The agencies of man; this being manifested either in the poilution of the water by the discharge into it of the refuse of manufactories, &c., or by excessive over-fishing, or the use of improper apparatus. The validity of the assumption of a diminution of food is denied in the most positive terms. That change of abode on the part of the fishes as a cause of decrease has not been substantiated by facts. Where no positive cause for sudden disappearance of fish in quantity can be given it is often ascribed to diseases or to atmospheric agencies. The ravages of predaceous fishes, of the blue-fish particularly, are a leading cause of the diminution of the fish-catch. Of the blue-fish, Professor Baird ascer- tained by careful inquiry that about one million and a quarter could be estimated as the number captured inWineyard Sound, and on the coast from Monamoy Point, through Long Island Sound, and sent to the market in 1871. Judging, from the character of the fish, that not one in a hundred is taken, he admits the presence in those waters of 100,000,000 blue-fish. Their habits show that they each destroy at least twenty young fish per day, thus showing an enormous aggregate destruction. He says: We all know that fish-spawn and fish in different stages of growth constitute the principal source of food to other fishes in the sea, and that the great proportion of fishes devoured are of tender age. The blue-fish, however, will often attack species but little less than itself, and the 100,000,000 referred to probably destroy fishes of two or three onnces and upwards ; that is to say, those that have passed the ordinary perils of 187 / . early life, and have a fair chance to reach maturity. Therefore, if 12,000,000,000 are eaten, the number destroyed off the New England coast in a season of one hundred and twenty to one hundred and fifty days can be easily estimated. Notwithstanding this great destruction by the blue-fish, Professor Baird is confirmed in his impression, by careful observation, that to the concurrent action of man is due in larger proportion the decrease of fish, and in some grounds a danger of practical extermination. The tendency of the methods employed, in many cases, is obviously in the direction of a comparative diminution of fish-supplies. The general conclusions of Professor Baird, covering the results of two seasons of patient and pains-taking investigations, will be read with interest. I. The alleged decrease in the number of food-fishes in these waters within the past few years has been fully substantiated. Il. The shore-fishes have been decreasing during the past twenty years, gradually at first, but much more abruptly from the year 1865 ; the reduction in the year 1871 being so great, as entirely to prevent any successful suenmer-fishing with the hook and line, and leaving to the traps and pounds the burden of supplying the markets. This state- ment applies also, but perhaps to a certain extent, to the blue-fish. The decrease in their numbers first manifested itself about ten years ago, and is going on quite rapidly until now. III. This period of decrease represents the time during which the traps and pounds have been well established, their operations increasing year by year, and their catch, especially in the early spring, being always very great. — IV. In 1871 and 1872 the decrease in the number of fish has been so great as to reduce very largely the profit formerly derived by the traps. V. The appearance, in 1871, of an unusually large number of young fish spawned in 1870, is a phenomenon only to be explained by the probable escape of a larger number of breeding-fish than usual during the previous season, an abrupt decrease in the ravages of blue-fish and other species, or else by a spontaneous movement northward of newly- hatched fish that ordinarily Would have remained on a more southern coast. While these fish will, probably, for several years, constitute a marked feature in the fisheries, there is no evidence of the existence of a second crop of young fish corresponding to the one in question. VI. The decrease of the fish may be considered as due to the com- bined action of the ‘fish-pounds or weirs, and the blue-fish ; the former destroying avery large percentage of the spawning fish before they have deposited their eggs, and the latter devouring immense numbers of young fish after they have passed the ordinary perils of immaturity. VU. There are no means at our command for destroying tbe blue- fish, nor would it be desirable to do this, in view of their value as an article of food. The alternative is to regulate the action of the pounds so as to prevent the destruction of fish during the spawning-season. VIII. The quickest remedy would be the absolute abolition of the traps and pounds. This, however, would be a harsh measure, and their proper regulation will probably ‘answer the purpose of restoring the supply, al ‘though a greater number of years will be required. Such reg- ulation may consist either in prohibiting the use of traps or pounds during the entire season of the spawning of the fish, or for a certain number of days in each week during that season. IX. As the principal profit of the “pounds is derived from the catch of fish during the spawning-season, it will probably be sufficient to try the experiment of prohibition of the use of nets from Friday night until . 188 Monday morning of each week of the-spawning-season, and after that no restriction need be imposed. X. It is desirable that the regulation for a close time during each week be passed by the several States; and if this cannot be effected, then the General Government should enact absolute prohibition, or at least during the spawning-season, as it possesses no officers who could exercise the supervision required to enforce the partial closure, or be- fore whom complaints could be entered and the penalty exacted. XI. Any marked increase in the number of the shore-fishes, resulting from their protection during the spawning-season, will probably tend to restore the blue-tish to their original numbers. XII. As there is reason to believe that scup, and toa less degree other shore-fishes, as well as blue-fish, have several times disappeared at inter- vals to a greater or less extent, within the historic period of New Eng- land, we cannot be certain that the use of traps and pounds within the last ten years has actually produced the scarcity complained of. The fact, however, that these engines do destroy the spawniifg-fish in so great numbers renders it very probable that they exercise a decided influence. No vested interest or right will suffer by the experiment of regulating the period of their use, as we have attempted to show that a better price will be obtained from a smaller number of fish, by prevent- ing the glutting of the market, and the consequent waste of so perish- able an article as fresh fish. , XII. A feeling of bitterness entertained by the line fisherman and the general public against traps and pounds, and those who own and profit by them, will, in a measure, be allayed if the experiment of regu- lation and restriction be tried, at least for a few years. FOREIGN STATISTICS. The following statements are from a translation of a recent report of the French minister of the interior: CREATION OF A BUREAU OF STATISTICS IN AUSTRIA.—A hew bureat, in the department of commerce, called the bureau of statistics, has been organized in Austria. The importance of the science of statisties is generally recognized. Austrian economists have long been pressing this matter upon the government and the public. Says the former minister of commerce, a well known economist, Doctor Schaeeffle, ‘ Offi- cial statistics should be extended as a network of observations over the whole country, and consecrate its best efforts to the study of social movement.” . The new measure will fill a seriously felt blank. It is true there was in existence a central commission of statistics, but its labors wanted method and unity. Furthermore, its activity was limited to the interior, whereas comparative statistics is the only system of valae or utility. The department of industrial statistics is entively wanting In Austria, which is especially to be regretted at the opening of the uni- versal exposition. The department of commercial statistics was better organized, but publications concerning it rarely appeared at usefal periods, and were too tardily given to the public. Every three months the minister of commerce announced, ina weekly review, The Austria, the results of the commercial movement; the Central Commission of Statis- tics published annual reports. But sometimes these abstracts did not agree with each other. Unity of direction was manifestly deficient. The new organization takes cognizance of this difficulty. 189 ; Since 1864 a greater regularity is observable in this service. In the first half of the century, statistical tables, giving abstracts of commerce, were ordinarily published at intervals of about two and a half years or more; thus the commerce of 1842 was not officially known till October, 1845. Things have since changed, and the official table of 1870 was published in December, 1871, or about twelve months after the close of the year. This delay will be still further reduced under the new policy. Another question should attract the attention of governments. Hith- erto European governments have not adopted a uniform statistical sys- tem. Would it not be useful to adopt a common base of operations? It is only by unity of aim and effort that nations will make of statistics a practical science, securing a comparison between productive forces, THE METRIC SYSTEM IN AUSTRIA.—A law of July 23, 1871, introduced the metric system into Austria. The standard of measure is a rod en- closed in glass in possession of the Austrian government, which, at the temperature of melting ice, is equal to 999.99764 millimeters of the proto- type meter deposited at Paris. The standard of the kilogram isa kilogram of crystal, the weight of which, in vacuo, is equal to 999.9978 of the proto- type kilograms of Paris. The new system of weights and measures will be used in trade after the Ist of January, 1873; it will be obligatory and exclusive after January 1, 1876. The weights and measures hitherto used in Austria will bear the following values in terms of the metric system : Measures of length. A. toise of Vienna equals 1.896184 meters ; a foot of Vienna, 0.316084 meter; an ell of Vienna, 0.777558 meter; one postal mile, 7.585936 meters; one span, 10.53602 centimeters. Measures of surface—A square myriameter equals 1.737727 square miles ; a square toise, 3.596652 square meters; a square foot, 0.099907 square meter; a joch of Lower Austria, 57.51612 ares; an Austrian square mile, 0.5754642 myriameter. Measures of capacity—A cubic meter equals 0.146606 cubic toise; a cubic meter, 31.66695 cubic feet; a cubic toise, 6.820092 cubic meters ; a enbie foot, 0.03157867 cubie meter. Dry measures.—A_ hectoliter equals 1.626356 Viennese setiers; a liter, 0.01626365 Viennese setier; a Viennese setier, 0.6148682 hectoliter, or 61.48652 liters. Liquid measures.—A hectoliter equals 1,767129 eimers; a liter, 0.070- 68515 mass; a Viennese eimer, 0.565890 hectoliter; a Viennese mass, 1.414724 liters. _ Measures of weight.—A kilogram equals 1 pound 25.0137 ounces; a decagram, 0.571367 Austrian ounce; a ton, 1,785.523 pounds; a kilo- gram, 2 pounds of the customs, or 2.380697 pounds, apothecaries’ weight, or 5.562298 silver marks. A gram equals 0.286449 ducat of gold, or 4.855090 karats of Vienna, or 0.06 postal ounce. A Vienna pound equals 0.560060 kilogram. A quintal, 56.0060 kilograms; an ounce, 1.750187 decagrams; a quintal of the customs, 50 kilograms; a pound of the cus- toms, 0.5 kilogram; a pound, apothecaries’ weight, 0.420045 kilogram; a Vienna silver mark, 0.280668 kilogram; a gold ducat, 3.490896 grams ; a Vienna karat, 0.205969 gram; a postal ounce, 16.666667 grams. FOREIGN COMMERCE OF AUSTRIA.—During the semi-decade, 1867-71, Austrian commerce was remarkably progressive. The course of busi- ness arrested by the military operations of 1866 was revived with new force. That year may be considered as the starting-point of an upward movement, the importance of which may be seen from the following figures: The total foreign trade of Austria, in 1871, amounted to 1,147- 190 218 florins, the Austrian florin being, about equal to half an American dollar. Of this aggregate 583,540,000 florins represented the imports, and 561,678,000 florins the export trade. These amounts were nearly double those of 1866, of which the imports were 245,168 florins, the ex- ports 350,406,000 florins, and the total 625,574,000 florins. The heavy balance of export trade gradually declined till in 1870 the surplus of im- ports amounted to nearly 50,000,000 florins, the import balance of 1871 being nearly 22,000,000. The specie movement of the semi-decade ex- hibits the same expansion. In 1866, the imports of precious metals amounted to 27,250,000 florins, and the exports to 50,937,000; during 1871 the imports were 59,803,000 florins, and the exports 63,108,000, showing a decided tendency toward equalization. A more marked development is observable from 1867 to 1868 than in the following year. The reason of this difference is found in the excep- tional export of Hungarian cereals during 1868, which was not main- tained during 1869. Importation of rough metals was greatly extended during 1867, in consequence of the impulse given to railroads. A great part of the supply of 1869 was imported in 1868. The imports of agricultural products and manufactures thereof during 1871 embraced the following, viz: Colonial and tropical products, 29,112,000 florins; tobacco, 13,256,000 florins; grainsand fruits, 24,401,000 florins; animals, 20,173,000 florins; animal products, 18,700,000 florins ; seeds and oils, 15,477,000 florins; liquors and provisions, 3,848,000 florins; textile materials, 112,357,000 florins; yarns, 39,929,000 florins; tissues of all sorts, 62,811,000 florins; leather and skins, 19,836,000 florins; total, 359,900,000 florins. The exports of agricultural matter and its manufactures in 1871 em- braced the following: Colonial and tropical produce, 26,340,000 florins ; tobacco, 13,871,000 florins ; grains and fruits, 86,815,000 florins ; animals, 10,851,000 florins; animal products, 10,921,000 florins; seeds and oils, 7,757,000 florins; liquors and provisions, 6,483,000 florins; textile ma- terials, 45,962,000 florins ; yarn, 11,427,000 florins; tissues of all sorts, 61,327,000 florins; leather and skins, 18,996,000 florins; total, 300,240,000 * florins. Nearly all these exports exhibit a marked increase since 1866. Less textile raw-material was exported, but the deficiency has been made good by the increased export of yarns and fabrics. This indicates a very healthy condition of textile industry, which is now working up an increased proportion of native raw-material. Colonial and tropical products manifest a marked increase of export. DALMATIAN AGRICULTURE.—Dalmatiais an Austrian province streteh- ing along the north»ast coast of the Adriatic two hundred and nine miles, with a breadth varying from two to fifty miles. Its population numbers 220,169 males and 222,627 females; total, 442,796. The mass of the people are Serb-Croat, about 20,000 Italians being domiciled in the land. The dominant religion is Roman Catholic. The land-sur- face embraces 1,000,000 arpents of free pasture, 479,478 arpents of woodland, 200,000 arpents of vineyards, 22,264 arpents of meadows and gardens, 26,934 arpents of olive groves; the remainder of its agri- cultural area is devoted to cereal productions. The vine and the olive flourish along the coast when the thermometer does not fall below 5° (k.) below zero. The meadows and grain-fields occupy the higher lands, and extend back to the frontiers of Turkey. SUGAR INDUSTRY IN AUSTRIA.—According to the latest reports, there are in Austria two hundred and thirty-six beet-sugar factories, of which one hundred and sixty are in Bohemia, forty-nine in Moravia, eleven in 191 Silesia, eight in Lower Austria, six in Gallicia, and two in Styria. Add. ing to these figures twenty-six factories in Hungary, and the total be- comes two hundred and sixty-two. Of the above seven are exclusively refineries, and about two-fifths, or one hundred, are worked upon shares. Ten new factories are in process of construction. The number of factories in Austria increased in two years eighty-one, or 5 o2 per cent. ; in Hungary it remains stationary. WooL INDUSTRY IN HUNGARY—KINDS, QUALITIES, PRODUCTION.— Pesth is the center of the wool-trade of Hungary, with the exception of some western districts which export a portion of their products directly to Vienna. Hungarian wools, which are the basis of important trans- actions in the Pesth market, are of various sorts. 1. Merinos, which come mostly from the great basin of the Theiss. These merinos are of medium quality, and are divided into two distinet. classes ; a, fleeces shorn twice a year, in April and May and in August and September; b, fleeces shorn.but once a year, some time in June. 2. Fleeces known as Cigaja and Zakel. These are produced by two other kinds of sheep found in Transylvania, in the Banat, and in Sclavo- nia. This wool is long, brilliant, and very harsh; its fibers attain a length of thirty centimeters. It is especially used as a combing wool, and. for the fabrication of heavy tissues. Its range is entirely independ- ent of that of the merinos. ; 3. Lastly, a fleece intermediate between the two preceding is furnished by a cross-bred sheep raised in Transylvania, the Banat, and Sclavonia.. Production.—Hungary produces about 20,000,000 kilograms of fleeces. The larger portion of the clip is sent to Pesth by traders, and not by producers, who are in the habit of selling their products in advance of shearing and of receiving a portion of the price at the conclusion of the bargain. The fleeces, washed before shearing, arrive at the ‘market. packed in sheets of rough canvas. Business habits and usages of the Pesth bourse.—Transactions are usually for cash, with a discount of 2 per cent. Each contract, however, may vary its stipulations according to agreement. The seller promises to deliver his wool well washed. If for any cause the washing is imper- fect he owes the purchaser an indemnity. The odds ‘and ends are not packed with the fleeces, but receive the same price as the rest of the wool. Frauds against which dealers must protect themselves.—These are prin- cipally of two sorts: first, they must ascertain whether the wool has. been stored in cellars in order to enhance its weight; second, they must see that the staple is not charged with sand from the plains between Pesth and Szegedin. This sand is very heavy and very fine, disappear- ing only after the most thorough washing. Its presence is not appreci- able to an inexperienced eye. Channels of exportation—The greater part of the wool marketed at Pesth, nearly 12,000,000 kilograms, is purchased by the cloth manufac- tures of Brun and Reichenberg. The combing wool mills of Wolsau and Pesth and the mills of Bohemia consume about 2 000,000 kilograms.. During later years Hungary has been sending to F1 rance from 1,250,000 to 1,500,000 kilograms of combing wools, and from 500,000 to "750, 000 kilograms of clothing wools per annum. Germany and England make: about equal demands on the Pesth wool-market. Considerable import- ations from Australia and La Plata into England, and thence into conti- nental Europe, have reduced the market-prices at Pesth, and foreign transactions have greatly declined. On the other hand, since the compro- 192 mise of 1866, the industrial movement has greatly progressed. The later yields have enabled Hungary to increase her demand for the manufac- tures of Europe, and to give the first impulse to her own wool industry. Manufactories established at Pesth—YLwo manufactories, placed in operation in 1869, present a special interest; of these one has for its principal aim to favor the exportation of wool by reducing its expense of transportation ; the other is a real industrial establishment present- ing a solid interest by its excellent installation,the goodness of its fabrics, and the financial results already achieved. The first is known under the name of the Wollwasch-Fabrik. lt re- ceives wool in grease directly from producers, which it sorts, washes, and sells on account of the proprietors,charging a certain price for hand- ling and small commission. It is at once an industrial and a commer- cial house. This combination reduces the expense of transport 70 per cent. The Wollwasch Fabrik can wash 1,300,000 kilograms of wools per annum. Unfortunately ouly wools of medium quality can be economically subjected to this mechanical washing; the alkalies employed in washing and the mechanical processes to some extent knot and felt the fiber. The second, known as the Erste Ungarische Kammgarn-Spinnerei Ge- sellschaft, is a complete establishment, embracing apparatus for washing, carding, combing, spinning, twisting and even a dye-works which can color the most diverse shades, to the extent of 1,000 kilograms of yarn per day. A weaving-factory has been added, which already con- tains fifty cashmere looms. A capital of 600,000 florins, (about $300,000, ) divided into 3,000 shares of 200 florins ($100) each, under the skillful and conscientious direction of a Frenchman, M. Emile Lepaulle, an old pupil of the Ecole des arts et des métiers, of Chalons, is sufficient for all the purposes of purchase of ground,construction,and installation. With the exceptions of the motive-powers and the transmissions of movements, all the apparatus, assortments of cards, automatic spinning-jennies, appa- ratus for combing, apparatus for twisting, came from the factories of the best French constructors, MM. Nicholas Schlumberger, Stehelin & Co., Mord, and others. Theloomsare of the system of Hodgson, of Bradford, England. The manufactory contains 12,000 spindles, of which 2,000 are adapted to the long wools of Cigaja and of Wallachia, and 1,000 to merino wools. It works up 560,000 kilograms of wools, produces 260,000 kilograms of yarns, which are sold almost entirely in the country. In six months of fabrication the Kammgarn-Spinnerei realized a profit of 25 per cent. upon its capital. These profits are to be converted into capital in order to extend the industry. The labor of the factory is ex- clusively Hungarian, with the exception of the foremen, who have all been drawn from the factories of Alsace. The establishment employs one hundred and fifty workmen and two hundred and fifty women, who work by the piece. The men earn from 2 franes 75 centimes to 6 franes 50 cen- times, and the women from 1 franc 50 centimes to 3 francs per day of twelve hours. The raw material employed has a value of 5 to 6 frances per kilogram for merino, and from 4 to 5 franes for Cigajo. The products fabricated of merino are worth 11 franes per kilogram; the other is estimated at 8 francs 30 centimes. The wool is not subject to any im- port-duties in Hungary, while manufactures analogous to those of the Kammgarn-Spinnerei are protected by a duty of 8 florins (20 frances or $4) per hundred kilograms. Already the Kammgarn-Spinnerei is not equal to local wants; the increase of wealth in Hungary will certainly bring about a greater consuinption of this product purchased almost exclusively by the middle and wealthy classes. Ultimately the importance of the market for raw material, commercial relations and media of communication, daily 4 193 augmenting, will, some day, permit the Hungarians to seek connections with the Danubian provinces, and perhaps to extend them even as . far as Constantinople. < FACTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. ‘LARGE PROFITS FROM SMALL FARMS.—We have received from the corresponding secretary of the Farmers’ Clab at Farmingdale, Queens County, New York, a copy of a paper read before it by its president, J. W. DeLee Ree, the design of which is to show “how a living is made on a twenty-acre farm on Long Island.” The steps by which the con- clusion is reached are here given in a condensed form. It being pre- mised that small farms prevail on the island, thirty acres being consid- ered enough for a farmer to carry on, with the help of one or two boys, and that the larger farms prove to be less profitable than the smaller in proportion to the acreage, it is represented that ordinarily farms of twenty acres, in the central part of the Island, thirty to forty miles from New York, are worked in the manner and with the results following. When practicable, such a farm is divided into seven parts, six of which are three-acre lots for tillage, and the seventh is occupied with the buildings, poultry yard, kitchen-garden, and an orchard of about one hundred and fifty apple and pear trees. Other fruit-trees,, such as cherry, are planted by the road-side, and so answer the triple purpose of ornament, shade, and fruit. Grass being the great desideratum, a good farmer does not rest satisfied until he makes his fields yield at the rate of two tons to the acre the first year, without much shrinkage for the next two years. With this view rotation is practiced, and usually @ six-year course, in the following order. The first’ year, ecrn is planted on sod ground, with manure in the hill; the second roots, suffi- ciently manured to be followed by wheat the third, and by grass the three succeeding. Half the eighteen acres is thus kept in grass, three being broken up each spring, and three seeded down each fall. But, if one acre is planted with (say early rose) potatoes, they can be harvested in season to sow the same by the first of August ‘with turnips, yielding four hundred to six hundred bushels. If the farm contains twenty-three acres, another lot and another year is added, corn being planted two years in succession; if twenty-six acres, grass-seed is sown when the corn receives its last dressing the second year; the field is grazed one year, then roots, wheat, and grass follow. Onatwenty-acre farm, tilled as above described, the crops, well cared for, will average about as follows: three acres of corn, 55 bushels per acre, at 90 cents per bushel, $148.50; three acres of potatoes, (or an equivalent in roots,) 200 bushels per acre, at 65 cents per bushel, $390; three acres of wheat, 25 bushels per acre, at $1.75 per bushel, $131.25; nine acres of grass, 12 tons per acre, at $20 per ton, $300; profit on two hundred hens kept for eggs, $1.50 each, $300; on_two cows, $75 each, $150; on orchard, $2 per tree, $300; total, $1,719.75. Outgoes: for board of team, at $1 per day, $365; for manure purchased, $200; interest on farm aud buildings, valued at $3,000, and stock and tools, valued at $1,000, at 7 per cent., $280; taxes, $20; total, $865. This deducted from $1,719.75 leaves a net profit of $854.75. Add to this the profits from the garden, the bees; the pigs, &c., and it will give a clear income of about $18 per week the year round. ‘That is, the judicious and industrious cultivator of a twenty-acre farm receives a salary equal to that of a first-class me- chanic, besides the advantages of outdoor instead of indoor labor, of great variety instead of monotonous uniformity in his work, and espe- 194 cially of being his own master, which, to a person of independent, self- reliant spirit, is of no small account. It may be thought that, all the hay being geckoned at market-value, the profit on the cows is put too high; but the straw and corn fodder, (or their avails,) and what turnips ean be raised after a crop of early potatoes, will afford abundant feed for two cows through the winter. There is no cheaper way to keep cows in first-rate order than to raise turnips enough to feed one bushel per day to each through the winter. On some small farms as many as five cows are kept. In that case less hay is cut, and what is is chiefly fed out. Consequently more manure is made and less bought. But the more cows the more work in the house, and as the usual aim is to get along without outside help, the sources from which profits are sought on the farm are often regulated by the state of the family in respect to the relative amount of outdoor and indoor help it affords. The fact is not overlooked that all small farms do not yield a profit equal to the above estimate; while some are made to exceed it, others are made only to yield a bare subsistence. But in the latter case the failure can always be traced either toa soil of poorer than average’ quality, or to a lack of intelligence and aptitude for acquiring it, or a lack of sound judgment, or of industry, or some similar cause. EXPERIMENTS IN POTATO CULTIVATION.—The following statement is received from J. V. H. Scovill, of Paris, Oneida County, New York: Many practice the habit of selecting only small potatoes for seed, reserving those that are merchantable for sale. Others plant medium-sized potatoes, cutting only the largest. Some practice shallow planting; others plant’ more deeply and dig them svith a machine. I have made some experiments during the past season to ascertain, if possible, what is the best kind of seed to use. The ground used for this purpose was a Clay loam, and was an inverted green-sward, ploughed about seven inches deep. The potatoes were planted in hills, the rows being 3 feet by 2 feet 9 inches apart, mak- ing 5,280 hills to an acre. The number of hills planted of each kind was seventy, and the result figured out as if by the acre. The seed was carefully weighed, both at the time of planting and at the time of digging, and was estimated at the rate of sixty pounds to the bushel. The rows were marked with a horse-marker and the seed coy- ered about two inches deep. The variety experimented with was the Garnet Chili, a variety largely cultivated in Central New York for local marketing. They were planted June 1, and harvested October 21. 5 o g Z | a alee os S2 | sf | Se € ze | ge | 2a | ge —) - a on = a partes E g | #8 | 228 | 32 = S @ E © a ND 4 nm i Bush. 0)\ Bush. of | Bush. of Bush. of P | 60 lbs. | 60lbs. | 60 Lbs. | 60 lbs. 1 | One eye to a piece, and one piece in a @ill --.--..--------------- 34 1023 5s 108 2 | One eye to a piece, and two pieces in a hill..-..-.-------------- 9 1-6 175t 16 1915 3 | Two eyes to a piece, and one piece in a hill..-.-.--------------- 8 4-5 16114 144 | 175% 4 | Two eyes to a piece, and two pieces in a hill..------------------ 134 173 213 | 1942 ’ 5 | Three eyes to a piece, and one piece in a hill ...-.-.------------ 10% 1753 212 197¢ ‘§ | Three eyes to a piece, and two pieces in a hill -.--..------------ | 183 1644 414 205% 7 | Four eyes to a piece, and one piece in a hill-...---.------------- 12 1564 22) 179 3 | Four eyes to a piece, and two pieces in a hill ...--.------------- } 273 1463 47 1934 9 | One large potato in a hill.........-.....-.--------+--+---------- 443 168 62 230 10 | One large potato divided, in a hiil.............-.-------------- = 22 163 Qeh 1913 11 | One small potato in a hill............-:....-..------+----------- 10% |’ -138 23 161 12 | One small potato divided, in a hill .-...........-.-------- a 64 125 18 143 13 | I'wo small potatoes in a hill ...-.............-Paee----- - 213 132% 463) 1794 14 | One medium potato in a hill ..................---------- | 264 159 | 362 195} 15 | One medium potato divided, in a bill...-......-.------- | 163} 1542 263 | 1814 416 | Seed end of the potato in a hill ................-.------ 12 158 244 182} 47 | Potato, with seed end cut off, in a hill ....-....-------- 29 1563 38 | 1943 18 | Two medium potatoes cut in two, four pieces ina hill. 30% 191 38 tsi 229 19 | One medium potato quartered, four pieces in a hill. - 274 168 62 230 20 | One large potato in a hill, with eyes dug out..--.-- 35 114 143 1283 WielA-GrOp pee ee ene emai =a cee em a a oe RE eo Neiman cans aalal inte 1564 28 | 184 Hield-Crop; ECAC PLOWS co. ~ jo. = 246k oe SU REE ae as = = nee eee 194 Q12 2154 a 195 Some very interesting and curious facts are observable from a perusal of the fore- going table. Thestrongest seeding, in almost every case, furnishes the most flattering - results. The largest yield were those of Nos. 9 and 19, 230 bushels to an acre, and a difference of about 17 bushels in amount of seed used, while the proportion of small potatoes was unusually large. The best proportion of large potatoes was in Nos. 2, 4, and 5, and largest amount in No. 18. Two eyes to a piece and two pieces in a hill, and three eyes to a piece, are better than two single eyes; while three eyes to a piece and two pieces in a hill give 11 bushels less of large ones than a single piece of the same number of eyes, and nearly double the number of small ones, as will be seen by referring to Nos. 5 and 6. I find this minute in my memorandum at the time of planting, referring to Nos. 5 and6: “The labor of cutting with three eyes to a piece is increased, and most of the seed ends thrown out.” Also of Nos. 7 and 8: ‘Seed ends left in and generally di- vided, and sometimes more than four eyes to a piece and less care in cutting.” No. 20, one large potato, eyes dug out. Of the seventy hills planted ten did not grow, and three of these were dug up and destroyed by fowls. Iam satisfied that the proportion of those which did not germinate would have been less had the planting been earlier. Everything which resembled an eye was carefully dug out, and the potatoes were all carefully examined by other parties previous to planting. What does it prove? It proves the wonderful vitality of the potato, and that the cutting and planting may be done with a machine without fearivg any material risk or damage from missed hills. From the result of these experiments my previous opinions are confirmed, and I would say use good seed and avoid the danger of a depreciating quality by feeding the small ones to your stock. I usually plant a good medium sized potato, and, if large, cut it once in two lengthwise. The “ field crop” noticed was grown alongside the above, and was, I think, less than my general crop. These potatoes were grown in the town of Paris, Oneida County, New York, in an elevated locality, 1,500 feet above the level of the sea. 5 VINEYARD LANDS.—Our regular correspondent in Amador County writes as follows: This county is situated on the western slope of the Sierras, extending from the sum- mit to the foot-hills, with a breadth from north to south of thirty miles, and an alti- tude of-75 to 10,000 feet above tide-water. Beds of lava, indurated volcanic ash, . breccia, and bowlders, remains of the volcanic epoch, are found all the way from the summit to some miles ont on the plains, forming prominent landmarks all over the county. Every stream and gulch contains more or less of the broken-down matter of these beds, and without an analysis of the soil it is safe to conclude that it all con- tains a considerable quantity of voleanie débris. The slopes around these volcanic deposits have proved to be the paradise of the grape, where all kinds, whether from ° the borders of the Mediterranean or the Northern Rhine, flourish better than in their native homes. The vines are usually planted 8 feet apart each way, the gronnd being previously plowed as deeply as convenient, say 8 to 12 inches. Rooted vines are preferred, as coming sooner into bearing and requiring less care than cuttings. They are trained to a height of 12 to 24 inchesand staked up, for convenience in cultivating only, for the vines will bear equally as well, and, in the opiniou of many, better, if laid flat ou the ground, as there is no rain or dew to cause mildew or rot after the setting of the grape. The pruning may be done from November to March, in clear, sunny weather, as prun- ing in damp weather, however early in the winter, will cause the vine to bleed severely whenever the sap starts. They are trimmed toa close head, not more than three buds being left on a spur, and these all to be cut away the following year if buds nearer can be found. If the vines can be irrigated once or twice in June and July, they make a larger growth and come into bearing sooner. After the vine is pruned it is treated much like corn in the Western States, plowed with a bull-tongue shovel-plow, or any-~ thing that will loosen the ground to the depth of 3 or 4 inches, and all the suckers removed. After the trains cease they require no more attention except thinning out of the fruit, which is but little if the vines were properly pruned. A few bunches will be found the second year, and the fourth year a good crop will be obtained—two and a half to five tons to the acre. One man with a horse and plow will tend twenty acres, including pruning, suckering, cultivating, and gathering. Gathering cominences in October, and may be continued until December or even later, as the only loss is from birds and wild animals. It will be seen that but little work is required during the months of July and September, the hottest months of the year. If the vines ean be irrigated the yield may double the above estimate. The grapes will be improved for table use, being larger and of a milder flavor, but are not so val- uable for wine, owing to the excess of watery matter. The writer of this article has more than oace picked small patches of grapes yielding at the rate of sixteen tons to _ the acre. 136 It is quite possible to make a large vineyard yield that occasionally, though such overbearing injures the vines very much. Only moderate crops can be relied on every ear, The liabilities to failure if the site is well selected and the land well tended do not amount to 1 per cent. Vineyards on low, moist lands are liable to mildew and late and early frosts. An elevation of 10 or 20 feet above the zones of cold air in the valleys insures against all loss by frost or mildew. In consequence of the want of transportation, grapes were worth in 1872 but $15 per ton, and demand limited at that. Fully one-half the land of this county, below the altitude of 3,900 feet, is adapted to the cultivation of the grape in patches of five to forty acres, without further expense than clearing off the brush and fencing. Much of this land is now subject to pre- emption and homestead. A railroad from tide-water is projected, and will probably be built in a short time, which will reach the center of this vine-land. No part of the United States holds out greater inducements for men of small capital who wish to engage in the cultivation of the grape. Srock Irems.—The following items are from our April correspond- ence: Cambria County, Pa.—Many individuals are procuring Alderney cows for their own private use. The cost is from $150 to $250 each, the price being regulated by age and purity of blood. They are regarded as being profitable even at the high price they cost. The Cambria Iron Company of this place own many farms which they have bought for the minerals, iron ore, and stone coal, and being desirous of giving an im- pulse to the agricultural interests of the county, are devoting both skill and means to that purpose, They have procured a competent superintendent, and have purchased the best of utensils and machinery for cultivating the different farms, and have com- menced the establishment of distinct herds of thoroughbred cattle. They have placed Alderneys on one farm, Devous, Short-Horns, and Herefords, each, on others. As these herds are of recent establishment, we cannot give fullinformation with regard to their comparative profits, though the Herefords have proven to be profitable, there being a very great demand for the calves at prices averaging $50 at from four to six months old. Hot Spring County, Ark.—The Chiuese or Poland hog seems to have been the most profitable stock imported here. A gentleman in my neighborhood bought one pair, which cost him $28 for the pair. He has sold pigs from them for $20 apiece. The pair has netted him $410 in eighteen months. The total amount of cost and feed in that time was $65, making a clear profit of $345, Tuolumne*County, Cal—Some attention is paid to crossing the common goat with the Angora. The grades are not sufficiently high for shearing, but there is great improve- inet in the fattening qualities and in the flavor of the meat. ‘The skins of three- quarter and seven-eighth grades make beautiful robes; livery-stable keepers are anxious to get them, and prefer them to any other robes, being handsomer and more durable. REMEDY FOR LEECHES IN THE LIVER OF SHEEP.—Our correspondent in Clackamas County, Oregon, having read the description of the symp- toms of leeches in the liver of sheep, as given by our correspondent in Lane County, and published on page 521 of the monthly reports for 1872, states that, fifteen to eighteen years ago, a disease prevailed among sheep in Clackamas County, of which the symptoms were in all respects the same, and it was ascertained that they originated in the same cause. The local name by which the disease was then known was “swelled jaw.” Hundreds upon hundreds of sheep died of it. After many inef- fectual experiments for remedies had been tried, a farmer disseeted one of the many sheep which had died out of bis flock and found its liver filled with leeches. Among other applications to the living leeches, he tried saleratus, and found that it killed them immediately. He then mixed saleratus with the salt given to the diseased sheep. They soon began to recover. Ina short time all were well. The news of the dis- covered remedy spread. Others tried it with equal success. Within a few months there were no sheep in the region affected with the disease, and since that time our correspondent has never heard of another case in the county. CROP PROSPECTS IN CALIFORNIA.—The following facts and prognosti- 197 cations are gathered from a communication of a correspondent in So- noma County. Hains sufficient to fit the ground for plowing and putting in grain fell early in November. The weather was delightful till past the middle of December, but about the time of the winter solstice abun-. dant rains fell, amounting for the season to 9.55 inches. Through Jan- uary the weather was clear and warm, and the farmers improved it to the utmost. .The breadth of grain sown in the State is probably larger than ever before. . That sown early, and all that sown by harvesting of last year, called “ volunteer crops,” looks very fine, standing from three to eight inches high and covering the ground well. The early rains reached all the valleys in the State, and the recent rains have been equally extensive, and have fallen to an average depth of two and a half inches. The maturing of the great body of crops seems to be already insured, even though there should be no further rains. Grass is well up, pastures are fine, and cattle and sheep are doing well. The pros- pect now is that the agricultural products of California for the coming season will be larger than ever before; the wheat-crop alone promises to reach 30,000,000 bushels. The lowest temperature during the winter was 234° above zero. Flowers and semi-tropical plants are in blossom, and all things conspire to make the season seem like one long and delightful spring. HILL-WHEAT.—Messrs. Murray, Davis & ©o., publishers of the Cin- cinnati Price Current, have furnished this Department with a sample of wheat known as the “hill-wheat,” in the Cincinnati market. It is grown principally in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Southern Illinois. Its name is supposed to have originated from the fact that it is mostly the product of the hilly districts of those States. It corresponds to the amber wheat of more northern latitudes, and ranks between the Medi- terranean or red wheat, and the choice white wheat. In the Saint Louis market it is quoted as No. 1 wheat. NEED OF MORAL EDUCATION IN ARKANSAS.—On page 513 of the monthly reports for 1872 there is a brief article in which are given the results of the different courses of agriculture pursued since the war by two planters of equivalent fortunes, residing in the same locality in Louisiana. The one had pursyed the ante-war method, and adhered to the culture of cotton alone, the other had recognized the new conditions consequent upon the war, and adopted the method of diversified agri- culture. It is represented that the results are altogether in favor of the latter. Our correspondent in Arkansas County, Arkansas, calls atten- tion to this representation, and wishes to give as the result of his own experience ‘the other side.” He says: When the war closed I also tried the diversified plan. I had eight acres in apples, pears, and plums ; twelve acres in peaches; a fair lot of improved hogs, and a nice lot of sheep. My apples are all stolen, so that I never have any to put up for winter. My hogs have long since been stolen. I have cut down my peach-orchard. If I plant a garden and have a nice lot of vegetables, they are all stolen. If I put up a nice crib of corn, the lock is forced and my corn is stolen. So I have come down to cotton and just enough corn to make my crop. Money can be made by that system if one only attends to his businessand doesn’t spend toomnch. Still, I will admit that the diversi- fied system is much better, and there is more money and more happiness in it; but there are some things people camnot do. The concluding statement, so far as it applies to the case in hand, seems to need qualifying thus: there are some things people cannot do until they have first done some other things. The difficulty which our correspondent found so trying that he was discouraged by itis one which exists in every section—North, Kast, and West, as well as South— DA 198 where the mental and moral education of any coiisiderable portion of the population is long neglected, and one which does not exist to such an extent as to be a serious hinderance to diversified agriculture and the plenty and happiness it brings in any section where free schools and churches, within the reach of ail, have been in operation long enough to produce their legitimate effects. AGRICULTURAL REPORTS OF ODESSA,—During 1572 the agricultural reports of Odessa, Russia, embraced 3,838,000 tschetwerts* of wheat; 363,600 of rye; 57,800 of maize; 315,250 of barley; 46,000 of oats; 13,050 of peas; 151,800 of linseed; 115,500 of rape and other seeds; 130,500 pouds of flour; 334,100 of wool; 40,600 of tallow. Compared with 1871, the wheat exports show an increase of 40,000 tschetwerts; peas, linseed, and other seeds also increase their aggregates. Rye, maize, barley, and oats, however, fell off heavily, especially maize, which indi- cates a loss of 358,200 tschetwerts. Flour exports more than doubled, while wool and tallow show very large increments. During the year 541 sail-vessels and 504 steamers cleared from the port with freight. The sail-vessels have declined in number from 996 in 1870 and 797 in 1871. The steamers, on the contrary, enlarged from 300 in 1870, and 425 in 1871. Of the sail-vessels, the larger number—191—were Italian ; of the steamers, the greater number—270—were English. Only 41 sail- vessels and 120 steamers were Russian. FARM STOCK AND PRODUCTS IN NEW MExIco.—An occasional cor- respondent, writing from Colfax County, New Mexico, January 25, 1873, gives some agricultural information gained through his own observation and experience during a year’s residence. he winter of 1871-72 was considered a very severe one. All kinds of stock, except those housed -and fed, which were few and far between, suffered greatly. In April it seemed as though all would die, but, though cold and hunger had con- sumed everything except “‘ skin and bones,” the most of them survived. The hard winter was followed by a drought which continued till late in the summer; but then, in consequence of frequent and abundant rains, grass became plentiful and luxuriant, and in the fall cattle had become so fat that it would do one good to look at them. This winter, thus far, there has been little wind, no snow, and generally mild and pleasant weather, very different from the severely’ cold weather which has pre- vailed in the States and in the Territories north. Our correspondent resides on high land near the Montezuma and Aztec mines, and in that neighborhood cattle are wintering well, steers and barren cows being still fat enough for good beef. Cattle and sheep in the lower valleys are also now in fine condition. But, as few stock-raisers make any pro- visien for sheltering or feeding their flocks and herds, should the latter part of the winter bring snow-storms and cold, high winds, if they do not perish, they will again come out in the spring reduced to “‘skin and bones. The writer houses his milch-cows and feeds them on Hungarian hay at night, letting them run out in the day-time. . For his other stock he has built stables and sheds as shelters in time of storms and cold winds, and in spells of severe cold he feeds them on oat-straw. Thus protected from suffering, he is confident they will come out in spring almost as fat and sleek as they were in the autumn. { As to the state and style of agricultural industry, he represents that you have but to think of its condition in Mexico one or two hundred years ago, and you get a pretty correct idea of what it is now in New Mexico. Nevertheless, as one bushel of grain will go about as far there in feeding stock as three will in the States, and as corn and oats are * A tschetwert is 5.95205 bushels. 199 worth in money about three times as much as in the States, it is thought that, in view of the limited amount of means, intelligence, and induas- try invested, the husbandman is there abundantly rewarded. Besides cereals, beans, pease, most varieties of cabbage and root-crops, and other garden-vegetables thrive and grow to great perfection. It is alleged by our correspondent that Colfax County is cursed with a “ land-grant,” made to Beauvian and Maranda, and subsequently sold by L. B. Maxwell to an English company, who claim under it almost the whole county. Until recently settlers have respected their claim, but now, under the current belief that itis extended far beyond the original grant, they are “ settling all over the county.” FARMERS IN COUNCIL.—The farmers of Montgomery County, Mary- land, recently held a convention at Sandy Spring, at which some agri- cultural topics of practical importance were discussed and acted on. One was whether any means could be devised by which the several farmer’s clubs in the county can carry on, in concert, a series of agricul- tural experiments so as to secure a comparison of definite results... The discussion led to the raising of a committee charged with the duty of making further investigation of the subject. A comparison of views on the question whether the epizooty has left horses enfeebled, resulted in a general conclusion that horses which were overworked or unduly exposed while the disease was upon them, if not permanently injured, were at least left in a delicate condition, and that hence all should treat them with due care and avoid overtaxing them. Mr. William J. Scofield presented a written statement of his dairy operations for the past year. He reported a herd of nine cows, and, reckoning from January 1, 1872, to January 1, 1873, an average of 200 pounds of butter per cow. This was sold at 43 cents per pound, amounting to $774, of which he reck- oned $650 as profit. Attention being called to the fact that in Mary- land the legal weight for a bushel of oats is 26 pounds, while in the District of Columbia it is 32 pounds, a committee was appointed to bring the matter before the District legislature and endeavor to effect a change. It would seem that the application is to be made to the wrong legislature, since 52 pounds is the prevailing weight in the United States; out of thirty States in which the weight per bushel of oats is fixed by law, it is 32 pounds in eighteen, 30 in five, 35 in two, and 26, 28, 334, 34, 35, and 36 in many single States. A RECORD OF COST AND PROFIT ON FARM PRODUCTS.—Mr. Fargo, secretary of the Batavia Farmers’ Club, Genesee County, New York, kept, in 1872, a careful account of each item of expense in raising his farm-crops. The record, with the results, is here given : | Expense per acre. Proceeds per acre. ' nD | Q [ta | | ¢ | & | & $ } ow > = = SAE | 8 | oe 3 = es | = 5 ; g a | & | 4 < ; 6 2 < < a8 io Hd) ce a s 43 = 3 5 S Se ee En ° 2 a H | nm 4 = n | eS A Ori! Se Eee $3 12 | $10 28 $1 25 $7 47 | $22 12 | $6 25 | $19 00 | $25 25 $3 13 AUOTae ec eee = 8 os eS peas 13 59 25 747 | 2756); 10 60 PAT 32°78 5 22 Watainiede sss. 5.2 os. 24/52 bows =e 16 70 4 62 Cet sa Ce a 58 66 | 58 66 29 87 Tai ii As 2S ee ey (ete ears = 110 00 5 00 14 94 | 129 94 Ee Beem | 250 00 | 250 00 120 06 RHIOVGRSe~ Jos 2 22h 5. Lain chap oat ieprere DOMES 2302 S25 7 47 i2 47 30: OO} 225 522 30 00 17 53 | 200 The expense per bushel was, oats, 40 cents; corn, 44; potatoes, 20; roots, 13; the profit per bushel, oats, 6 cents; corn, 16; potatoes, 20: roots, 12; the average profit per acre, about $11.11; ; total profit, $546. 49: the total of acres cultivated, 491. PROFIT IN FEEDING SHEEP.—At a recent meeting of the Farmers’ Club in Batavia, Genesee County, New York, Mr. George Burt pre- sented the following definite statistics relative to the cost and profit of feeding sheep for market: He paid for 200 sheep for fattening, $915; for keep, two months, £64; 8 tons of hay, at $16 per ton, $120; 4 loads of corn-stalks, $16; 148 bushels of corn, 60 cents per bushel, $88.80 ; one barrel of salt, $3; interest on money invested, $20. 75s total $1,227.55. January ‘A, ‘he sold 171 sheep, at 8 cents per pound, $1, 522.405 28, at 64 cents per pound, $181.79; one pelt, $1.50; total, $1, 705. 69; protit on the 200 sheep, $478. 14. Mr. Burt holds that sheep, in winter, should be kept in small flocks, less, rather than more, than 65 in a flock, in yards where they can have free access, at all times, to water; that they should be kept free from all disturbing or exciting causes; that open sheds are better for them than a close barn ; and that it is best to feed grain to them whole. YIELD IN PENNSYLVANIA.—The reports of the several members of the Brady Agricultural Society, Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, make the average yield of the section represented by them to be as follows: wheat, per acre, 133 bushels; corn in the ear, 871; oats, 362; potatoes, 611; clov er-seed, 1; hay, 14 tons. The highest yields per acre reported were, wheat, 24 bushels ; ; corn in the ear, 133; oats, 46. MAD DOGS IN TENNESSEE.—A recent report from our correspondent in Sevier County, Tennessee, represents that the object of greatest dread in that county was mad dogs, of which more than twenty had been killed within the previous two weeks. There had, as yet, been no human victim, but many hogs and some oxen and cows had been bitten and gone mad. AGRICULTURAL FEATURES IN KANSAS.—Our correspondent in Chase County, Kansas, sends us a description of the geographical features, soil, climate, and productions of that county, of which the following is a condensation: In the valleys, which abound, the soil is a black loam from 3 to 30 feet deep. The upland is all covered with limestone soil from 1 to 3 feet deep. Along the streams there is timber varying from a mere border to belts half a mile in width. The varieties include burr- oak, walnut, hickory, white and red elm, cottonwood, mulberry, honey- locust, sycamore, box-elder, willow, &c. On the upland there is no tim- ber; except in the bottoms, limestone extends all over the country. AS the land rises from the valleys it crops out at different levels in three ranges of ledges. Above a certain height stones disappear, but there is scarcely a location where the finest stone for building cannot be found within the distance ofa mile. In the western part of the county gypsum is found. According to statistics, less rain falls here than farther east, but the most of that ; which does fail comes during the growing season, June being the rainy and August the dry month. There is scarcely any rain, and but little snow, in winter. The water from wells, which average about 30 feet in depth, is excellent. This is probably the best-watered county in the State. The Cottonwood River, running very nearly through the center of the county, averages 100 feet in width, (banks about 30 feet high,) and this main artery is fed by almost innumerable smaller streams on either side. 201 Following a wet season there is some fever and agne; but, as wells are dug (affording pure water) and better houses are built, it decreases. Improved land sells at $16 to $25 per acre ; unimproved at $4 to $10; choice lots as high as $15. Probably not more than one-twentieth is improved ; the remainder is nearly all owned by railroads and non- residents. The number of inhabitants is about 3,000, and the Gulf States are the only ones not represented by the settlers. The soil and climate are adapted to all productions cultivated in the same latitude at the East, but especially to wheat. With fair cultiva- tion, in a good season, it is no uncommon thing for fall-wheat to yield 40 bushels per acre; as many as 50 per acre have been raised here ; but the average would probably fall to 25, or, it may be, 20. The best grass is called blue-stem; a blue-joint grows in the bottoms tall enough to hit in the face one who is riding through it on horseback. In good seasons it will cut three tons to the acre; average, two tons. The leading pro- ductions are cattle, horses, and wheat, cattle predominating. The prin- cipal varieties of fruit raised are apples, peaches, grapes, and the various small fruits. PROGRESS IN TEXAS.—A casual correspondent in Washington County, Texas, writing January 16, reports that in that section there has been an unusual amount of moderately cold weather, but no snow or sleet ; that winter rains have been abundant, but not excessive; that stock is coming through the winter in fine condition for spring work, and that the ground is in fine condition for plowing. He states that in each of the years 1871 and 1872 it is estimated that Washington County pro- duced, in addition to an abundant supply of corn, 30,000 bales of cot- ton. He adds: “There has been a heavy immigration to our county, and farmers have obtained labor more readily this year than any other since emancipation. Land is advancing in price, and there will be an increase of 10 per cent. in the quantity in cultivation in 1873 over that in 1872. The bulk of this will be planted in our great staples, corn and cotton.” NEED OF A NEW SYSTEM OF STOCK-RAISING IN TEXAS.—The following statements are condensed from a report of our correspond- ent in Nueces County: The severe drought last summer left the older stock mere walking shadows, and the younger not much better. The cold weather began early in November and continued through Decem- ber, except that for about fifteen days either heavy or drizzling rains fell. This long spell of severe weather occasioned the death of thou- sands of cattle, and should there be another cold spell the mortality must be still greater. An extensive cattle-raiser states that there are now on the range thousands of cattle which have not strength enough left to travel five miles. If the prevailing system in this county of rais- ing cattle is not changed they will all die out within a few years. The county is now increasing in population; settlements are springing up all over it, and the farmers are endeavoring to protect themselves against the encroachments of cattle-raisers. Many of the latter own but few acres of land, and yet keep from ten to twenty thousand head of cattle, which they permit to roam at will. This, of course, occasions great dis- satisfaction, and results in great evil. It is hoped that the State legis- lature will soon provide an effectual remedy. How TO SUCCEED IN RAISING MELONS AND CUCUMBERS.—A Cor- respondent in Oswego County, New York, describes a process by which, even in that climate, be has “splendid successin raising melons.” The description is somewhat lengthy; but as its length results from its 202 exactness, we will let him convey to the reader all the particulars, with- out condensation. He says: Soon as the ground becomes a little warm I plow, and then, selecting a place where the ground is sandy, I dig holes about 20 inches in diameter and 14 to 16 inches deep. Have the holes about 6 feet apart each way. Leave them open a day or two to allow the ground to warm at the bottom; then put into each hole nearly a half-bushel or manure—fresh horse-manure preferred. Stamp down the manure, cover it with the dirt dug ont, about 24 inches deep, and pat down with the hoe. The hill will now be quite dishing, say 4 inches or more. Now I place near my melon-patch a cask, into which I put a small wheelbarrow load of fresh cow-dropping and a.couple of shovel- fuls of night-soil. Into this cask I put the soap-suds and keep it full. If the weatheris dry I occasionally moisten the hills from the cask; evening is the best time. About the 20th of May I cut up a thin, tough sod and place it, grass side down, in an old tin-pan, and sprinkle about half an inch in depth of fine sandy loam uponit. On this I put my seeds, very thick; then put upon these another sod, as large as the pan, grass side up. Upon this I pour a teakettle-full of boiting-hot water and set the pan near a stove, where it will keep warm. Each morning I pour on a little more hot water. In about three days the seeds will have sprouts about half an inchlong. Now remove the upper sod, shake the pan a little, and the seeds will rise from the fine dirt put upon the lower sod. Put twelve or fifteen seeds in each hill after slightly scratching the dirt. Handle the seeds carefully, so as not to break the sprouts. Cover about three-quarters of an inch with dirt. By taking this course your vines will in two weeks be as far advanced as they would be in four or five planted in the usual way. Let the weeds grow in and about the hill as a protection from bugs and worms. The vines will grow rapidly, and of course somewhat tall and spindling. If the weather is dry, moisten from the cask two or three times a week, always at evening. This will keep the manure moist and in a state of fermentation, causing considerable heat. When the vines have grown about four inches high remove the longest weeds and perhaps some of the vines, and fill in with dirt nearly up to the leaves. By and by, in a moist day, remove the weeds from the hill, leaving them growing around the borders. Thin out the vines to five or six, leaving some for the worms. Keep the dirt well up to the leaves. Your hill will now be nearly level. Finally, thin out to three or four of the most thrifty vines. Remember the cask. Take away the old dirt with your fingers and add fresh dirt two or three times a week. © The hill will soon become crowning. Make asmall ditch around the hills, say two inches deep, and fill this occasionally with suds from the cask. After the vines nearly cover the ground, and the melons are well set and of pretty good size, cut off the ends of the vines. In this way the melons will grow much larger. I raise as large and fine melons here in Amboy, Oswego County, (on the eastern border of Lake Ontario,) as I ever saw on Long Island or anywhere else. It of course demands labor and care; but let any one try this plan and he will find his efforts amply rewarded. I follow the same rule with cucumbers as with melons. WHEAT AND CORN PRODUCTS OF CASS CouNTY, lowA.—The seere- tary of the Cass County Agricultural Society reports: The Arnautka wheat is a bard, flinty variety. It has been raised in this county two years; is a prolific yielder, but of inferior quality, being so hard that it is impossible to make choice flour out of it. It is only worth 75 cents per bushel in this market, where wheat like the Oran from $1 to $1.10 per bushel. Our best wheat is Australian and soft Siberian. The Australian is a soft, choice wheat, and yielded as high as 40 bushels per acre last season. This is a good wheat county. Of the crop of 1872, up to present date, there have been shipped from this point, Atlantic, over 200,000 bushels, at an average price of $1 per bushel. Of cornthere are cribbed in this place 100,000 bushels ; 50,000 bushels have been shipped, and only a small part is in as yet. All has been bought at 15 cents per bushel. It is now worth 17 cents. EXHAUSTED SOILS RENOVATED WITH COTTON-STALKS.—Our Cor- respondent in Murray County, Georgia, writes: The raising of corn, wheat, and stock for the use of the farm, and, beyond that, eot- ton, is certainly the true policy for the farmers of this county. Cotton pays better than any other crop, but not well enough to justify one in raising it altogether and buying his own provisions. An expériment came under my observation which proves that cotton, so far from exhausting the soil, is a great renovator when properly man- aged. My son-in-law took two acres of old, worn-out, completely exhausted land, four years ago, and planted it in cotton. Each winter, after the stalks had become tender, he took a stick and beat them in pieces; then run a long bull-tongue plow, as deep as 203 a strong mule could pull it, under the roots of the old stalks, and with a one-horse turning-plow threw all the old bolls and stalks on the ridge. Tais he did each year, and did not suffer any stock whatever to go on the lot. The crop nearly doubled itself each year; the first year if made 350 pounds of seed: cotton, the last 2,200 pounds. No manure whatever was used. ‘ GRAPE-CULTURE IN OREGON.—A correspondent in Jackson County, which borders on California, reports that in that section experiments in grape-culture have proved entirely successful. That county already manufactures most of its wine for home-consumption, and those regarded as good judges of wine pronounce the quality excellent. As a result of this successful trial, several vineyards have been greatly enlarged this season. AVERAGE’ YIELDS IN ILLINOIS.—The secretary of the Butler Agri- cultural Club in Montgomery County, Lllinois, reports that the members raised, in 1872, products as follows: Total acres of wheat, 465; product, 6,304 bushels ; average yield, 134 bushels per acre. Acres of corn, 708; product, 30,745 bushels; average per acre, 43$ bushels. Acres of oats, 326; product, 16,400 bushels ; average per acre, 50,4, bushels. Acres of meadow, 342; product, 5485 tons; average per acre, 12 tons. Acres of Hungarian grass, 15; product, 25 tons; average per acre, 12 tons. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OF SANTA CrRUz.—The island of Santa Cruz (under the jurisdiction of Denmark) has an area of about sixty square miles, and, according to a census taken in 1870, a population of 23,194, in which there were 1,022 more females than males. The surface of the island, which has scarcely a running stream, is generally elevated and rolling, in some parts mountainous. Its scenery is represented to be charmingly picturesque and fascinating, and its highways, kept in perfect order, to be almost equal in attractions to the drives in the Central Park of New York. Its agricultural industry is almost wholly limited to the production of sugar, molasses, and rum from cane. It is estimated that at least four-fifths of the provisions, lumber, and implements of culture and manufacture for the supply of the plantations are imported from the United States, while by far the largest portions of the molasses and rum produced are exported to the United States. The sugar is chiefly ex- ported to Denmark. The crop of sugar in 1871, amounting to 16,000 hogs- heads, was much larger than had been produced for many years previous. The exports of the island, for the year ending September 30, 1871, were 23,618,873 pounds of sugar, of which the value was $1,136,564.79; 1,054,568 gallons of molasses, value, $243,394.83; and 358,894 gallons of rum, value, $78,602.95. The total value of its exports to the United States for the same year was $334,336.42, which was $433,389.99 in excess of the value of its exports to this country the preceding year. MARKET PRICES OF FARM-PRODUCTS. 204 APRIL, 1873. The following quotations represent the state ef themarket, as nearly as practicable, at the be ginning em thé month. Articles. Price. Articles. Price. NEW YORK. Boston—Continued. | Flour, superfine State...per bbl.| $6 15 to $6 75 | Cheese, N. Y. and Vt. factory, extra State .... ..... do...| 700 to 835 | _per pound.-----.-..... $0 12 to $0 17 superfine western ...do...| 590 to 6 65: N. ¥. and Vt. dairy, extra to choice western, | per pound, -/--05-- eee 11 to 16 [De 1)? ude) RS eee 6 90 to 12 75 Ohio factory, good to southern shipping, com- } choice ....---- 5. per lb. 13 to 16 mon to choice .-per bbl.| 610 to 8 25 | Cotton, ordinary to good ordi- southern family, ordinary TD Ae ae er Ib. 14 to 17%, - to choice ......-. per bbl.| 8 40 to 12 75 low middling to good Wheat, No. 1 spring -. -per bush.| 175 to 1 80 middling ..-.... per Ib 19 to 224 NOS eS SPIED eo 5 ~ do..-| 1.59 to +169 || Mopaecomlucs .-..........-- do. 83 to 10 winter, red, west’n. .do.. 170 to 1 87 common to medium winter, amber, western, HOE. - 2 eats per lb 93 to 10% per bushel ee RIS 180 to 1 974 | Wool, Ohio and Pa . sea doe 50 to 62 winter, white, western, Michigan ...... -...- do. . 50 to 55 ‘ Men pushel +. 25522 — Wc 185 to 225 | other western ......- do. - 48 to 55. LEN Oncoced eae per bush. | 88 to —— | Toe GY ee ee do.- 20 to 50 LE Gy 433552 eee do..-| 115 to 119) combing fleece --....- do. 60 to 65 Cin 2225 nee do..-| 64 to 79 || California .....2.55.. do 18 to” 735 C209) 3253.28 oee eee dove: 454 to 55 || encase eer eee do. 18 to 30 Hay, timothy, fair to choice, per TOS =e 24 00 to 30 00 PHILADELPHIA. shipping grades....per ton.) 20 00 to — — Pork, mess .-----.....-.- per bbl.| 16 50 to 16 75 || Plonr, superfine......... per bbl.| 500 to 5 50 extra prime:...... ..- do...) — — to 13 50 | Pitextra:.<) ae 213 Condition of wheat June 1, 1873. Winter-wheat. Spring-wheat. Buea veape. Roe > ma. SYA =e States. e Sp s 4 ep a ES | 2 E 2 Ep OR | Vo| oR | OF | OH] ON ee ae BP Se reais ae | Ga|/8aj a aa ° 35 5 5) 5 ) oO iS) 2) 2) 1) oO a | | AVICEUTT EE slater eats te nce ote RNa et tate ce wm cle acinw w a ee era ot 1 Ou homes 1 4 s New Hampshire - pt eae | 1 ess | 2 Vermont. 225-5... em 1 1 2 4 4 MPN ODIO DES et ete ciainets wie oe ee iaellcsiee oils ac. 2 = > - Sees Seta 1 2 1 1 | 1 L DRIVE EUS melee pte esa ie et eae diate aia, ca wc: ia 3 = = = PRCe terete ele ia fie aia fc 1S Hote eect] arm aot Ei take cates (RS re eee ee Gare enka ty Gt Ne oe Ee ee ee 2 Qi lhe ace 1 Lees Nee MONK Sa seeeeteerincs Se cinee ise set scicine «ttn sek. eee 5 13; 12 1 8 10 BMG Wy OING Vila cmc eiaciae siesaterseinleacriddicaceclein cat oo. anne eects 2 3 | Sy eee ieee |e eee Pennsylvania RRs ne anata Stine de aoe eck se +o eR ee 22 En eek 1 3 6 DOL WAT Rete ee rath at Nec eC Oh tadec cases occs.. eee meee ane 1 Ai. ory Dee apse lia se ERE Aibnny eiadl oo .cepasc ons ancet ace seo SSS SRC SEP EBBESeogeS ocececcaaee 5 3 LON eee enc ysale tris AViHeiit deceit odeeeck seeknd peer deetder Ho cee nee OeeEe’ «<. scbececaa il 10} 43 |.-.-.-].---. 222, Be ondls (CES LOC ke Aneta SCPE eee eee eee ee eens. 6 sole Ue es 4 9 EAI] eee eee neal ete SOriNTO (CANS CHO A ae ees Se a aay Ress ae 1 5 | ve) Peete de Renee Seat eds bn CKEOTR ENG yy SU ee et BRS see Ree O eee eee a ee, «5 Cees Sei 9 ae epee 2! 2 4 JPL, CODES SAE ABS OF oR OD RORNSe Neer ae Eafe sel aR SP een (OE ee | ee hes nok e lene seis Ls ous See A IGT PTE, gee OE ee Ree es ne ee aa. OE Sone ah ee 1 (Tt eee 5 eee ieee a TD 9 Mississippi -.---- - BEGAN ROE SAGE OO LO CS Ho P OEE 6 Sonn oe eee a! 1 SM esis se aa ene oe SUTGNGES Rell Ae ee tet tars dren oe ene tteltsoii= celal += 2 - geen icinek Ie saealcen oe [iateiees, a 3'((amhal ofan ees USES 2 Seat 3 An ne Oy ee eS Th Eee [oo rae JO BARES 6 4a AOE eee Er eE ES Soc CSCS ESE ae eae er Pee Rate il 5 Be eee) ese eee be Se = LULA GIEISTEYS) Cle pe an eh ae Ec Sy ene tS ee 8 ian ae. Sel meee eve] oe ANGER) abd Or 0 eee a Ae Re reieteare e A O ,rs ah 10 Qa) Ube ak Eee ee re Kentucky. Pode citbesrcupcig6 VoSee Jos ce Se ps Obe ME REE EEE om deaceease 4 10 DO!) | ote emia eee ‘DLE: - ete Re AoA a ae CS ee ee ae rrr 2S” Wee TG 10 Fee eel 33 erro 4 2 VOC OMe teams Sete a totem Gr sais whic oon a so s See 6 4 his 220 1 8 6 “A TS a yaa pia i eee eh SS 8 DANS POST Beane ae et LUNN) So) ra aia OE ID Re he No ui LOM 9 825 13 | 9 8 AUIATSCEE ray Sia hs Bede Se GAS 9 Pe Ce ee a ee y= 2 Ahi) 14, 10 10 BY 3 EMOTO lates ratte tals «ieee ria ee fale claro), ain = = os = 1 2 5 Sit, 4 ON S22. 0552 G56 oa See SAE COC eer CC EE OFC ie am ps a eh = ES PN ie oS 9 22! 18 8 Enlai tebe MEO p6ie Tt UE Se eS Ce Oe ene 2 SE Oe 23 Lah 487 Shy a 2 RGN BAB) Sc let Sol a5 3 ee Ae Saute ce Oeste tel aa = & «= dune Meets 17 10 | 8 17 14 B. IO TEITGIEE) ag RAE ERE Ge CBS eee SOE ie ae at te ele 20) 3 UM 3 8 4 2 @alitorniauid 5592) fn Rete a Eee here cic an « ee ene el a Ly | 11 2 2 5 ONE oc. ge nS ASRS GO SEES eRe EEE EEE Cnet een ble on 6 1 ae 4 1 2 TST a2 ae Seon hte ate Go SU ee Bae Heo -O a ReBREe BE BIGon] mer 202 | 168 | 381) 103} 115 68 | | In June, 1872, the indications of the wheat-yield of the United States pointed to an aggregate of 220,000,000 bushels. The final estimates for that year, prepared for the annual report, as yet unpublished, amounted to 249,997,000 bushels, the subsequent conditions of growth being more favorable than they appeared just before harvest. This aggregate was but 11,000,000 below the extraordinary yield of 1869. The acreage of wheat reported i is largely in excess of last year. Of winter and spring wheat combined, 340 counties report an acreage equal to last year’s, 360 an increased, and 258 a decreased acreage. West Virginia are below. North of Ohio River the reports of winter- wheat are below average; Ohio shows 10 counties above average against 13 below; Michigan 6 above and 21 below; Indiana 8 above and 25 be- low ; Illinois 7 above and 25 below; Wisconsin 2 above and 14 below. In spring-wheat, however, these States present a much more promising prospect. Iminois shows 15 counties above to 8 below; Wisconsin 10 above to 7 below. West of the Mississippi, Minnesota presents in spring-wheat 8 coun- ties above average to 4 below; Lowa, 22 to 8; Missouri, 8 to 2; Kansas, 17 to 2; Nebraska, 8 to 2. In winter-wheat these States show 45 coun ties above average to 44 below, with a large proportion of full average — counties. On the Pacifie coast, California reports 7 counties above and 16 counties below average; Oregon 10 above against only 2 below. Matne.— York; Wheat looks well. * Connecticut.—Hariford: Covered with snow all winter; it came ont good. . New Yorx.—Livingston: Looking very poor. The winter was long and cold, with but little snow; badly winter-killed. JVyoming: Has improved very much in tke last ten days. Genesee: Injured when spring opened; weather unfavorable since. Ontario : Badly winter-killed. New Jrersey.— Warren: Very promising. ; PENNSYLVANIA.—Clinton: Very promising. Westmoreland: Much winter-killed; growth very uneven. Washington: Winter-killed to some extent, but early rains pushed it forward, causing it to stool much better than for several years. Union: Win- ter-wheat looks splendid. Montgomery: Very promising. Chester: Doing well wherever there is a good stand. Berks: Looks remarkably well. Bucks: Looking un- usually well. Northumberland: Looks unusually fine. Lancaster: Prospect for a good crop all over the county. Cambria: Beginning to show well. Spring-wheat very backward on account of the cold, wet spring. Lycoming: Looking remarkably well. Greene: Winter very hard on wheat. Spring favorable. Fulton: Very seriously in- jured by the fly, which has not been so bad for many years. DELAWARE.— Sussex: Quantity sown very smail; no spring-wheat. Kent: Badly winter-killed on low ground; looks well on land thoroughly drained; complaint of fnjury from the fly in some parts of the county. MARYLAND.—Saint Mary’s: The late May rains have greatly improved the prospect of wheat. Howard: Promises an average crop. Washington: Was very promising until within the last eight or ten days. The fly and joint-worm are now making great de- struction. Caroline: Looking well except on low and wet land, where itis very badly winter-killed. Drilled wheat stood the winter better than that sown broadeast. The new red wheat from the Department very promising. Fultz wheat looking well, The- winter hurt the Touzelle considerably. The Russian bearded white wheat (the second year from the Department) promises to be a great acquisition ; it is quite hardy, standing the winter as well as any other variety. altimore : Crop presents a luxuri- ant appearance; slight injuries by the fly on late-sowed fields. Cecil: In many fields thin, bué growing finely. Queen Anne: Winter-wheat now in bloom; heavy growth of straw, and promise of fine yield. . VirGinia.— Botetourt: Now looking well, but much of it winter-killed. Powhatan: Many complaints of fly in wheat; high lands will probably produce an average ; low lands fall short. Spottsylvania: The crop has continued to improve; the plants very strong and healthy. Pulaski: Improving rapidly, bunt cannot make over one-third of acrop. Fluranna: Has sufiered great injury from winter-killing, also from spring-fly ; 915 ' some early-sown very good, but general average bad. Caroline: Notwithstanding the severe winter, the Fultz and the Touzelle wheat promise a good yield. Hanover: The last winter was severe on our wioter-wheat; consequently its condition is inferior to that of the former crop. Lunenburg: Prospect fair for an average crop. Montgomery: On northwestern exposures wheat was badly injured by extreme freezes in the latter part of winter—large bodies entirely killed; the cool, wet spring has been favorable, and the crop remaining improves beyond expectation. Madison: Improves since the last report, but looking badly still; much complaint of the fly. Orange: The cold, wet _ spring retarded the growth so as to afford every opportunity for depredation to the fly, which has been more destructive than for many years; the severe freeze in the early part of March also greatly thinned the plants. Cumberland: Looking badly; much of it winter-killed. Culpeper: Very much injured by fly and severe winter. Fultz wheat superior to any other variety. Greeneville: Only half a stand of wheat at the opening of spring, and now some fields are badly struck with rust; some drilled fields are looking well. Halifax: The Fultz wheat from the Department succeeds ad- mirably ; it is by far the best of all kinds, being early, hardy, and very prolific. King George: Has improved with refreshing rains, but many thin and bare spots remain; some reduced by fly. Nelson: Has improved very much since the Ist of May, but in some localities is now giving way rapidly to the ravages of the Hessian fly. Clarke: Prospect has improved very much since last report, and, although the severe winter and Hessian fly will prevent a full average crop, it will be better than that: of last year. Henrico: Crop short—fully one-tenth. Loudoun: General complaint of fly in wheat. Nansemond: Considerably less wheat sown; many going into cotton. Page: The failure of our wheat-erop is owing in part to early sowing, it being very dry and warm in September; this gave the fly every advantage ; it continued to work during the fall. Prince George: Rust has appeared on the blades, which must reduce the yield 15 per cent. Rockingham: Badly crippled by the fly and injured by the winter; cannot make a half-crop. Washington: Badly winter-killed. Mecklenburg: Ou the river-bottoms has been destroyed by freshets; on the high lands indifferent. Grayson: The hard freeze the Ist of March killed a large per cent. of the wheat ; the favorable weather since is improving it very much. Alexandria: Considerably winter-killed; the frequent rains this spring have brought it out wonderfully; now remarkably good where there is a stand. Chesterfield: Injured to some extent by the continued rains of May. Highland: Greatly injured by winter- freezing. Lancaster: Looks remarkably well; norust. Westmoreland: On well-drained upland winter-wheat above average; on low grounds and river-bottoms much winter- killed; rust has appeared on the blade, but not on the stalk; seems to be filling well; will be harvested by the middle of June. NortH Carouina.—WMitchell: The Touzelle furnished by the Department is almost an entire failure; the Teppahannock looks better than any other variety. Lincoln: A severe frost on the 24th and 25th of April injured the wheat-crop. Cherokee: Froze out last winter worse than heretofore. Davie: Damaged by frost in April, and by wet in May; will not make more than three-fourths of a crop. Hartford: Bids fair to make 1a good crop. Haywood: Wheat winter-killed badly. Rowan: In low grounds badly damaged by high water. Caldwell: A large proportion of the crop destroyed by being winter-killed. Ashe: Badly injured by the winter freeze.. Anson: Injured seriously by the wet spring. Greene: The extremely cold winter, cold, wet spring, and heavy rains have made the crop a failure. Union: Dry weather and heavy frost ‘the last of April injured the wheat. Polk: The quality promising, but generally thin on the ground. Montgomery: Badly’damaged by the frost April 26; also by the late heavy rains and freshets. SoutH CaroLina.—Greenville: Wheat sown late last fall failed very much; that sown the first week in October will make a good crop. The straw isshort. York: Suf- fered greatly from the intensely cold and variable weather of last winter. Where the stands are full, the crop is nevertheless a failure. Union : Now turning, and will be ready to reap by the 12th instant. GrorGiIsA.— Madison: Thin and sorry. Marion: Clearer from rust than for many years. The Tappahannock wheat from the Department is doing well. The Touzelle : does not suit this climate; is not worth gathering. Floyd: Badly winter-killed, thin, and low. Cobb: Crop very unpromising, owing to winter-killing and excessive rains. Murray: Worse winter-killed than I ever saw it before. Jackson: Killed out during the winter; poor stand and bad condition. Swmter: The Tappahannock wheat prom- ises well. The Touzelle so far is extraordinarily fine—ahead of any wheat ever grown in this county. FLoriwa.—Jackson : The plant has matured fully, developing a fine, full, heavy head ALABAMA.—Saint Clair: The Tappahannock wheat grows finely here. I think it is the wheat for the South. Blount: Prospect worse than for many years; stand thin straw short; two’ weeks later than usual, and therefore much danger of rust. Calhoun: Much later than usual; now beginning to ripen. Randolph: The Tappahannock, Red England, and Arnautka wheat the best in the county. ' 216 Misstssrppi1.—Dooly: Very fine. Granada: Considerably damaged by late excessive rains, resulting in rust. : ; Texas.—Blanco: The crop, which was more promising than in any previous year, now entirely destroyed by late frosts and grasshoppers. Bosque: Badly damaged by frost on the 26th of March. Hays: The small quantity sown has been destroyed by grasshoppers Grayson: The prospect poor before the hail-storm, May 16, which de- stroyed at least one-fourth the crop. Palo Pinto: Greatly damaged by grasshoppers ; in fact, almost totally destroyed. Titus: Was supposed to be damaged by late freeze, but those who pastured late have a fine prospect for a heavy crop. Dallas : Our farm- ers are just beginning to harvest their wheat,and the yield will be above average. San Saba: The grasshoppers have destroyed the wheat, Coryell: The 1st of March, wheat promised a splendid yield, but on the 18th there came a terrible freeze, which killed almost everything green. Farmers think they will have something over half a crop. Burnet: Injured by frosts and grasshoppers. McLennan: Now being harvested. Medina: Winter and spring wheat entirely destroyed by grasshoppers; not a bushel will be raised in the county. Hunt: Prospects injured by continued heavy rains from — the 17th to the 28th of May. Williamson: Promises better than average. Gilmer: In- jured by drought. TENNESSEE.—Anderson : One-fourth of the wheat froze out. Loudon: Have never seen so poor a prospect. Sumner: Crop promises well. Smith: Prospect has wonder- fully improved within the month. Jefferson: Injured by freezing and wet weather; thin and short stems. Montgomery: Freezing out and late planting make a very thin stand. It is taking rust everywhere. Fultz wheat stood the winter well, and prom- ises well. Greene: Much frozen out after winter closed, and otherwise unpromising. Marion ; Crop worse than ever known. Humphreys: Much killed out by winter-freezes and high water. Gibson: Favorable season for wheat. Giles: Rather thin on the ground, but doing well. Grainger: A failure. Hancock: Considerably winter-killed. West VirGinia.—Mercer: Winter-wheat badly frozen; crop cannot be anything like an average. Jackson: Winter-wheat badly frozen, but improving under the wet and cloudy spring. Braxton: Winter hard on all varieties except the Fultz, which stands remarkably well; prospects now encouraging. Nicholas: Wheat looks well. Pendleton: Fine weather bringing out the small grain. Monroe: Frozen out. Tyler : Much injured by frost. Mineral: Badly frozen out. Harrison: Badly winter- killed. Pocahontas: Winter-wheat fine on uplands. Kentrucky.—Shelby : Winter-wheat badly frozen out; looks well, though thin on the ground. Laurel: Wheat largely winter-killed; what is left looks well. Taylor: Wheat badly winter-killed. Fayette: Thin,but healthy. Hardin: Looks badly; heading low. Lincoln: No improvement. Graves: Damaged 25 per cent. by wet. Edmonson: Badly winter-killed in many places: Nicholas: Winter-wheat looks badly ; thin-on the ground, and liable to rust; cannot be more than half a crop; no spring- wheat sown. Ont0.—Gallia: Bad stand generally, but some very good; considerable lodging. Jackson: Never looked better. Athens: Short erop of winter-wheat sown on account of dry fall; crop now promising. Warren: Grains excellent. Carroll: Wheat better than was expected. Sandusky: Winter-wheat badly injured by wet spring. Adams: Wheat has thickened up very rapidly, and is now heading out. MicuiGan.—Kalamazoo: Winter-wheat badly frozen out; what escaped is nearly average. Branch: Wheat not doing well; not over three-fourths of a crop; harvest will be twenty days late. Genesee: Decreased acreage of spring-wheat. Oakland: Wheat growing well, but does not realize expectations. Calhoun: Looks well where not winter-killed. Washtenaw: Below average. Barry: Wheat severely frozen. Cass: Many patches winter-killed; others entirely escaped injury. Clinton: Wheat badly winter-killed. InDIANA.— Decatur: Wheat did well up to the melting of snow in February, but one-half was killed by the hard cold weather of March; the warm showers of May have caused it to stool ont very freely. Grant: Wheat quite tall. Za Porte: Wheat recovering from injuries of winter. Noble: Wheat that has escaped injuries of winter is doing well. Huntington: Wheat badly winter-killed; spring-wheat looks well. Carroll: Wheat improving. Ripley: Wheat growing fast and beginning to head; ia danger of rust. Hamilton: Earlier sown wheat beginning to head. Pike: Spring- wheat from the Department grows tall and looks well, but threatens to fall down. Brown: Quite unpromising, through dry fall, late sowing, and unfavorable spring. Dearborn: Wheat varies, but is, on the whole, 15 per cent. below average; that sown on corn-ground limited by the bad condition of the fields. Newton: No spring-wheat sown, as it is usually eaten by chinch-bugs, which are thought to propagate more readily in spring-wheat and barley than in any other grain; winter-wheat almost entirely winter-killed. Parke: Wheat sown early in September 1s very good, but ten days late; about six-tenths of the wheat was sown in October, and will scarcely repay the seed and labor. Dubois: Thin; some fields plowed up for corn. f 217 Iniinois.— Kankakee: Winter-wheat killed by extreme coid in April. De Kalb: Winter-wheat, both drilled and broadcast, nearly killed out; in many places not over 10 per cent, left. Winnebago: Increased proportion of spring-grain. Pope: Badly winter-killed; not over a half-crop. Williamson: Poor stand of winter-wheat. Jersey: Growing very rank. Wabash: Rank growth; on rich soils it will lodge badly. Randolph: Prospect good; spring rains have lengthened the straw. Saint Clair: -Probably not over a half-crop will be thrashed; harvest will be two weeks late, and late harvests have never been copious. McLean: More spring-wheat would have been sown if seed had been accessible. Ogle: Winter-grain largely winter-killed. Perry: Chinch-bugs in the wheat. Putnam: Winter-wheat mostly winter-killed. Scott: Wheat drilled in early looks weil; broadcast nearly all winter-killed. Henry: Spring-grain good. Hancock: Crops mostly thin. Bond: Largest and best crop ever grown; earlier sown fields well headed but beginning to lodge. WISCONSIN.—Large breadth of winter-wheat sown, but 60 per cent. of it winter- killed. Juneau: Spring-wheat promises an abundant crop; winter-wheat badly “killed out. Jefferson: Badly winter-killed. Walworth: Small grain backward, but green and promising. Dodge: About 25 per cent. of the winter-wheat re-sown on account of winter-killing; most of the residuelooks well. Fond du Lac: Spring-wheat on the prairies destroyed by an insect; in the openings the soil is more compact and furnishes less scope of mischief. Sheboygan: Winter-wheat largely winter-killed, and replaced with spring-wheat. Calumet: Wiunter-wheat unpromising. Waupaca: Winter- wheat extensively sown, but without regard to condition of soil; hence 75 per cent. re-soayn with spring-wheat. Grown: Winter-wheat killed to some extent. Minnesors.—faribauli : Spring-wheat impaired by excessive rains. Dodge: Wheat sown in March; some of it looks remarkably weil; wheat acreage double that of all other grain. Steele: May favorable for grain. Winona: Increased acreage of winter- wheat, of which three-fourths were winter-killed. Cotlonwood: Looks well. Goodhue: Spring-wheat sown late but promising. Towa.—-Clinton : Winter-wheat all killed. Powieshiek: All sorts of grain backward. Muscatine: Badly winter-killed. ZLowisa: Fall-wheat badly frozen out. Marion: Wheat badly winter-killed; much of the ground replowed; winter-wheat all killed, but little sown. Delaware: Weather good for small grain. Johnson: Wheat looks well. Ring- gold: Winter-wheat badly winter-killed; spring-wheat very promising. Howard: Wheat wintered in the stack and thrashed this spring did not grow well; some fields had to be re-seeded; wheat generally is stooling finely and will give heavy crops of straw. Buena Vista: Wheat a fine stand, but beginning to turn yellow. Des Moines: Winter-wheat nearly all winter-killed; drilled as bad as broadcast. Mitchell: Small grain looks well; very little winter-wheat raised. Lee: Spring opened faverably for small grain, which was sown in good condition, and looks well. Missourit.—Bbenton : Chinch-bugs threatened to destroy the wheat in some sections. Polk: Very fair crop promised. Crawford: Full average. Caldwell: Winter-wheat reported killed in exposed localities. Boone: Chinch-bugs just begining to destroy the wheat. Cass: Very little spring-wheat; winter-wheat looks fine, promising a large crop. Greene: Small grains greatly improved by late fine weather, but harvest will be two weeks late. Vernon: Wheat badly beaten down by hail. Moniteaw : Looks finely. Iranklin: Chinch-bug destructive on upland clay soils. Stone: Damaged by frost and Hessian fly ; crop twelve to fifteen days late. Perry: Generally thin. Pulaski: Attacked by chinch-bugs. Nodaway: Wheat looks splendid. Jasper: Chinch-bugs destructive. Maries: About a third of the winter-wheat winter-killed and plowed up; a third badly injured by the Hessian fly; another third looks fine. Jackson: Winter- wheat never gave fairer promise. KAnsas.—Doniphan: Wheat promises an abundant yield. Washington: Spring-wheat unusually good; rain greatly improved winter-wheat. Wabaunsee: Touzelle wheat a failure; will not stand the weather. Cherokee: Harvest in fifteen or twenty days; drilling preferable, and that very early., Riley: Winter-wheat but two-thirds of a stand; some fields entirely killed. Neosho: Looks fine, but is full of chinch-bugs. Labetie: Fine; no chess; few complaints of insects. Linn: Winter-wheat very fine. Republic: Badly winter-killed, and largely plowed up-for corn. Marion: Spring-grain never looked better. Bourbon: Chinch-bugsin wheat. Cloud: Spring-wheat replacing winter-wheat, frozen out. Coffey: Harvest will be two weeks late. Reno: Wheat sown in August looks well; later sowing almost a failure. NEsBRASKA.— Burt: Winter-wheat entirely frozen out. Cass: Wheat growing very rank. Gage: Wheat lodging badly. Thayer: Badly winter-killed, especially where sown after September 15. Cuming: Wheat attacked by the red-legged locust. OrrGon.—Lane: Large amount of wheat sown. Clackamas: Wheat had a fine start, but was cramped by late. dry weather. Douglas: All kinds of small grain promise splendid crops. CALIroRNIA.—Alameda: Grain injured by frost and drought, there being no rain since February ; thousands of the best acres of wheat will not pay for harvesting. Contra Costa: Superior on heavy, well-cultivated soils, but on sandy and late-sown 218 fields only a half-crop will be raised. Stanislaus: Crop but one-third of an average. Mendocino: Late-sown grain still looks well, but will soon show the effects of drought. Placer: Wheat-crop threatened by drought. COTTON. Twelve monthsago an increase over the previcus year in the cotton-area was Feported in every State; an increase over that of last year is now reported in every State. The percentage of increase in a State, as found by dividing the aggregate of increase in counties by the number re- ported, is, as a rule, too high, because, almost always, the largest per- cent. of inerease will be from counties having a comparatively small acreage. But, reckoned in that rough way of estimating, the imerease . indicated is, in Virginia, 25 per cent.; North Carolina and Georgia, 14; South Carolina, 2; Florida, 3; Alabama, 9; Mississippi and Louisiana, 4; Texas, 51; Arkansas, 10; Tennessee, 15. This makes the average increase in the cotton States, reckoned in the same way, nearly 12 per cent. The per cent. of increase reported last years was, in North Caro- lina and Arkansas, 16; South Carolina, 9; Georgia and Tennessee,,12 ; Florida and Mississippi, 10; Alabama and Louisiana, 11; Texas, 18; and the average, throughout the cotton States, approximating 13. It will be noticed that,-in both years, Texas makes the largest relative increase. Our reports indicate a prevalent increase in the rela- tive amount of fertilizers used. The acreage cultivated will fall consid- erably below that planted. A cold, backward spring, causing much seed to rot inthe ground; avery wet May, preventing work, and in- creasing the subsequent demand for it; and the impossibility of obtaining sufficient labor to subdue, over the whole breadth sown, the excessive weeds and grass consequent upon the extraordinarily wet season, con- spire to make this result inevitable. Returns concur in placing the crop from two to three weeks later than usual. Florida reports a condition 2 per cent. above annual average; all the others fall below. Virginia and Alabama, 7 per cent.; North Carolina, 15; Sonth Carolina, 12; Georgia and Louisiana, 6; Mississippi and Arkansas, 8; Texas, 14; Tennessee, 10. But it will be seen, from the extracts below, that very generally the weather, in the last days of May, was favorable, and there was a hopeful prospect that the condition would rapidly improve. : Another part of this report will show that worms and caterpillars have made an early appearance at various points, and are causing con- siderable apprehension of destructive ravages. Virginia, from which four counties reported the culture of cotton last year, reports eight this year, and an increase of acreage in all except Patrick, Chesterfield, and King William, in which it is unchanged. In Sussex and Nansemond the increase is 50 per cent.; in York, 70. e Nansemond: Many going into cotton; the erop very late. Prince George: The acreage has been increased, but the cold, heavy rains have caused the seed to come up badly, and the plant does not look thrifty. Southampton: The acreage greatly in- creased, from the fact that the pea-nut crop has been almost abandoned, and cotton substituted. From the thirty-two counties reporting from North Carolina, Catawba, Cumberland, and Union report a decrease in acreage; Wake, Tyrrel, | Iredell, Yadkin, Anson, and Montgomery, the same as last year; the others, an increase; Lincoln and Granville, 100 per cent.; Lincoln, Gates, Randolph, Stanly, and Martin return average condition; Polk, 25 per cent. above; all the others below. : \ 219 Lenoir: The heaviest rain we have had for many years, on the 21st of May, washed up the cotton, which willhave to bereplanted. Chowan: Looks bad; too cold and wet; great complaint of seed rotting in the ground; numbers have plowed up aud planted again. Pitt: Plant looks bad, but present warm weather is bringing it out. Bertie: Cotton that was planted early enough to come up by the Ist of May has suffered much from the ants and “Collard worms,” and has required replanting. Hertford: Planting much delayed by excessively rainy spring ; crop looks well. Cumberland: Backward and bad stand. Franklin: Large quantities of fertilizers have been purchased and applied chiefly to cotton. Sampson: Freshet after freshet has filled our streams, so that the low banks are yet under water in many districts; our cotton-crops are in bad order; bad stands have caused many to plow up and plantagain. Rowan: Grassy and sickly-look- ing. Beaufort: The prospect gloomy; cool wheather and heavy rains, during May, caused the seed to come up badly, and much of that which came up is dying out. Anson: Seriously injured by the remarkably wet spring. Greene: Nearly all killed by frost, April 25. Perquimans: More planted than last year. Cold and rain from the Ist » to the 20th of May caused most of the early planted to be lost. The replanted not yet up. Polk: More planted and more advanced than last year. Jones: Early killed by frost. Owing tocold rains, cotton has died out, and in some places farmers have planted over more than once, making the crop very late. Stanly: The growth onhand, all pro- duced since the frost in April, in very promising condition. Bladen: Looks sorry. Among the counties reporting from South Carolina, ten return a small increase in acreage, and two, Barnwell and Marlborough, a small de- erease. Union and Richland report average condition; York, 6 per cent. and airfield 25 per cent. above; the remainder less than average. » Darlington: Killed by frost and ice, April 26. Much to be replanted ; two weeks latér than usual. More fertilizers by 20 per cent. than usual. Fairfield: Good stand; much better than last year, but recently injured by too much rain. Greenville: Seed germi- nated very slowly ; the stand, so far, very bad. Williamsburgh: Frosts killed the early cotton; the rains have prevented work fully one-fourth of the time; we have been unable to plow or hoe from the excessively wet and bogey condition of the land. Now the cotton is very grassy, and with a searcity of labor it will be impossible to put it in grow- ing order in time to make even a moderate crop. Orangeburgh: Four weeks later than last year, and injured by heayy rains. York: Looking well, but, owing to two weeks _ of rain in the latter part of May, it has not been well worked. Some fields have been abandoned on accouut of the grass. Many plowed up the crop—erass and all—as the best means of exterminating the grass, and replanted. The plants are vigorous, stands good, and, where labor has been sufficient to keep up with the grass, the crop promising. Richland: Stand generally very good. The grass is getting ahead of the poor farmer, but the wide-awake ones have no uneasiness. Newberry: The killing frost of April 26 destroyed much of the early cotton, Stands planted later are good, but the grass has destroyed crops in much of the wet cotton-lands. Marion: Bad stands and “ruinously ” in the grass. If it is ever redeemed, it will be a triumph of free labor. Chester: Good stands were up May 15. The plant died out on sandy soils on account of excessive rains. Many of the fields presentthe appearance of luxuriant meadows; the stands will be reduced to three-fourths, and some to one-half, of a regular stand, by cleaning out the grass. Marlborough: The early planted killed by frost April 26; replanting went on until the grass forced planters to abandon it, and, with too much rain and no reliable labor, it has been a hard struggle with bad stands of cotton and flourishing stands of grass. Edgeficld: Cannot be worked as it should be on account of rain, but prospect better than last year. Union: Pretty fair stand, but much grass, owing to increased acreage, heavy rains, and over-cropping. Fifty-three counties are reported from Georgia. Dooly, Richland, Schley, and Troup return each-a decrease in acreage of 5 per cent., and Decatur of 10 per cent. Twelve counties return the same as last year; the remaining thirty-six report an increase; Gordon, of 100 per cent.; Catoosa, Cobb, and Walker, of 50; Forsyth, of 40; and Sumter, of 30. Twenty counties return for condition 100, or average; Worth, 130; Twiggs, 125; Whitfield, 120; Butts and Hart, 110; Douglas, 105; and Spalding, 103. Six return a condition of 80, 7 of 90, and 6 of 95; the ' others reported range between 60 (Laurens) and 98. McDuffee: Last year a majority had finished chopping out their cotton at this date; this year very few have commence d, and a great many have not finished planting, owing to the cold, dry spring. Lincoln; An unusual amount of fertilizers bought and used on the cotton-crop this year. Plintlate, but ¢ood stands. Douglas: Very good stands / 220 Muscogee: Small and backward; bad stand in many places, in consequence of cool weather, heavy rains, and hail-storms. Richmond: Generally very grassy; labor scarce and much needed. Calhoun: Injured by hail-storms and cold weather. Liberty: Badly in grass and weeds from daily showers. Laurens: Materially injured by the heavy ~ rains and cold weather; much of it has died from frost and cold winds. Madison : Good stand, though very late, owing to cold,dry spring. Decatur: Cottor-caterpillars seen on Flint River May 30. Coweta: In bad condition, owing to thirty-two days of wet weather; from present appearances, 20’per cent. of the crop will be lost. Troup: Very late cold weather in the spring caused late planting, and recent heavy and frequent rains render it impossible to keep the small plants from being smothered out by the great crop of “crab-grass;” some are contemplating plowing up and planting with corn. Orange: Backward, owing to the heavy frost in March, which killed much of the early planting, and to the long dry spell in April; the plant now growing finely. Milton: Late planted and very small; the last three weeks being very rainy, the grass beats the cotton in growing. Heard: Looks finely. Wilkes: The extremely dry April, the late frost, April 25, and heavy rains through May, place cotton at a great disad- vantage; planters are already dropping a part of their crops. Fayette: The grass is etting the upper hand, ana the prospect is that a considerable part of the crop will be lost.. Jackson: Looks well and good stand. In Florida three counties, Columbia, Alachua, and Levy, report each a decrease of 10 per cent. in acreage; and six an increase ranging from 10 to 25 per cent. In Madison and Clay the condition is 25 per cent., in Taylor, 30, and in Wakulla, 10 above; in Jackson, Jefferson, and Ham- ilton, average ; in the others reported, below. » Jackson: The plant is some weeks behind in size and condition, but the weather is favorable. The caterpillar has already put in an appearance, some twenty days earlier than last year. Wakulla: Better stand than last year; crop promising. Suwannee: Bad stand, from defective seed and irregular spring; cut-worms doing great damage. Jefferson: The crop looks beautifully. i From Alabama, Hale reports 10 per cent., and Lauderdale 5 per cent. decrease in acreage; sixteen counties report an increase ranging from 5 to 50 per cent.; the others-heard from report the same as last year ; Coffee reports a condition 25 per cent., and Clarke and Geneva, 10 above average ; Bibb, Winston, Saint Clair, Randolph, Dallas, Calhoun, and Jefferson, average; the remainder below, the range being from 5 to 20 per cent., Barbour, Macon, Limestone, and Conecuh standing at the latter figure. Saint Clair: We had a severe frost on the morning of April 25, but as the ground. was dry, cotton was not generally up, and hence was not much injured. Lauderdale: Good stands of cotton up several weeks ago, but most of it has been lost by eut-worm and flea-bug; has been replanted, and is not yet up; will be too late to make a fall crop. Blount: Much more planted than usual. Crenshaw: Beginning to grow and look healthy, though smaller than at this date last year. Limestone: Fully two weeks behind, owing to late cold and dry weather; plants small but healthy. Montgomery: The appearance of the plant not so promising as usual on the 1st of June, but the warm and showery weather now prevailing will probably bring it forward rapidly. Macon: Seriously injured by the rains; very grassy, and we still have rains which keep it from being cleaned; the plant unusually small. Conecuh: Stand not so good as last year; late rains have caused the grass to grow faster than the farmers can master it. Dallas: Season propitious and the eultivation better than usual. Autauga: Very backward and much of it badly in grass, owing to too much rainy weather during May; good stands. Morgan: On bottom-lands much injured by cut-worms; some fields so much that they are being planted in corn. Bullock: Seriously injured by late frosts. Twenty six counties report from Mississippi. Holmes returns a de- crease in acreage of 5 per cent. Eleven return the same as last year, and fourteen an increase; Lee of 20 per cent., Rankin, 15 per cent., Yala- busha, Tishemingo, Sunflower, Le Flore, Coahoma, Attala, and Jefier- son, 10 per cent; Bolivar reports a condition of 125; Rankin, 108; Amite, Yalabusha, Le Flore, and Granada, 100; the remainder range from 95 to 75. 221 eae Warren : Much of the cotton, planted the 15th to the 20th of March, was killed by frost 15th and 16th of April; the remainder puny, and suffering from cut-worms. The later planted more promising. Jee: Cold and wet, and cotton not all chopped the ’ first time yet. Dooly: Looking bad, in consequence of heavy hail-storms, too much rain, and too cool mornings. Hart: Good stand and in a healthy condition. Grenada: Considerably damaged by the excessive rains of late; grass, weeds, and an unhealthy condition of the plant are the consequences. Tishemingo: Weather now very favora- ble to cotton. Neshoba: Looking very bad; bad stands, caused by an unusually cold, wet spring. Coahoma: Too wet to plow all through May; cotton dying out in many places; grass abundant. Rankin: Spring late, but warm, and with rains so frequent as to hinder the working of the cotton-crop. Noxubee: Good stands, but bad condition; too much rain. Attala: Stand good; looks well, but the heavy rains for the last two weeks have damaged the prospect, grass and weeds having taken possession. Madi- son: Crop two weeks later than usual, but looking healthy. Clark: From the cold and dry weather in April, and the excessive amount of rain (9.4 inches) in May, the condition of the cotton-crop could not be other than bad. Bolivar: Prospect very fime. Marion: Crop generally rather late. Jefferson: Late and grassy. From Louisiana nine parishes report no change from last year in acreage, and nine an increase. Morehouse, Washington, and Tangipa- hoa return an increase of 25 per cent.; East Feliciana a decrease of 10 per cent.; and Cameron of 25 per cent. Eight parishes return average condition; Assumption 5 per cent. and Winn 10, above; the others from 5 to 25, below. ‘ Richland: Spring cold and backward; April very dry; as a consequence, cotton later than usual; stand poor in some places; prospect 10 per cent. below average. Terre Bonne: But little grown in this county. MWashington: A heavy increase of acreage this year; prospect of a crop favorable. Zranklin: In fair condition; about two weeks later than usual. Claiborne: Late, owing to cold spring. West Feliciana: The season not so favorable for cotton as the last; April cold and dry, and May too wet; the crop grassy. Rapides: Two weeks later than last year; covered with the apides and very grassy. Reports have been received from thirty-nine counties in Texas. Among these the only one returning less acreage than last year is Fort Bend, which reports a decrease of 59 per cent. But it would seem that this figure refers to the area which, June 1, promised to yield a crop rather than to that planted. The report says: “The only crop we raise worthy of notice, cotton, is less promising than for many years. Twice killed by frosts, a stand was not obtained. until about the 1st of May; since then rains have been so frequent that but little work could be done. The growth of grass and weeds has been rapid, and labor cannot be had. A large portion of the crop has been, and more will be, abandoned.” Seven counties report the area the same as last year, and all the others an increase; Cooke, of 700 per cent.; Fort Bend, Kendall, Grayson, and Atascosa place the condition, each, at 50; Austin at 60; Tarrant, Smith, and Washington at 75; Rusk, Upshur, Hunt, Coryell, Henderson, Red River, Milan, and Hays at 80. Eleven counties report average, and only two, Livingston and Titus, above; each 110. Blanco: Being replanted the third time, bids fair to make agood crop. Hays: Crop very young and late; all the early crop was destroyed by frost. Milam: Prospect of a good crop, though late. Henderson: Crop two weeks behind last year, when it was two weeks behind the year before. Now the weather is favorable, but I have never known a full crop made when so late. Caldwell: The decrease in condition compared with last year is owing to late frost, but the season being very favorable the erop is now doing finely and promises well. Limestone: Rarely a better prospect for a good crop. Marion: Small, but looks well. Austin: Far behind last year; plentiful rains, coupled with extreme warm weather, are bringing it forward, but also giving grass and weeds a vigorous start. Dallas : Too small yet to guess ata yield. Coryell: Twenty per cent. more planted this spring than ever before. The growth backward, but the stand and prospect good. Burnet: At least four weeks backward. Apple-crop a failure and peaches all winter-killed except on high lands. Tyler: Fruit yrs Sia 3 generally and severely injured by frost. Monroe: Apples slightly injured by frost; peaches partly winter-killed. _ Kentucky.—McLean: Fruit greatly damaged by frost. Taylor; Frost spared the fruit of only a few sheltered localities. Laurel: Apples, peaches, and pears largely dostroyed after blooming. Spencer: Fruit prospects injured by frost. Livingston: Pear-blossoms dropped without maturing ; peach-bloom copious, but largely killed — in the low grounds by March frosts. Grayson: All the peaches and pears, and three- fourths of the apples, frost-killed. Zarue: Peaches killed, except in the hill country, by April frost. Nicholas: Peaches mostly fallen from the trees ; leaves crisped; erops will be light. Breckinridge: Peaches killed in all the valleys ‘and low grounds by the © frosts of April 26. Russell: Fruit almost an entire failure; found four apples on seventy-five trees; scarcely any peaches or pears. On10.—Logan: Peach-bloom nearly all killed. ‘Vinton: Fruit prospects small; prob- ably apples enough for home-consumption. Franklin: Apples ‘attacked by a black or dark-brown worm 12 inches long. Geauga: Peach-trees largely winter-killed; scarce a bushel of the fruit will be raised; only the hardier varieties of apples escaped. Defiance: Grape-vines generally winter-killed, and had again sprouted from the roots ; the sprouts were killed by the heavy frosts of May 31. Hardin: Copious pear-bloom, but little or no fruitage. Jefferson: Peaches nearly a failure; not one-tenth of an average. Warren: Few apples; no peaches; a few pears and cherries. Sandusky: Peach-trees all winter-killed ; pears winter-killed, with many trees. MicHiGgan.—Apples and pears in full bloom; peach-trees nearly all dead; fruit of all sorts much injured. Lapeer: Peaches nearly all winter-killed; few blossoms. Wonroe: Peach-trees nearly all killed; have not seen a peach-blossom. Newaygo: Fruit-trees generally injured by winter; peach-trees nearly all ‘killed; some other fruits promise a fair crop. Calhoun: Peach-trees nearly all killed. Cass: Peach-trees generally killed. Barry: Peach-trees mostly killed. Mecosta: Peach-trees frozen down to the ground; pear-treés greatly injured. Mason: Very little peach-bloom. Clinton: Apples barely out of blossom. INDIANA.—Switzerland: Peaches on bottom-lands killed by late frosts. Ripley: Apples and pears not more than a fourth of a crop; few peaches; many peach-trees winter-killed. Hendricks: Quite a number of trees in young orchards winter-killed ; in an orchard of 500 white pippins, one-third will die. Kosciusko: Hard winter killed nearly all the peach and many of the cherry trees. Morgan: Peach-trees killed or | badly injured. Union: Blight cut down the pear crop one-fourth ; apple-trees injured by caterpillars, and forest-trees by measuring-worms. Brown: Peach-trees all killed except on the highest table-lands. Newton: Grape-vines, and peach and pear-trees, © damaged by the very cold winter. ILLINOoIs.—Champaign: Nearly all the peach-trees and many ‘apple-trees killed. Clinton: Peach-trees all killed; apricots and cherries killed, as also half the pears ; many apple-trees also killed. Marion: Many fruit-trees and most of the fruit-killed ; gooseberries and currants willyield asmallecrop. Williamson: Early apples frost killed in March and April. Macon: All the old peach-trees killed and 20 per cent. of the pears; grapes injured; Catawbas stood the winter the best of all the varieties. Hdwards: Tent-caterpillars destroying apple-trees and forest-trees; peach-trees largely winter- killed. Randolph: Eighty per cent. of peach-trees winter-killed. Wayne: Poorest show for fruit ever known; ruined by cold and caterpillars. Edgar: Peach-trees winter-killed; many apple and pear trees injured; nearly all grape-vines, except Con- cords and Clintons, were killed. Moultrie: Peach-trees killed. Putnam: Peach-trees all winter-killed. Henry: Apple prospect poor. Fulton: Apple-trees badly injured ; one-sixth will die; peach-trees all dead; pears nearly all killed; Flemish Beauty stood | the winter best. Macon: Peaches all winter-killed. McHenry: Grapes and early strawberries slightly injured by frost. Piatt: Old peach and pear trees mostly killed. Montgomery : Peach-trees mostly killed. Wisconsin.—Richland: Apple-trees largely winter-killed. Clark: Frost of May 30 destroyed all early varieties of fruit with most of the apple and pear bloom. Doug- las: Many fruit-trees set out last year have been destroyed by mice. Saint Croix: Apples blooming; some early buds and leaves killed by frost, May 11. Dunn: Frosts injured fruit. Vernon: Apple-bloom abundant, but deceptive; orchards of Western Wisconsin greatly damaged last winter. MINNESOTA.—Dodge: Many varieties of apples winter-killed. Steele: Fruit some- what affected by the severity of the winter; transplanted trees never looked better. McDonald: Peaches a failure; no bloom. Hennepin: Copious early bloom not followed by fruitage ; trees seemingly injured. Goodhue: Apples-trees greatly injured. Iowa.—Tama: One-fourth of pear-trees injured by winter. Decatur: Orchards mostly young; bloom very great; thousands of trees just coming into bearing. Louisa: Fruit-bloom abundant, but the frnitage probably ruined by cold rains and northeast winds. Marion: Peach-trees mostly winter-killed. Grundy: Nearly all the pear-trees killed with blight. Des Moines: Apple-bloom abundant, but the trees were so badly in- jured that many will die, and the fruitage small. Harrison: Peach-trees liable to winter- 232 kill; many thousands of young apple-trees planted this spring ; grape prospect good. Winneshiek: Nearly all the pear-trees, many apple-trees and three-fourths of the grape- vines winter-killed. MissourL.— Crawford: Peaches all killed by freezing, with many of the trees; apples not hurt. Platte: Peach-crop will be a complete failure; most of the trees winter- killed. Holt: Apple-bloom very copious ; peaches winter-killed ; pears look well, but this fruit-is unreliable through blight. Ozark: Peach-trees mostly winter-killed. Saint Genevieve: All trees that bore peaches last year have been winter-killed. Cass: No peach-bloom. Vernon: Hail, on the night of May 26, beat the fruit from the trees to a greatextent. Maniteaw: Old peach-trees mostly winter-killed; young trees seriously injured. De Kalb: Peaches a failure. Shelly: Peaches all killed. Pulaski: Many old peach-orchards killed by severe weather; grape-vines starting vigorously. Daviess : Peach-buds all winter-killed, and many peach-trees badly injured. Jasper: Early apple- bloom killed; no peach-crop; trees badly injured by winter. Taney: Peach-crop win- ’ ter-killed. Newton: Peaches all killed with many of the trees. Jackson: Apple-bloom very copious, but within a few days the blight has reduced the yield one-half. Kansas.—Montgomery: Fruit largely winter-killed. Washington: Peaches promise well in all trees three years old and upward; small fruits, good promise. Franklin: Peach-bloom all winter-killed. Riley: Apples, peaches, and pears nearly all killed by spring frosts. Leavenworth: Peach-bloom profuse, but fruitage thin; young and vig- orous trees stood the winter better than old ones; small fruits abundant. Woodson : Peaches entirely killed; all old bearing trees killed ; apples reduced one-half by blight. Morris: There will not be 5 bushels of peachesraised. eno: But few apples. Smith: Very many fruit-trees planted. Doniphan: Peach-trees, seeded and budded, generally killed; cherry-trees largely killed; pears a failure; apples and small fruits promising. NEBRASKA.—WMerrick: Fruit-trees with southern exposure were ruined by snow-drifts in April. Jinn: Have heard of no peach in the county; trees injured. CaALIFORNIA.—dlameda: Fruit injured by drought and frost. Lake: Peaches nearly all killed by frost; apples half killed. Sonoma: A very heavy and unusual frost visited the entire fruit region of the State just as the fruit was forming and the grapes in bloom, causing immense losses; Sonoma County, however, loses but a small percentage; peaches and grapes suffered most. Butte: Late frosts killed much fruit. Mendocino: Heavy frosts have ruined a fine fruit prospect; varieties in bloom were destroyed; apples badly injured. Nevada: Army-worm badly injuring fruit, es- pecially grape-vines. Placer: Late frosts cut down our fruit one-half. Napa: Grape erop injured severely by the frosts of April 3 and 4; crop of the old vines 40 per cent. below last year. OrEGON.—Lane: Fruit prospect good; better than last year. Clackamas: Late frost injured pears and peaches, yet these crops average higher than for many years. Urau.— Kane. Fine early prospect of fruit entirely blighted. 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See o ome ‘SHATVO GNV SMOD wee ee wee le ele “-*- Tos0Ig) &r eh 9L ke RF 8h 8S 8g ° iio td ay agony BESS | ace awk a al co a “enot fp ebad Loon (Bate e[oyenep atd = 8 8 oa BF a? ah A "SUSSVION anv UVONS-ATAVA -7> BUST IT 77" “TIMOSSTPAL Sam ies "eB MOT, sen eeewnnesenncnceeccorsse> MOSOUMIL stent eee e eee ewww enna ennnee TISMOOST MA 1H] Weta Senne ceeneen eet cesnee tans SLOT] s £OSIOL MONT Luss yIOX MON sacine qnorooun0”9 -* puR[sy epoyry s3S38% S]JOSUTpOVSSR]T scsscn Zuoude A. orTysduiwpy WO NT OUR] *809Uq9 fer ed Ss SE a a eS ee ee al ee ee eam sponutyM0g9—'o.f ‘sdoun ay2 fo uoyrpuoo oy) Burmoys qQn7, 235 * LIVE STOCK. Cows AND CALVES.—The condition of cows is full average, or abo ve, ‘in all the New England States, Florida, Louisiana, lowa, Kansas, Ne- braska, California, and Oregon. In the other States the depreciation varies from 9 per cent. in Texas to 2 per cent. in Pennsylvania, Georgia, West Virginia, Illinois, and Missouri. The best condition is found in the Northeast and Northwest. New England farmers have long under- stood the value and necessity of proper shelter and sufficient food for their stock. The severe lessons of experience have enforced the same wholesome ideas in the Northwest, and the beneficial results of extra care are seen in the satisfactory reports from these two sections of the Union. In Norfolk County, Massachusetts, however, it is stated that cows do not look as well as usual, less grain having been fed to them on account of the low price of milk. It is also stated that an unusual number of calves have been killed at less than a week old in order to sell the milk. This practice is very questionable in point of economy © and not at all defensible in point of morality. Serious injury to the public health frequently results from the sale of veal prematurely butchered. In the Middle and Southern States the exceptional severity of the winter demonstrated the necessity of better treatment of farm- animals by the depreciation of condition reported by our correspondents. It is necessary to provide not merely against the average vicissitudes of winter, but also against extreme variations of temperature by proper food and shelter. ) The number of calves dropped during the year as compared with pre- vious years was above average in the following States; Nebraska, 119; Kansas, 118; Minnesota, 113; Oregon, 107; Iowa, 106; Florida, 105 ; Missouri, 102; Delaware,101. It was full average, or 100, in Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, llinois, and Wisconsin. In the States below average the depreciation ranged from 19 per cent. in Texas to 1 per cent. in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Ten- nessee, West Virginia, and Ohio. In Texas the condition of cows and calves was seriously affected in several counties by the unusual severity of the winter and by the scarcity of food on the range. Coryell County reports a depreciation of 40 per cent. as compared with last year. 4n Southern Texas the annual increase of cattle is estimated at 25 per cent. In Grainger County, Tennessee, the “dry murrain” is destroy- ing many cattle. In some localities cattle have depreciated in condition since the opening of spring, on account of the slow growth of grass. In Republic County, Kansas, many cattle were killed during a heavy storm, lasting through three days of April. Our limited reports from the Ter- ritories show a good condition of cattle. SHEEP AND LAMBS.—The losses of sheep from diseases and other casualties vary from 16 per cent. in Alabama to 3 per cent. in Massa- chusetts. The heaviest losses are in the late slave States, which report percentage of loss as follows: Maryland, 10; Virginia, 8; North Caro- lina, 13; South Carolina, 9; Georgia, 12; Florida, 10; Alabama, 16 ; Mississippi, 12; Louisiana, 13; Texas,8; Arkansas, 10; Tennessee, 12 ; West Virginia, 7; Kentucky, 11; Missouri, 10. These severe losses are partly due to the unusual severity of the winter, but are generally attributed by our correspondents to the immense number of worthless dogs kept by the freedmen and others. The losses of New England range from 3 per cent. in Massachusetts to 8 percent.in Vermont. North of the Ohio River, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota report 236 5 per cent.; Indiana, 6; Illinois, 7; west of the Mississippi, Kansas and Nebraska lost but 4 per cent.; the Pacific States, 6 per cent. The mortality among lambs was most severe in Missouri—17 per cent. ; Caldwell and Vernon Counties reporta loss of 40 per cent. each ; Cass, Doug- las, and Daviess, 33 per cent. each, and other counties heavy losses. Mary- land averages 16 per cent., the heaviest losses being in Montgomery County, 40 per cent. ; in Cecil, 30 per cent., and in Washington, 20 per eent. Of the New England States, Maine and Vermont lost 10 per cent. each, the other States varying from 7 to 9 per cent.; the Middle States range from 7 to 12 per cent.; the South Atlantic States from 8. per cent. in Georgia to 16 per cent. in Maryland ; the Gulf States from 7 per cent. in Texas to 11 per cent. in Alabama; the interior Southern States from 9 per cent. in Arkansas to 15 per cent..in Kentucky; the States north of the Ohio River from 8 per cent. in Michigan to 13 per cent. in Indi- ana; the States west of the Mississippi River from 9 per cent. in Kan- sas and Nebraska to 17 per cent. in Missouri; on the Pacific coast Cali- . fornia averaged 9 per cent. and Oregon 7 per cent. Martne.— York : Farmers are raising all their calves, but few colts. Somerset: Sheep have come out well this spring; very few lambs have died. Androscoggin: Cows and calves less in number than last year. VERMONT.—Franklin : Unusual number of deaths among sheep and lambs; not to be attributed to any particular disease, but in most instances to indifference and neglect, which generally result from depressed prices and gloomy prospects. All other stock wintered well, and in fine condition. Massacuusetts.— Middlesex: Cattle came out in excellent condition. Norfolk : Cows do not look as well as common; less grain has been fed to them on account of the low price of milk. Large numbers of calves are killed less than a week old, so as to sell the milk. New Jrersky.—Hudson : Cattle wintered well. Sugar-beets found to be an excellent feed for. milch-cows. PENNSYLVANIA.— Washington: Horses plenty and cheap. Cumberland: Very few sheep kept. MARYLAND.—Howard: The scarcity of feed brought cows to grass in poor condition. Cecil : The unusually cold weather was very fatal to lambs. VIRGINIA.—Spottsylvania: Cattle look well; an increase of calves. Madison: Gen- erally in good condition. King George: Loss of sheep mainly by dogs; very few by disease. Lambs perished during the cold and variable weather of February and March. Henrico: Fine condition of cows, owing to fine grass-crop. Washington : Cows very poor, but healthy. Calves doing well. Winter very severe on sheep and lambs; great loss of lambs. Mecklenburgh: Very fine sheep in this county. Fully one- third of the lambs dropped have died. SouTH CAROLINA.— York: Cattle look well; cows and calves are fatter than usual so early in summer ; there is some disease prevailing among cattle in the western part of the county, the character of which I have not learned; a considerable number have died; sheep-husbandry will soon be abandoned here; only a few pretend to keep any- thing like a flock. Georgetown: Horned cattle are decreasing in numbers rapidly ; sheep too few to take account of. GEORGIA.—Columbia : Cattle rallying from the severe winter. Heard: Sheep scarce ; stock in low condition. ALABAMA.—Conecuh : Cows in much better condition than last year, and consequently more calves. Autauga: A large number of cattle have died from poverty. Coffee: Stock of all kinds come out well. Jefferson: The loss of sheep nearly all by dogs. Clay: The everlasting dogs are after our sheep, and hundreds perish annually by this. pest; but for them our county is finely adapted to sheep-raising. MississipP1.— Holmes : Sheep have suffered from dogs; lambs and stock of all kinds from the severity of the winter, the hardest known in the South for many years. Attala: The freedmen are keeping a large supply of dogs, and until this matter is regulated by law, sheep-raising is at an end here. Lourstana.—Terre Bonne: Since the war but few sheep have been produced in this county, though it is well adapted to them. Jranklin: Cows considerably below average condition, not having fully recovered from the effects of the severe winter. Trexas.—Hays: The cows came out of winter on the range very poor, but are now rapidly improving. But few sheep in the county; they are doing well. Coryell: Cows not in as good condition as last year by 40 percent, Galveston: The annual average increase of cattle in Southern Texas is about 25 per cent. > 237 ARKANSAS.— Ste nica cafcece/ ca << peREetetn'= © © +o cielce sel soe lcs =e a 102.1 Bee eee et ess sc cals cast hoe eecloe o ok Sere delcess see eee eee 1.9 Aue (calemiated as tree tartaric) 252-522 see | 0. = coe caw oo ojen cee eee 6.5 AiconoWoy weleht.:.. 25) c.'.. << 5-\- be eee nis os oo wreeine ieee eee 95. COR CSU! AVGaOlpby Volume: 2 .'.. 228.5 US ee Se ew Se cece ce oa neve ence eee 122. Hixiracmivenunauver......2.-)s2-t. lo. cles eee coe cock cleo ein hs eee eee 129. See ois n onion no ice ot soe icicis = EEE eleinie aime b/s 9.0)6 =e =e ee a Wed (calemlatedsasifree tartaric)... .-.ceeeeee es & ~~ = oes ono. Sone ee 5 Marus.—The following are the results of analyses of calcareous maris: No. 1, sent to this Department by J. L. White, Iola, Marion County, Florida; and No. 2, sent by H. R. Pollard, from Stevensville, Virginia: No. 1. Moisture: (determmedvat 130° GC): - 2... Sa e se 2 ce ee eee erate ele 1 Organic-and) volatilematters.--..: .- 2.) seeeeieee === «= ole nee wee eee eee ils Peroxide of-iron andpalomina.- <= =. «2.22: ssa > @ - +o . e eeeeenel 1.24 AMIS Coe eo e ek Ree ee nines = ae va oho’ = aoe Sno > oils Cone nee tere AQ, METAS GH «oe SEO SR ACE ee =e hoe SCS ESSE Do: .- [cea Pes apie te anipoea Gece sc 2. 24 Ep A et a arefie lata: ot oo) c, ~ - = saeeteee n= ees clean ene 5. 41 100. 00 No. 2 Morspure(determined aul00° CC)... See a= = = RE SAS 55 0. 48 Organic matter and moisture not expelled at 100° C .-...-..-------.----.---- 3. 76 TELS ew serie in Ce ATE eS oe i Scone Ope e enn ae Come oe Leas Lh rir Oe ee See eee ee Heo See eso Seen. - SS AGEE 5 aS Ee s- 44,28 Does ages oe Base OSS 56 Ge Caen 25.4 Saar Stee Gd ded oG08 1. 04 Tn iausitle oo Ree Sec SSeS ek eRe alle Ce ee) Se ee I er Bab ers Pine a 0.11 MLE ES becos ot en tnpoc lp > ee ee eeeIBeRS 20 Oo ose bys = be Gorecrel sa a 0.31 Lerma rire ace SSE Te oe re. <5 od eer eraes: RS Se Soe 0.19 Senha Bina ERO Me he WE Se Cece eae == els eat mee pee a ee es 0. 25 (Csi unive. foils ed eke to See eee oi = So one e hb CO EA riseeG Baa ReS 34. 83 SPT eT OS (ofp SS eo) Pe ee ee Le ee PS ee ee eS Yee 12. 97 100. 00 Muck.—During the month of February we received from Mr. Luman Andrews, Southington, Connecticut, samples of muck for the purpose of determining the probable composition of a white coating which ap- pears upon the surface of it when thrown out in heaps. The substance was in small scales or crystals. It is of course difficult to state posi- tively what may be its composition, but from the analysis given below it is evidently some soluble sulphate. The analysis resulted as follows : Piustuce (dletermunedsat d00°- O)ra- 52.2 <=. - steam nets ee = = ester eeenee = Re 3.77 Organic matter and moisture not expelled at 100° C.......----..-.--.------ 27.22 1 ih Ue 2 a ee ee (Geant 222-5: < eReeeEm Rees oom ea ce Cae eee eames 1, 09 Heroes =. seeeeses->-- «<= -----=- 926 cake ae 0. 68 Sh... J6h a a ee ee. Se eae ay eee ee Bakes 100. 00 Tospacco.—It is generally well known that when evil effects, or indeed any effects whatever, follow the use of tobacco, they are due to the nicotine contained in the leaf. M. Heubel has shown, from certain investigations upon the chemical properties and poisonous action of tobacco-fumes, that, since the alkaloid is practically inactive in the free state, it is probable that the nicotine is contained in the leaf in the state of a salt. GROWTH OF TREES.—M. Breuil states that, while visiting a small park connected with the Chateau d’Compeigne, he observed that some of the horse-chestnut trees had been decorticated to a height of 30 to 40 centimeters, and ascertained that this condition had existed a long time. Being surprised to find the trees living in this condition, he determined to seek the cause of this unusual continuation of vitality. Knowing the possibility of plants receiving their nourishment, in the way of organic matter, from the atmosphere, he determined upon an estima- tion of the percentage of mineral matter contained in the wood of the part decorticated and that above it, in order to find the possible source of this important element so necessary to the healthy growth of plants. The following statement indicates the proportions of ash contained in the different parts: 243 Per cent. ‘Path Gecorbicated : =. .22aesneeseesecaxcsosee Beeeme sok sekscs ve. soe eee 0.916 Part not decorticated ....-...-..-:- - Ws 23 ee fs aie tks 5 Ved lS 2a NG 0. 413 The latter, therefore, contains but about one-half as much mineral matter as the former, leading to the belief that the fluids circulating by osmose furnished the mineral matter to the growth of the new wood at the expense of the old, which seems quite evident from the following: Woody layers subjacent todhe bark...........-.---------.--- 1.20 per cent. of ash. Woody layers situated below the former........--.----------- 0.70 per cent. of ash. In order further to establish this fact a sample of wood from a tree of normal growth was taken, the determination of the ash of which shows that the inner woody layers contain a much larger proportion of ash than the outer layer, thus: onural woody layvors.coutain.-.----..-.... steeteenc es tances 1.48 per cent. of ash. PxXteriOr WOOK layers CONUAIM.-. 2... . 2.) Saget enacencs 0. 92 per cent. of ash. TANNING-MIXTURE.—The following formula for a tanning-mixture has been given as applicabie to all kinds of skins. For 100 pounds, take 10 pounds tobacco-root, 60 pounds caochou, 20 pounds sumac. lt is stated that 100 pounds of this mixture in 125 pounds of water will tan hides completely in six days and prepare them for the currier. EFFCCT OF MANURES UPON CINCHONAS.—Mr. Broughton, of the Ootac- amund plantation, in the department of Madras, has shown that while ma- nure fails to effect an increased and more vigorous growth of cinchonas, it produces a much greater alkaloidal yield. . “Thus, some plants of Cincho- na succirubra, three years old, treated each with one poundof sulphate of ammonia and a like quantity of guano, show the following propor- tions of alkaloids, compared with those unmanured : Manured. Unmanured. SRIRAM O MIS erat ec toe oo cee alc co oe oo Oe a wens “eee 4,89 J DLE eRe SB ASAE ORB aS BE ee 3c cine eee BEE 2. 45 1.78 Cinchonidine and chinchonine........-...-- feec PLS R RECA ES 4, 80 BBall Treatment with guano gave the following results: Manured. Unmanured. ispabalioute nt. seers. OE RS 5. 29 4.76 ° Quinine..... BE Ets Fy) ne AS hie ie fen Mead! 0.91 1.04 Ma GHOnIGinhe. joe a ee eee es, foes eee, es cea 4,38 ah These results show that the use of guano is unprofitable, and Mr. Broughton recommends that C. succirubra be grown without its use. C. officinalis, which is much more sensitive to the various conditions to which it may be subject when treated with one pound of guano to each plant offers the following comparison: Manured. Unmanured. Woual alkalGidges 5 ars eee... oe 3 ae TES Gy 6.51 3. 98 Pare CUInINe. 2a sae eee ee se eae e wee Lene 4, 41 2. 40 @menonine! and cinchonigines. se. .. .. ee: 2.10 1.58 The same, treated with three-quarter pound sulphate of ammonia to each tree, shows: Manured. Unmanured, Totalvalkaloids...-.J22-c4ee5 PR cn. Reged! ode ne 5. 76 4,54 AOC CMRGDRITLIENG «soe eee eee | Seal! 2.54 Cinemnnnine and CinGhomimne a.) .0. 4... .-snudgsdess-ac. ee---- 2.65 2. 00 Treated with about four pow loads of farm-yard manure, they show:: 244 Manured. Unmanured. Tintuliallenigidss. <5.2)550 24's... -. ae ee, 20h 7.49 4. 68 (PURE MINING seoen Se Ree tos ae aye =, -i0 =, ea ons aos eae 7.15 2. 40 Cimchonidinesand semehonine -. =< «-’. ...--- eee eee «oe aEe eo ae 0. 34 2, 28 It seems therefore that farm-yard manure is more valuable in this particular than artificial manure, since it favors the production of qui- nine rather than cinchonidine and cinchonine. HEATING OF WINES.—The work of ascertaining and removing the cause of the deterioration of wines has, for a long time, been the subject of many experiments among European chemists, and the question arising at the outset, whether the agent employed for the prevention of the disease produced by a certain microscopic fungus would affect, with ‘other matters, the bouquet of the wine, was one which could be answered only by timeandexperience. Tothis end, atthe suggestion of Pasteur, sev- eral brands of wine which had been-subjected to a temperature of 50° to 75° C. were stored in the cellar of the Normal School of Paris, alongside of some which had not been thus treated. In 1869 the different brands were tested by the Commission Syndicale de vins de Paris, when it was found that the heated wines were superior to the other brands. In 1872, again at Pasteur’s suggestion, a second examination was instituted by other experts, who embodied the results of their investigations in a pro- tocol showing that, with regard to twelve brands, those which had been heated were superior to those which had not been thus treated; with regard to three brands, that which had not been heated was equally as good as that which had been heated; and of nine brands, that which had been heated was good, while that which had not been heated was spoiled. Referring to the protocol, Pasteur states that heating may be regarded as a very efficient agent for preserv ing the quality of common as well as of choice wines. Experiments of six to seven years duration have showa that even the finest wines, when suddenly subjected toa temperature of 55° to 65° C., are not only no longer subject to disease, but are im- proved, attaining a quality superior to that produced by age in the absence of disease. To some of the statements of the protocol Pasteur made objections. Thus it was concluded that heating gradually affects the color and bou- quet of choice wines, but he holds that by heating the former becomes much more brilliant while the latter is improved, which fact is fully illustrated in the wines of Chambertin and Volnay. It was also recommended that the wines be subjected for several months to a low temperature, but this he has shown to be unprofitable. He further states that it is better to heat new than old wines, and insists that when they are to be heated in quantity, they must be kept in the apparatus employed in the same quantity as in bottles before, during, and after the heating, and that the air must be, as far as possible, excluded, since it may give rise to a flavor like that imparted by boiling which is generally unpleasant. The want of success which has so often attended the heating of wines on a large scale is due to the failure to observe these precautions. EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS.—The following communication, descriptive of the Lucalyptus globulus and its properties, was lately furnished to this Department by M. Stanislaus Martina, president of the Society of Pharmacy of Paris: The eucalyptus is a large and lofty tree of the myrtacee family, the Icosandria monogynia of Linnzeus. It was discovered in Van Dieman’s Land in 1792, by Labillandiere. There are thirty Variebies of this tree, the growth of which is very rapid; its wood is as hard as that of the oak, and is suitable for house aud ship carpentry, and for cabi- net-work. 245 The word eucalyptus signifies fully capped. The distinctive character of the tree consists ina kind of conical cap that covers the bud, which is thrown off as the stamens expand. This cap forms the limb of the calyx, the base of which adheres to the ovary. . There is no corolla; the numerous stamens are attached to the apex of the tube of the calyx. The ovary is inferior, and bears a style and single stigma; the fruit is a cap- sule of four polyspermous cells; the flowers are usually of a yellow color, and emit a strong resinous odor; they form in groups, or appear singly at the axes of the leaves. These trees abound in the forests of New Holland, and have been transplanted to Africa, from thence to Spain, and afterward to France. They thrive marvellously, com- - monly attaininga height of more than a hundred feet. The trunk grows straight to the distance of half its height; the branches become crooked as they are developed; the bark is of a dark gray color, and detaches itself from the tree. The leaves are of various sizes; some of them are more than 4 inches in length and over 2 inches in breadth ; twenty of these leaves, about 2 inches wide and 24inches long, weigh, when dried, 8 grams. The color of the leaf is a deep gray; its outer surface is of a greenish-blue tint, while the inner surface appears to be covered with a whitish powder; viewed through a micros- cope, the vesicles filled with essential oil may be seen. Their flavor is warm and aromatic, similar to that of peppermint when added to a little turpentine; to this sensation there succeeds a bitter-sweet taste. ' The leaves of the eucalyptus are highly prized in certain portions of Spain ; at Cor- dova, for example, where they are prescribed as a substitute for qninine. Mons. Re- naud employed a great number of workmen in this city. As soon as any of these felt the symptoms of intermittent fever, he compelled them to take a gram of this leaf, reduced to powder, three times a day; they were invariably cured in a few days. On the 6th of March, 1867, the writer of this article presented to the Society of Pharmacy, of which he is the president, a flask of the volatile oil of the eucalyptus and a sample of the plant. This essence possesses an aromatic odor; it is colorless and of a fluidity equal to the essence of mint. Placed in contact with nitric acid, it acquires consistency and becomes resinous. It is believed that its action is antiperiodic. It would be interesting to ascertain if the leaves of the eucalyptus, when cultivated in France, would obtain the same properties as those which are taken from the trees of Spain and Africa. Our malarial fevers would, in this case, yield to this agent, and it would also be a great economy to the poor classes, as the sulphate of quinine is at the present time, and will long continue to be, of a very high price, although we have no fear that the precious cinchona tree will disappear for many years to come. The following communication is of later date: * * * * The Eucalyptus globulus, which we first brought to the attention of the learned world and of therapeutists, has at length, we hope, taken its proper place in the medical practice. Mons. Ramel had the honor of introducing this magnificent and valua- ble vegetable production into Europe; Messrs. Cloez, Gimbert, Regulus Carlotti, and Tristamy have acquainted us with its chemical composition and its therapeutic effects, but Professor Gubler alone has given us a complete work upon this subject. Let us hope that speculation and infatuation will not seize upon this plant for com- mercial purposes, a misfortune that has too often attended important discoveries. We have received barks of the Eucalyptus globulus from the north of France and Australia, compared them with those of Africa, and are prepared to admit that those barks and leaves that are obtained from warm climates should be employed in prefer- ence to others. It is well known that vegetation, in every period, increases its bulk by means of materials that it gathers from without; that‘among certain dicotyledonous trees this increase takes place in the exterior layer of the liber or inner bark of the tree; that this phenomenon operates very slowly in certain vegetables and rapidly in others. The Eucalyptus globulus increases with great rapidity. In Australia the leaves and bark are rich in essential oil, which exudes whenever the bark or a leaf is rent by an insect or any foreign body. This essence, coming in contact with the atmospheric air, forms little globules that are detached by the action of the wind. As it is much more easy to procure barks from Africa than from Australia, those of Africa should be used for therapeutic purposes. These barks are classified as young, living, and dead barks. The very young barks have no aroma, and are rolled together ; their color is analogous to that of the cinna- mon of China. Those which are naturally detached from living trees are very good ; those procured from dead trees are worthless. Viewed through a microscope they ap- pear to be covered with a cryptogamous vegetation, which defaces them. Barks of dead trees have little odor, are easily separated, and weigh a third less than those taken from living trees. The barks of ‘the eucalyptus are composed of layers methodically superposed, which are susceptible of division after a long steeping in water. The lamine are formed by 246 longitudinal fibers held together by a substance to which chemists have given the name of entraites, or tie-beams. The interior of the bark is smooth and of a deep yel- low color; a branch of the eucalyptus deprived of its leaves has a fibrous consistency ; this fibrous nature disappears as the wood grows old. The taste of the living barks is more decidedly aromatic than that of the dead barks, and both leave in the mouth but little of their soluble principles; for commercial purposes and for the extraction of the essence the leaves should be employed. The writer has another article on the chemical composition of the essence of this plant. Since the introduction of the eucalyptus, the plant has been the subject of many articles, the most complete of which has been published by Mons. Gubler in the Therapeutic Bulletin. As I have foreseen, quackery has overstated the properties of the plant, and it will happen to this as to others that its popularity will be ephemeral, because its virtues have been exaggerated. Undoubtedly the papers of Paris will maintain that this plant has little virtue. To- day they announce a syrup, a powder, an alcoholate, an aqueous or alcoholic extract of eucalyptes, The globules of the eucalyptus are now in vogne, and those who are striving to turn them to profitable account have exaggerated their virtues, much to the preju- dice of the plant. It is an antiperiodic and a stimulant ; it acts only by the essential oil which it contains. It is not necessary to attribute any other virtues to it. A NEW CEMENT.—By a series of experiments Dr. Griinberg has suc- ceeded in preparing a cement from Kieserite, an associate and consti- tuting about 12 per cent. of the so-called Abraunsalze of the salt deposits of Strassfurt, Prussia. By mixing, in presence of sufficient quantity of water, one equivalent (36 parts) of hydrate of lime with two equivalents (138 parts) of kieserite, consisting of water and sulphate of magnesia in equivalent proportions, he obtained a pasty mass which, upon heating, atforded a solid compound, composed of sulphate of lime and sulphate of magnesia, plus magnesia, which seemed devoid of useful properties. However, if the pasty compound be strongly ignited, pulverized, and mixed with water, a solid mass is instantly produced, which in hardness resembles marble rather than gypsum, and is capable of being polished and of withstanding the action of moisture. SUGARS OF THE THIRD CRYSTALLIZATION.—Comptes Rendus of March 10 contains a memoir upon “ raw sugars of the third erystalliza, tion,” by M.Ch. Violette, from which he draws the following conclusions - 1st. Sugars of the third crystallization of the north of France contain- besides the sugar and earthy matters, the mineral and organic princi ples of the molasses. 2d. Molasses especially rich in chloride of potassium may, in certain conditions, furnish sugar of the third crystallization of composition very different from that of the ordinary sugars of the third crystallization. These sugars may contain considerable quantities of sucrate of the chlo- ride of potassium, isomorphous with cane sugar. 3d. The method of incureration of sugars by the addition of sulphuric acid, at present in general use, gives amounts of ash above the normal weights of that of raw sugars. The difference is greater as the ashes are richer in soda salts and alkaline carbonates. 4th. The ash of the raw sugars of the north in question represents three-fourths the weight of salts contained in the sugars. _ 247 BOTANICAL NOTES. By Dr. GEORGE VasSEY, BOTANIST. FERTILIZATION OF WHEAT AND OTHER GRASSES.—In the monthly report of this Department for October last is an article by the Commis- sioner on the “Cultivation and hybridizing of wheat,” in which are given the results of some observations made by his direction, which results coufirmed his opinion that the fertilization of wheat was effected in the closed flower, and hence that hybridization does not naturally occur between different varieties growing in close proximity. This gub- ject. in its reference not only to wheat but to other grasses, appears to have also received some attention in Germany, particularly by Professor Hildebrand, of Frieburg, and is made the subject of a paper read by him before the Berlin Academy of Sciences, October 31, 1872. A brief synopsis of this paper, from a translation published in the (London) Gardener’s Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette, is as follows: With respect to their floral structure grasses may be classified under the following heads: 1. Diecious grasses.—Here, the two kinds of floral organs, viz, stamens and pistils, grow on distinct plants, one portion producing only stami- nate flowers, and the other portion producing only pistillate flowers. There is but a small number of species of this class. The buffalo-grass of the plains (Buchle dactyloides) is one of them. 2. Monecious grasses.—In this class the staminate and pistillate flowers occupy different parts of the same plant. In Indian corn (Zea mays) the staminate flowers occupy the summit of the plant, while the pistillate are arranged upon an axis proceeding from a lower portion of the plant. In wild rice, (Zizania aquatica) the fertile flowers occupy the upper part of the panicle, and the staminate flowers the lower part. 3. Polygamous grasses——Here a portion of the flowers may be perfect, that is, combining both sexes, and a portion will be either wholly stam- inate or wholly pistillate. Some species of Panicum and of Andropogon are of this description. 4, Perfectly flowered grasses.—This ineludes the larger portion of grasses, especially of temperate climates. In this division fall also most of our cultivated grains, as wheat, oats, and barley. In grasses of the first class, 7. e., dicecious grasses, the pistillate flowers must necessarily be fertilized by the pollen from entirely distinct plants, just as among higher plants the pistillate willow is fertilized by the pollen from the male willow of the same kind but on a different tree. On the western plains where the buffalo-grass prevails, large patches may be found having only male flowers, and other patches occur having only female flowers. The seed of course is only produced upon these female or fertile plants. Until this fact was discovered, the two sexes were supposed to be different species, and were known by different names. In the moneecious grasses also, as in the common Indian corn, (Zea mays,) the pistillate flowers must be fertilized from without; the pistils are thrust out from the husky covering and exposed to the influence of any pollen which may fall upon them; hence the readiness with which, dif- ferent varieties, if planted in proximity, hybridize or mix with each other. The same is true to a large extent with polygamous grasses. In the case of the perfectly flowered grasses, we find several provis- ions existing, which affect the mode of fertilization. 248 1. In some species, as in the sweet-vernal grass, (Anthoranthum,) the stigmas are thrust ont of the fiower some time in advance of its own stamens, and are fertilized by pollen from earlier developed flowers. A similar arrangement exists in the meadow-foxtail (Alopecurus) and many other grasses. In these cases there is usually only a short period during which the pistil remains fresh and capable of fertilization; in Phalaris arundinacea, however, Professor Hildebrand found the stigmas fresh and receptive for a longer time. 2. In by far the larger number of grasses the male and female organs mature at the same time in the same flower; but even here there are circumstances which in some species seem favorable to self-fertilization, and in others to cross-fertilization. Thus, in rye, the anthers are partly extended beyond the points of the inclosing chaff, before the full expan- sion of the flower, so that the pollen first shed goes to the fertilization of other flowers which are already open. When the flower fully expands, and the rest of the pollen is shed, only a portion is likely to fall upon the stigmas of the same flower owing to the relative position of the parts, the ereater portion being conveyed to other flowers. In the common oat (Avena sativa) the flowers, in dry weather, open in the afternoon and toward evening. The anthers hang out of the flower, and the pollen is, to by far the greater extent, dispersed to other flowers; but in damp and cold weather the flowers remain closed, the pollen is shed within the flower, and self-fertilization is inevitable. The flowers of rice (Oryza sativa) open in the morning, and the arrangement is nearly the same as in the oat, favorable to cross-fertilization. In all the observations made by Professor Hildebrand on different species of barley, no flowers were found to be open, but all were self- fertilized, even before the spike or head was protruded from its sheath. However, another observer, Delphino, asserts that there is at least the possibility of cross-fertilization in barley. He states that the spike of Hordeum vulgare has six rows of flowers, and that the flowers of the two middle rows never open, and are, therefore, subject exclusively to self-fertilization, while the flowers of the other four rows open slightly and disperse a portion of their pollen in the air. In Hordeum distichum the flowers are also in six rows, but only those of the two middle rows are perfect and fertile, while those of the other four rows are imperfect, containing stamens only. The fertile flowers never open, and are fertil- ized, while the spike still remains buried in its sheath. When first pro- truded the stigmas are already dead, thus showing the highest degree of self-fertilization. There are, however, he asserts, among these fertile flowers a very few which are destined for cross-fertilization; these re- main five or more days longer unpollenized than the rest, and they open slightly, so as to allow the entry of foreign pollen, especially from the male flowers. With respect to wheat, Delpino asserts that the idea that wheat is necessarily self-fertilized has arisen erroneously, from the fact that the flowers remain open only for a very brief time. In a wheat-field only a very small proportion, perhaps one in 400 of the flowers, are open at one and the same time. The opening of the flower of wheat is a very interesting phenomenon, and happens with wonderful rapidity. While the flowers are still closed, a motion of the glumes is observable; these separate suddenly in a moment; at the same time the anthers protrude laterally from the opening; they open and about one-third of the pollen falls inside the flower upon its own stigma, while the remaining two- thirds are dispersed into the air; the anthers are emptied in a moment, and the whole process does not occupy more than half a minute. The 249 stigmas remain receptive for a considerably longer period, and can then receive the pollen of other flowers. Professor Hildebrand remarks, in conclusion, that the conditions of fertilization or pollenation must be observed in each single species, since closely allied species of the same genus show strikingly different phe- nomena in this respect; and moreover each separate species may exhibit very different behavior when exposed to different conditions of climate. To this end it is hoped that a series of observations on this very impor- tant and interesting subject may be forthcoming from botanists in dif- ferent couniries. THE BABYLONIAN OR WEEPING WILLOW.—A writer in Silliman’s Journal says that from the investigations of Karl Kock, it appears that the “Garab” upon which, according to the psalmist, the captive Jews at Babylon hung their harps, is not the weeping willow, named Salix Babylonica by Linneus on account of the current tradition; and indeed is not a willow at all, but a poplar. Ranwolf had long ago concluded that the tree was not a willow. The Salix Babylonica, whose hardiness indicates a cooler climate than that of Mesapotamia, is now regarded as of Chinese or Japanese origin; so that its specific Linnzan name gives place to that of Salix pendula, Meench. Rocky MOUNTAIN OAK.—Mr. Serono Watson, in the America Natu- ralist for May, gives descriptions of twenty-five new plants growing in Utah and Arizona collected last year by the expeditions of Lieutenant Wheeler and of Major Powell, with the following note upon the Rocky Mountain Oak: Quercus undulata, Torr. 'The common low oak of the Rocky Mountains and Wahsatch ranges southward to New Mexico and Southern Utah. An examination of considera- ble material shows that it is quite variable in its foliage, and includes several reputed species and forms. The typical form has oblong leaves with acute or acutish, entire, divaricate, mostly triangular lobes, the sinuses reaching half way to the midrib. This is also Quercus Fendleri, “Lehm. With large leaves and the lobes sometimes coarsely notched, it becomes Q. Gambelli, Nutt., and @ Douglasii, var. Neo-Mexicana, D.C. With the lobes more obtuse it is Q. alba, var. Gunnisoni, Torr.; and with the lobes less divar- icate and more oblong, frequently notched at the apex, and the rounded or narrow sinuses reaching often nearly to the midrib, it is the more prevalent northern form, Q. obtusiloba, var. depressa, Nutt., and the vane Utahensis, D. C. The extreme states appear quite distinct, but intermediate forms abound, and there seems to be nothing i in the flowers or fruit to distinguish them. Q P ‘ is nm . a ; BS Wu = nS 7§ = . > WEEE GiiFiilEe- 4]; i Ups P Upiga ey ip Wp 4 Qa pipe \\ Y i) He \ , a. HS Na ! AN va) Nee atud it (i \ NS SI SSAA S 251 MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS. By THOMAS TAYLOR. Under date of April 25, 1873, Martin McKenzie, of Boston, Mas- sachusetts, informed this Department that he had planted in his hot- house, on January last, a healthy Early Rose potato, and also one of the same variety affected with the fungus, Peronospora infestans. While growing, both were treated as nearly alike as possible, were supplied with a superabundance of water to induce fungus growth, and were subjected to about 70° of temperature. Both varieties sprouted and sent forth the usual supply of rootlets, stalks, leaves, and tubers. The original tubers used as seed in these experiments, with their appendages, were forwarded to this Department for microscopic exami- nation, the object being to ascertain the relative value of diseased potatoes, as compared with healthy ones, when used for seed. The so-called healthy seed-potato, with its appendages as received, was Separately examined for fungoid forms, and especially for that of Per- onospora infestans, but neither its spores, mycelium, nor fruit were found on them. My attention was next directed to the unhealthy “ seed-potato,” its stalks, leaves, rootlets, and tubers. On the surface of the tubers were plainly visible, to the naked eye, small brown spots, represented by S, 8S, S, I, (Fig. 6,) some of which I carefully removed with a pen-knife. These i placed in strong nitric acid for several minutes. Other portions were submitted to the action of boiling caustic potash. As the mineral acids and alkalies render starch soluble and transparent, or rather transform it into new substances which are transparent and soluble, fungoid forms, if present, are more easily discovered by the use of these sol- vents. Potash has also the power of rendering the albuminates of the Skin soluble, and by its use the fungoid masses S, 8, S are more easily separated from the cellular matter of the potato. The fangoid cells are also rendered more transparent. When the brown spots S, S, S are viewed under a power of about 275 diameters, amber-colored budding cells, represented by a, are observed, from which protrudes amber-colored branched and jointed mycelium, as represented by 4, 5, and 6. Before examining the rootlets (see arrows) I submitted them to boiling caustic potash a few minutes, to render them soft and easily compressed, and brought into focus. 7, 8, 9, and 10 represent their mycelium and rootlets. Their relative size is represented by the © scale A, C. A, A represent the parenchyma cells of the rootlets, B their vascular bundles, and C the mycelium on the rootlets. The cells a have the same relative size. 2 represents the vascular bundles of the tubers. The dark spots on the young tubers, 3, 3, are composed of clusters of budding spores, as represented by a, being of the same form and color as those of the parent tuber. The dotted lines on 1 represent the cel- lular structure of the skin of the tuber highly magnified. The stalks and leaves of the unhealthy Early Rose potato, although presenting to the naked eye a healthy appearance, were found to be interspersed with amber-colored mycelium peculiar to potato-rot. The only appearance observable to the naked eye was brown spots on the new tubers, the skins of which otherwise were smooth and transparent. Their fungoid markings, to an inexperienced eye, would not readily attract attention, as they appear like small portions of brown earth. 252 On comparing the freshly-cut surfaces of the healthy and un- healthy tubers mentioned, the latter presentefl a mottled and translu- cent appearance, while a section of the healthy presented a more uniforni color. Itis clearly shown in this case that “ as we sow so shall we reap.” On the 12th of April last, a healthy Early Rose potato and a New Mexican variety were planted in one of the hot-beds of the Department. Over both was placed a glass shade, the object being to produce, by artificial means, disease in their foliage. The temperature of their _ atmosphere ranged about 68° F. The sand in which the tubers were placed was bountifully supplied with water. In consequence of these conditions, a very moist atmosphere was kept up in the glass shade. In a few days the tubers sprouted—the Early Rose first. The foliage of both varieties gradually expanded, but it soon became evident that the leaves of the Early Rose, especially the larger ones, had become affected with what appeared to be “curl of the leaf.” Upon examination it seemed that their upper surfaces expanded more rapidly than their under. The leaves of the New Mexican variety became affected similarly, but in a less degree. I examined the leaves under a power of about 90 diame- ters, but failed to discover any fungoid form. I next ground varicus portions of the respective leaves into a pulp, placing portions, thinly spread out, under a power of about 300 diameters, but failed to find fungoid cells of any kind developed or in progress. Many portions, however, of the vascular bundles seemed filled with water in- stead of air, a condition which is not usually found, even when leaves have been left in water for some time. The under surface of the leaves exhibited brown markings, and, when examined with a power of about 90 diameters, the color was seen to be confined to the outward boundary lines of the parenchyma cells of the leaf, showing that the cellular tissue was undergoing oxidation. Within a few hours the central parts dropped out, and the foliage became riddled with holes. Oxidation is not always accompanied by fungus growth. While a taper is burning it is undergoing oxidation, but the conditions of change in this case render the simultaneous production of fangus cells impossi- ble, yet, when fungus cells are undergoing the process of budding, oxi- dation of the cellular tissue seems to be necessarily a secondary condition. The “ curl of the leaf” may not always be the result of a fungus growth, but the conditions which produce it will necessarily retard the growth of the plant commensurate to their extent, and pave the way for fungoid growths. I next put the plants into separate flower-pots, and exposed them to the influences of the open air. Ina few days the foliage of both . kinds attained a healthy color, but was stunted in growth. After three weeks’ exposure, under favorable conditions as to heat and moisture, the foliage of both appeared healthy. On June 9, the New Mexican plant put forth flower-buds; while the other, although known to be an early variety, did not exhibit any. While both plants were passing from their unhealthy condition in the open air, many of the leaves of the Early Rose plant wilted and died; the leaves of the other remained a healthy green throughout, showing a superior vigor. On the 19th of May last, three varieties of New Mexican potatoes were planted in the Department grounds for experimental purposes, and notwithstanding the extreme dryness of the atmosphere during the last thirty days their growth has proved highly vigorous. The stalks are numerous and from 10 to 12 inches in height. The foliage is abundant, has a very healthy appearance, is highly wrinkled, of a dark green color,. 253 and is remarkably free from insect injuries. At this date (June 13th) their buds are forming. Judging from present appearances, any of the three varieties would prove highly valuable for localities subject to a hot and dry atmosphere. The New Mexican potatoes, although not so mealy as the New York Peach-blows, white and red, are dry andof goodflavor. Their cultivation in the northern States will doubtless modify the structural and chemical properties. At present they seem wholly free from the fungus of po- tato-rot. In order to test their anti-fungoid properties more fully, sam- ples have been forwarded to experienced farmers in the State of Mas- sachusetts, and other States, to be planted with other varieties known to be very liable to potato-disease. Any practical results derived from experiments now in progress will be given in a future article. DETERIORATION OF AMERICAN COTTON, By THE COMMISSIONER. The production, sale, and consumption of cotton are subjects of so much interest, that everything pertaining thereto should be well under- stood. Planters, as well as merchants and manufacturers, may profit by lessons elicited by a comparison of the experiences and observations of those engaged in its cultivation, marketing, and manufacture. The correspondeuce of this Department with intelligent planters of the South made the impression that the quality of cotton offered in our markets had greatly deteriorated within the last twelve years, and thus induced me to prepare the following circular, requesting cotton-growers of the South and manufacturers of the East to furnish the results of their observations on the subject: To Questions of some importance to the country have arisen, which it is desirable should be solved by the opinions of manufacturers as well as planters. 1. Has the staple of American cotton deteriorated in quality within the last twelve years. If so, (2,) to what cause is it attributable ? It has been suggested that deterioration is traceable to certain phases of the cotton market, which induce planters to study quantity rather than quality ; that dealers do net judiciously discriminate between qualities in fixing the price. To aid this Department in the investigation of the subject for the benefit of manu- facturers and planters, I will be obliged to you for your opinions, predicated upon your experience and observation of the subject. lam, most respectfully, your obedient servant, 2 * FREDK. WATTS, Commissioner of Agricuiture. This circular w&s directed to fifty manufacturers of the Eastern States, and to as many planters of the Southern States; and from very many of both classes answers were received, satisfactorily showing that while the quality of cotton now brought to market is quite inferior in condi- tion to what was produced twelve years ago, that condition is attributa- ble to causes which do not necessarily enter into the production or sale of the commodity. It seems to be very clear that the present production is, in a large measure, in the hands and under the direction of a less intelligent class of planters, who do not appreciate the importance of a judicious selec- tion of seed, proper cultivation, and especially a careful preparation for the market. Now, while there are other planters, who are intelligently 254 guided in these requisites, the productions of both classes meet in the same market,and should command a discrimination as to quality and price, which, it is complained, they do not get. On the contrary, the conclusion is that dirty cotton is most profitable, because it brings more money per acre than that which is sold by the careful planter. This seems to be an evil which time and circumstances must cure; and it is therefore an injudicious conclusion, that it would be better to adopt the example of the planter who sells dirty cotton. It cannot be that the merchant or manufacturer will long fail to discriminate between the good and the bad, when they are marked by such distinctive quali-’ ties as clean and dirty. This, then, may be looked upon as a temporary evil. And we may hope that its cure will necessarily work a correspond- ing change in the careless class of planters to which we have alluded; for if they have to pay for hauling dirt, for which they get no price, and which decreases the value and price of their cotton, their losses will teach them to separate the former from the latter. It is assuming too much to suppose that both the merchant and the manufacturer will con- tinue insensible to the advantages which arise from a choice between goodand bad. The evilcomplained of may last for atime; but detection and change are certain. : We cannot doubt for a moment that the spirit of improvement in ag- riculture actuates the planters of the South as well as the farmers of the North; and that the fact that better seed will produce better products, is greatly appreciated and acted upon everywhere. But if the merchant and manufacturer fail to appreciate the value of a good article of pro- duce, as compared with an inferior one, it will go very far to discourage the effort to excel. All the information which I have been enabled to gather on this sub- ject leads to the conclusion that there is no deterioration in the cotton staple, but that efforts to improve its cultivation and quality are, in some degree, thwarted by a want of proper discrimination in the mar- ' ket prices between the qualities offered for sale. AUSTRALIAN WOOLS. In the monthly report of the Department of Agriculture for July, 1872, mention was made of the reception and deposit in the museum of the Department of thirty-three prize fleeces of Australian wools, for- warded by the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, with a view, as stated by the secretary, Mr. Joubert, of enabling buyers of wool and breeders of sheep in the United States to see what was produced in Australia, and of bringing about such an exchange 6éf blood in sheep as might be of mutual benefit to the two countries. These wools were duly placed on exhibition in the museum, where they now remain; samples were likewise sent to a number of wool-growers’ associations in the western and northern States for inspection, and for the purpose of eliciting the opinions of those presumed to be competent judges in the matter. As the Department, however, had no means of establishing such a system of exchange of animals as was suggested, it could only refer the proposition to individuals and associations for their action. Among those to whom reference was thus made was Hon. Henry 8S. Randall, president of the National Wool-Growers’ Association, whose opinion was freely expressed in a letter to the Department, which was 255 published in full in the n®nthly report above referred to. This opinion was adverse to the contemplated exchange, for the reason that no bene- fit to our wool interests could reasonably be expected from the introdue- tion of Australian merinos into this country. The only State wool- growers’ associations from which the Department has received a report upon the merits of the wools which were sent to them, are those of Pennsylvania and Ohio. The latter, after having submitted the sam- ples to the examination of a committee of ten good judges of wool, passed a resolution that, in their opinion, “ the fine-wool flocks of Ohio ‘ could not be benefited by introducing a cross of blood from the fine- wool flocks of New South Wales.” The Pennsylvania association also submitted the Australian samples to a competent and judicious com- mittee, whose report is given below in full. Im communicating this re- port to the Department, the president of the association, F. Julius Le Moyne, esq., remarks tbat ‘“ wool-growers in the United States are not in the habit of preparing their wool for market as these Australian sam- ples were evidently prepared—most of them having been partially scoured, soap and chemicals being used in the operation; while Ameri- can wools are generally sold either in the grease or brook-washed. In view of the fact that this difference of preparation renders a compari- son of foreign with American wools more difficult and uncertain, Mr. Le Moyne suggests that “a uniform manner of preparing our wools for the market is very desirable, and would save much trouble in the traf- fic, and give character and stability to the business.” REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SAMPLES OF AUSTRALIAN WOOL. To Dr. F. J. Le Moyne, president of The State of Pennsylvania Wool-Growers’ Association : The undersigned committee, to whom you assigned for examination samples of Aus- tralian wool received by you from the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture at Washington City, D. C., respectfully report: Those of the thirty-three samples offered to our inspection which have been partially scoured are much better cleansed than is customary in our State, are in very nice con- dition, and compare very favorably with the wools of the same class in Pennsylvania. The scale of comparative qualities, as given in the small pamphlet accompanying the samples, (if we rightly understand it,) affords a method, if skillfully and honestly administered, of arriving at the comparative merits of fleeces of different sheep, and of varieties of breed. No such standards have been adopted in this State. The relative and comparative points are well presented in this pamphlet, embracing all the samples of wool presented for inspection. ; After a careful examination, we have selected as XXX, (triple X) or pick-lock, in our mode of grading, the samples Nos. 1, 6, 8, 11, 12, and 32; and, with the exception of 32, the others are too light in fleece, falling nearly a pound in weight below the cus- tomary weight of premium fleeces in our standard flocks in the State of the same grade of wool, viz., XXX. We calculate on two and a half to three pounds of clean wool of this grade, while, with the exception of No. 32, these Australian wools fall short of that weight nearly or quite one pound to the fleece. With repect to the samples Nos. 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 15, and 16, also Nos. 20, 21, 23, 24, 27, 29, and 30, second quality, some of which might be graded somewhat above our XX (double X) when compared with the fleeces of our “improved American merino,” which produce XX wool, we are safe in saying large selections can be made from the standard flocks in our State, either clean or in the grease, which would greatly excel these Austra- lian samples in nearly every point of comparison. The remaining samples we would class with our single X wools, most of which would fall Peay the products of our American merino fleeces of that grade, more especially in weight. Sample No. 31, French merino, is, in our opinion, the poorest in the lot. After a short experiment with this breed of sheep in this State, we abandoned them quickly, as un-- worthy of propagation. Their fiber is very deficient in strength, and their fleeces too light in proportion to their heavy carcasses. ! The weeht of the carcasses from which these Australian fleeces were shown not being given, one essential point of merit and comparison was not afforded us. We present, from our own observation, for the consideration of those interested, the general product from ewes in the good flocks of our State, the weight of clean fleeces, and their percentage to the weight of the animal: i 256 on American Saxon merino, 65 pounds carcass, 3 pounds triple X wool, 4,5, per cent. wool. American improved Spanish, 65 pounds carcass, 4 pounds double X wool, 6% per cent. wool. American improved Spanish, 65 pounds carcass, 44 pounds single X wool, 6}} per cent. wool. ; After a minute and fair examination of these Australian wools, we cannot see that our Pennsylvania flocks would be benefited by crossing with the breeds which these samples represent. ; The Silesian breed of sheep is larger than ghat of the Saxon merino, and would change but little the above percentage of triple X wool, while the Paular breed is less in size than that of the American improved Spanish; and their percentage of wool, of both double X and single X, would also be nearly the same. There are various other breeds of sheep in the State, kept more for mutton than wool. Among these the Leicester stands highest. Their wool is long and beautiful, and is used for combing purposes. We deem it unnecessary to mention anything further of other varieties of breed. | Some samples accompany this report. Respectfully submitted. JOHN McDOWELL, M. H. EWING, JAMES G. STREAN, WM. DAVIS, W. LEE ARCHER, Commiitee. Mr. Le Moyne has forwarded to.the Department a tery fine collection of samples of wool, grown in Pennsylvania, which have been in the mu- seum of the Department for exhibition. . Mr. Joubert, in a letter to the Department, took exception to Mr. Ran- dall’s remarks, suggesting that his opinions had been formed from erro- neous impressions derived from specimens which had been brought from Australia, ‘under false pretenses,” and intimating that he should like to have Mr. Randall’s opinion of the fleeces sent to the Department. And in a subsequent letter to the Department, Mr. Joubert repeats his objections to the views expressed by Mr. Randall, and incloses an extract from the Sydney Herald, commenting, with some severity, upon Mr. Ran- dall’s views of the comparative merits of the fine wools of this country and Australia, and repeating the suggestion of Mr. Joubert that his opinion of Australian wools had been formed from “ worthless culls” that had been shipped to the United States from New Zealand under false pretenses. In this connection the following communication from Mr. Randall, written after a careful examination and analysis of the samples of Australian wools forwarded by Mr. Joubert, will be read with inter- est by the buyers of sheep and the wool-growers of this country: CORTLAND VILLAGE, NEw York, May 15, 1873. Str: I have received yours containing the letters addressed to you by Mr. Jules Jou- bert, secretary of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, commenting on the opinion which I expressed, in answer to your inquiries, in regard to the expediency of introducing Australian merinos into our country by the system of exchanges proposed by Mr. Joubert. I wrote you: “In regard to fine-wool sheep, apparently the most favorable subjects of exchange, the standards of breeding in the two countries are essentially different. A friend of mine brought out from Australia some merinos, six or eight, and placed them with me. They were from the most celebrated flocks, and were mostly first-prize sheep at the Australian International Colonial Show.* They were of good size and form, and were very hardy and vigorous. Their wool was much finer than ours, and more than pro- portionably lighter. Compared with ours they wereathin-wooled sheep. Their fleeces would not sell for enough more per pound than American merino fleeces to be as prof- itable as the latter.” Here everything that could be asked for was conceded to these Australian sheep, except jn regard to their relative weight of fleeces. Because I declared them inferior to Amer- ,can merinosin that respect, Mr. Joubert assumes that they were “ miserable specimens ” * By my own mistake, or that of the printer, this designation is improperly given. For “ International Colonial Show” read “Inter-colonial Show.” 257 of the breed brought “to the United States under false colors.” I will pass this charge for the present, and let Mr. Joubert himself show the weights of fleeces of the most approved Australian merinos. Acting for the agricultural soziety he represents, this gentleman forwarded to the United States thirty-three merino fleeces which had re- ceived prizes at the exhibition at Sydney in 1871, “in order,” he stated, “to enable not only the buyers of wool, but also the breeders of sheep, to see what we produce; and with a view to bring about an exchange which must necessarily prove of mutual benefit.” You, Mc. Com- missioner of Agriculture, sent me ample samples of these specimen fleeces, accompanied by a descriptive catalogue giving average weight of each fleece in the lot from which it was taken, its time of growth, age of sheep, how bred, &c. Some of the fleeces were washed and some not. The relative weight of wool in the latter condition can- not, of course, be determined. Of the fleeces sent by Mr. Joubert which were washed and time of growth given, there were sixteen from ewes and three from rams. The following facts appear in re- lation to the three heaviest ewes’ fleeces : Weight of fleeces. Days’ growth. Age of sheep. BW Ost ciicis ee aueneaed 4 \bs. 43 oz. 392. ‘ 4 years and upward. BBW Gir Sphere dials 4 lbs. 14 oz. 330. 2 years and upward. JON Ae RAE ai RRS aie sha 4 lbs. 03 oz. O72. 4 years and upward. The eight next heaviest fleeces weighed from 3 pounds 2{ ounces to 3 pounds 13} ounces . Another fleece weighed 2 pounds 03 ounces; and the remaining four, from 1 pound 54 ounces to 1 pound 9 ounces. The following appears in relation to the three rams’ fleeces: Weight of fleeces. Days’ growth. Age of sheep - REDE otter 2s SS 5 lbs. 14 02. 371. 2 to 4 years- JED CT Soe TP Se ee 4 lbs. 34 oz. 134 months. 134 months: apa. os gs aeed SoS e = 3 lbs. 13} oz. 13 months. 13 months. The answers to the question “ how bred,” show that the thiry-three specimen sheep belonged to no distiuct and established variety or family, known as “ Australian meri- nos,” but embraced numerous other varieties and crosses between those varieties. Thus but two are given as Australian merinos, and three as crosses between them and other varieties. Eight are given as Saxons, and they, too, have several crosses. Others are denominated “pure merinos;” ‘“home-bred;” ‘‘colonial-bred ;” ‘“ station-bred ;” “originally from imported Negretti ram;” ‘“ principally from German blood;” ‘from merino rams for upward of twenty years:” “from pure-bred merino ewes out of imported Rambouillet stock;” “from French merino rams for upward of twenty years,” &e. Prime ewes of the improved heavy-fleeced stock known among the breeders of them as full-blood American merinos, annually produce about six pounds of washed wool per head. In breeders’ (‘‘ram-sellers”) flocks, in which a rigid selection in regard to quan- tity of wool is practiced, such average weight sometimes reaches from seven to eight pounds’ weight. It is difficult to say how much washed wool rams of corresponding quality generally produce, as the heavier-fleeced stock-rams are almost universally shorn unwashed; but their fleeces have in numerous instances been scoured separately, by wool-manufacturers, and have yielded from six to eight pounds, and in one instance upwards of nine pounds of scowred wool. The material difference in the reduction of weight made by scouring and mere washing is understood by all. And now let us compare the relative market value, in this country, of different grades of merino wool. From 1827 to1861,inclusive, a period of thirty-five years, the average prices of wool each quarter of the vear, in Boston, one of uhe two leading wool-markets of the United States, was for fine, 503, cents, and for medium,42;4, cents per pound; the former aver- aging but 15 per centum higher than the latter; and this average ditterence has decreased instead of increasing during the period which has since elapsed. Ihe wools classed as fine “ineluded Saxon, grade Saxon, and choice lightish-fleece American merino; the tmediam included American merino and grade down, say to halt-blood.”* The first * The table of relative prices above referred t) (and it also included coarse wools) was prepared af my request by George Livermore, esq.,aneminent wool-merchant and Statistician of Boston, who compiled it from his owa books and those of his predecessors in the firm. I published it in “ Fine-Wool Husbandry,” and subsequently in “ The Practical Shepherd ;” and it has been repeatedly published elsewhere, without its ac- curacy ever having been called in question. The above classification or specification, by blood, of the sheep producing, respectively, the wool designated as “ fue’ and “medium,” was given by me in both the above-named works, and equally, I believe, without challenge. 4A . 258 about corresponded with Australian fine wools. The heavy American merino wool all falls into the second or medium class; but the grower of it, with only 15 per cent- against him in average selling price, and with more than 100 per cent. in his favor. according to Mr. Joubert’s showing, in average weight of fleece,* will, it is obvious, find the production of his heavy wools far the most profitable. Indeed, in our prin, cipal older wool-growing northern and eastern States, where the sheep-lands are gen- — erally worth at least $30 or $40 an acre, where the sheep require a full supply of arti- ficial feed during at least five months of the year, fleeces of the weight of those sent by Mr. Joubert, no matter how high their quality, would not pay the actual cost of growing them. This fact has been fully established by experience. Many Saxon sheep of like type were imported into this country between 1824 and 1828, and various: choice lots of them and other light-fleeced merino stocks have been introduced since. But at length sheep of this stamp have been almost wholly discarded by American wool-growers. Even our ‘“ Washington County wools,’’t formerly rivaling the Austra- lian wools in fineness and excelling them in soundness and in uniformity, have, after a long struggle, mostly given way to heavier fleeces produced by a cross with heavier- wooled stocks. The opening of cheap lands and perennial pasturage to sheep-hus-. bandry in some of our new States, and future circumstances more propitious than ex- isting ones to the extension of our fine-wool manufactures, may ultimately render the ‘growing of fine merino wools profitable; but the attainment of this highly desirable result depends upon so many contingencies, and is liable to be so long delayed, that it would be the height of folly in our breeders to take preparatory steps in that direction at present. While the foregoing facts show, beyond all question, that the American is the most profitable merino for the United States, it is not by any means claimed that they show it would be the most profitable variety for Australia. The circumstances which regu- late the wool-markets of the two countries are essentially different. Our wools are grown exclusively to meet the demand of a home market, where both the consumption and the manufacture of medium merino wools are yastly in excess of the consumption and manufacture of fine wools. Australia grows wool entirely for export. She un- doubtedly finds a larger and more remunerative market for fine wools, or her intelligent and experienced growers would not continue to give their production the preference. Every practical breeder knows that the maximum of weight and the maximum of fine- ness in wool cannot be attained, or even approximately attained, in the same fleeces ; and hence to say, as I did, of the Australian merinos, that, ‘ compared with ours, they were a thin-wooled sheep,” coupled with the declaration that “ their wool was much finer than ours,” was no real or intended disparagement of them. Here I would choose to close this letter, but justice to the gentleman who imported the Australian sheep described by me compels me to notice the imputations made on him in Mr. Joubert’s letter to you, and by a writer in the Sydney Morning Herald, whose article Mr. Joubert forwarded. The history of that importation is briefly as follows: Mr. Charles J. Kenworthy, an American medical gentleman who had resided a number of years in Australia, wrote me from Ballarat, Victoria, early in 1864, that he was about to return to the United States, and should bring with him some Aus- tralian merinos. He was sanguine that, with their previous habits, these sheep could subsist in great numbers, and all the year round, on the “ piny barrens of the South- ern States,” and thus utilize, with great profits, an immense region then and now en- tirely unproductive and almost totally valueless; and he was determined to commence the experiment on a small scale. On his arrival in this country he, by my permission, brought the sheep to my farm until he could make other arrangements, He informed me that he obtained them in Victoria from Thomas Learmonth, J. L. Currie, and T. Shaw, jr., breeders of high standing in that province, winners of prizes on sheep at the Melbourne exhibitions, and (in 1865) on wool exhibited at Melbourne, and London,Eng- land. Dr. Kenworthy showed me letters from two at least of the above gentlemen, couched rather in the language of friendly regard than of business, mentioning the sheep they had carefully selected for him, declining any compensation for them, and expressing kindly wishes for the success of his “experiment.” The doctor’s return was during the din of civil war and when the pine-barrens of the South were no places to try experiments in sheep-husbandry. Subsequently, for reasons which do not re- quire explanation here, he gave up the undertaking. He never sold or offered for sale one of the sheep, never called or desired me to call public attention to them. And, before dropping the subject, I will add that Lhave no doubt they were very choice specimens of Australian-bred merinos. The imported ewes annually sheared from 34 * Wool is usually washed cleaner for market in Australia than in the United States, but-the difference is not sufficient materially to affect the above estimate. + They took their name from Washington County, Pennsylvania, and were grown in the southwest counties of that State, the Pan-Handle of West Virginia, and the adja- cent portions of Ohio. 259 pounds to 4 pounds of washed wool per head; the imported ram about 54 pounds; and among the numerous choice specimens of wool, including Mr. Joubert’s, from noted Australian flocks, which I have seen within the last ten or fifteen years, I have seen none, in my opinion, of superior quality from fleeces of equal weight. I am, sir, very truly, yours tt ae aa HENRY S. RANDALL. Hon. Freprerick WartTTS, Commissioner of Agriculture. EUROPEAN STATISTICS. STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE IN SWEDEN AND NORWAY. The following facts relating-to agriculture and commerce in Sweden and Norway are condensed from communications made to the Depart- ment of State by Mr. C. C. Andrews, United States minister to Sweden, chiefly from official reports: bany AGRICULTURE IN SWEDEN.—The surface of Sweden, as a whole, slopes gradually from the Baltic to the mountain range which separates it from Norway. The larger part is what is called low ground, which is inter- sected by numerous granite ridges from 40 to 50 feet high. It abounds in lakes, streams, and forests. Of the latter some are of massive fir, some of stately oak and other hard-wood varieties, and some on rocky - tracts are of scanty growth. By the co-operation of the government and private enterprise, Sweden has developed a well-organized agri- cultural system. The Royal Academy of Agriculture, established at Stockholm, has connected with it an experimental farm, and devotes itself chiefly to the solving of scientific questions involved in agricultural indus- ‘tries. There are two agricultural institutes of a high grade—Alnarp, near Luna, and Ultuna, near Upsala—which have fine farms and are well endowed. A few graduates from these are sent annually, at the public ex- pense, to spend a year in studying the theory and practice of agriculture in Scotland, it being thought that Scotland, in its agricultural features, re- sembles Sweden more than any other country does. In addition to these three institutions, national in their scope, each lin, or county, has an agri- cultural economic society, of which the county governor (appointed by the Crown) is usually president. These county societies draw a consid- erable revenue fromabrandy-tax imposed by the government, and hence, ~ though voluntary organizations, they are indirectly brought under ob- ligations to collect statistics for governmental purposes. They have the means of distributing premiums, and as they generally include the most intelligent and public-spirited men in the county, they promote agricultural interests in many ways. Statistical blanks are annually forwarded by the central bureau of statistics to each of these societies, which is expected to see that they are filled out and returned by all the farmers within its limits. In this work the society is assisted by the parish administrations, and such other agencies as are available. As soon as the returns from any one county are received by the statistical bureau, they are printed and distributed overthe kingdom. But, though it often happens that the statistics of a county are returned in printed form and distributed through it (and the country) within six weeks from the time they were forwarded, the annual report of, agriculture for the whole kingdom is seldom published before the statistics are two years old. 260 | In Sweden much of the land has never been surveyed, and therefore the following statistics are, in some respects, but an approximation to exactness. The report of 1863 gives as the whole area, main-land and islands, 97,051,107.imperial acres. Of this there were in vegetable, hop, and market gardens, 52,684 acres; arable and otherland under cultivation, 6,023,448 ; natural meadows, 4,910,296 ; forest-bearing land, 49,784,515; mineral and waste lands, 36,280,164, Tor the three years preceding 1868 the amount of land under cultivation was annually in- creased, on the average, about 2.25 per cent. The increase in acreage of improved and cultivated land, in 1865, was as follows: Newly cultivated land, 28,661 acres; drained, 10,676; underdrained, 34,725; irrigated, 3,245; marled, 32,678; forest-sowed, 6,008; forest-planted, 2,458 ; total, 118,451 acres. In 1869 the area in wheat and rye was 951,600 acres; in barley and oats, 1,830,000; buckwheat, 1,220. The product of wheat was 2,200,000 imperial bushels; rye, 14,400,000; barley, 10,400,000 ; oats, 26,400,000; buckwheat, 20,000; pease and beans, 1,600,000; pota- toes, 40,000,000. The exports of cereals were: Wheat and flour, 455,080 imperial bushels; rye, 31,560; barley and malt, 906,160; oats, 7,114,896. The imports of cereals were: Wheat and flour, 900,040 imperial bushels; rye flour or meal, 3,571,692 ; barley and malt, 227,360. Farms and their occupants.—In 1868 the number of farmers owning farms of 5 acres or less was 63,181; of over 5 to 50 acres, 153,379; of over 50 to 250 acres, 22,744; of over 250 acres, 2,588; total number of owners, 241,892. The number of tenants and proprietors cultivating farms of 5 acres or less was 91,858; of over 5 to 50 acres, 98,665; of over 50 to 250 acres, 13,390; of over 250 acres, 1,648; total number of tenants and proprietors cultivating farms, 205,561. Of farms which maintain entirely the family cultivating them, the smallest consist of about 40 acres of arable and meadow land, with 50 to 100 acres of pasture and wood land. The occupants of smaller farms generally sup- port their families, in part, from other resources than farming. The class known in Sweden as “the peasantry” own the land they cultivate. There is a large class called ‘“ torpars,” (that is, cottagers,) who occupy “torps” and pay the rent in labor. A torp usually includes, beside a a cottage, not over 4 acres of arable land, with the right of fuel and of pasture for a number of cattle. The rent varies from one to three days’ work per week, to which must be added a certain number of days’ work in harvest by women; for,in Sweden, women work on the farm in planting, hoeing, and harvesting. In 1867 the number of torps in the kingdom was 179,034. The average money-rent of land of medium quality is, for small farms, about $4.25 per tunnland, a tunnland being 1.22 imperial acres; for large farms, $2.50 to $3.25 per tunnland. Leases are usually for ten years, but the Crown-lands may be leased for twenty years. Wages—Money-wages vary according to season and locality. In winter, for men working nine hours per day, day-wages range from 16 to 27 cents; in summer, for men working thirteen hours per day, they range from 21 to 41 cents; for women, in summer, day-wages are from 10 to 22 cents. Yearly wages, including board, are, for men, from $20 to $30; for girls, from $10 to $14, The value, of a year’s board for a hired man is estimated at from $45 to $70. Of late years land has been increasing in value, and, as it does so, the torpar system is found less economical; hence there is a growing practice of employing married laborers who reside on the farm and are paid partly in money and partly in farm products. Generally married hired laborers have a cottage and a plat of land rent free. 261 Improvement in draining.—Drainage is made a specialty in Sweden, and it is estimated that the increase in value of land thus improved has already added over $100,000,000 to the permanent wealth of the king- dom. Any farmer who wishes to drain land can have the services of-a skillful engineer, at small expense, by applying through the proper offi- cialchannel. The incomplete statistics of 1867 returned for that year 9,756 acres of overflowed land as drained, and 11,744 acres of other land as underdrained. In the same line of improvement, subsoil plows, plowing to the depth of 12 or 15 inches, are being introduced, and the use of them promises to soon become general. Fertilizers.—The use of guano and Chilian saltpeter has almost ceased in Sweden; the use of phosphates is increasing—applied mostly to root- crops: and rye; seldom to grass. Beside the importation of artificial fertilizers in considerable quantities, there are in the country numerous establishments for manufacturing them. Variety of products.—In the northern provinces, next to grass, bar- ley and potatoes are the principal crops; rye, oats, and turnips are raised on a smaller scale. Fruit will not ripen. In the central provinces, in addition to the above-named products, wheat, peas, vetches, and beets are produced, and apples, pears, plums, and cherries ripen. The south- ern provinces and islands enlarge the catalogue still further by adding to it rape, carrots, walnuts, and grapes. Rotation of crops.—In the northern provinces it is still the prevailing practice to raise grain on the same soil every year.. A two-course sys- tem—bare fallow on one-half the arable land, and grain or (to a less extent) root-crops on the other half—is in use in the provinces around Lake Milar. A three-course system—one-third of the arable land in fallow, one-third in wheat and rye, and one-third in spring-crops—pre- vails in the southern provinces. But throughout the country the laws by which rotation in crops should be governed are becoming better understood, and changes in favor of conformity to them are gradually taking place. In the southern portions there is now in practice a six to ten years’ course. It is modified more or less by the varying nature of the soil and the varying judgments and tastes of individual farmers, but the following are specimens. On a mild clay soil: first year, fallow; second, wheat or rye; third, fourth, and fifth, clover and grass; sixth, oats; seventh, potatoes; eighth, barley; ninth, clover or vetches for green fodder; tenth, wheat. On a stiffer clay soil: first year, fallow; second, rye; third, clover; fourth, wheat; fifth, vetches or peas; sixth, barley; seventh, oats. On light land: first year, fallow; second, rye; third, roots; fourth, barley; fifth and sixth, grass; seventh, oats. On sandy soil: first year, root crop; second, barley or oats; third and fourth, white clover or grass for pasture; fifth, rye. “eld.—The yield per tunnland (1.22 acres) averages: wheat and rape, each 40 bushels, and 4,000 pounds of straw; rye, 40 bushels, and 5,000 pounds of straw; barley, 40 bushels, and 2,500 pounds of straw; peas, 30 bushels, and 2,000 pounds of straw; vetches, 40 bushels, and 3,000 pounds of straw; oats, 50 bushels, and 3,000 pounds of straw; beans, 50 bushels, and 2,000 pounds of straw; potatoes, 500 bushels; turnips, 1,000 bushels; beets, 750 bushels; white clover, 3,000 pounds a hay; red clover, Swedish clover, and timothy, each 6,000 pounds of ay. 262 COMMERCE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND SWEDEN. > The following tables will show the variations of commerce between the United States and Sweden during the years indicated. A Swedish skalpund is a small fraction less than a pound avordupois, 1.067 skal- punds being equal to 1 pound; and a Swedish centner equals 100 skal- punds, or 93.7 pounds. Imports into Sweden from the United States. Articles. 1865. | 1966, | 1367. | 1868. 1869. ‘Cn he 2 eee Sikalpunds__|-. ----- .02-------------- do.... 156, 554 117, 767 | 13, 055 9, 007 22, 545 RE do... + Rome a ee 1, 710 Exports from Sweden to the United States. e | BeieNT oe oe es eeae n= =; -- = 5-5 =: centners. -| 141, 375 | 340, 815 534, 088 432, 578 529, 907 Bolt, tool, and rod iron ..-.--.----- do..-.).-.-----.--- 5, 592 3, 832 2, 777 : In 1869 there were also exported to the United States. 2,524 centners of cast-steel; 1,198 centners of iron plates; 13,933 centners of scrap iron; 38,528 centners of manufactured iron; also some small'lots of lumber. The total value of exports from Sweden to the United States, in 1869, was $14,630,000—greater than in any previous year except 1867. But while exports to the United States were increasing, with a fair prospect of continuing to do so, exports to Sweden from this country were diminishing; “the value of goods imported from the United States in 1860 was $24,631 600, and in 1361 it was nearly the same; but in 1869 it had fallen to. $2 120, 400, The import of cotton from the United States was wholly superseded in 1869, and principally by imports from London of cotton the main part of which was not produced in this country. It will be seen, from the above table, that the import of tobacco leaves and stalks from the United States was also gradually diminishing; but the import of petroleum produced here was somewhat rapidl y increasing. AGRICULTURE IN NoRWAY.—The area under cereals, and the product of cereals and potatoes in Norway, for the years 1865 and 1870, were: 1865 1870 Wits .......->.......... nes. acres..| - . 43, 7500s aan SAME si gel TeSys er dp ees 360, 250 | 375, 000 Mimcdamraimeeser =) 2c. 52). 7 05254. 5.) Ree Soe doweres 48, 750 50, 000 =a =e ee Wheat eS See Eee Sows ee be te oe imperial bushels... 271, 384 | *40, 000 Ops os foe eee ees ee 2a lL... Jb Se MO Leese +c 5 651, 390 | 764, 000 Barley Bek ese | Pee oe cao oe, ee TO ee 3,415,546 | 3, 820, 000 Gaiass = = Sac ee es oe os ooo a ih eae 7,881,359 | 8, 404, 000 Pease and (heals meee oe es! 6 One sete 186, 561 | 289, 200 Barley and oats, (half and haif) Ee df LAUMb ed moe ae etes 1,741,213 | 1,910,000 Patitees 5 ssp eees . Barts | 18,035,358 | 21,010, 000 * Estimated. | ah . 263 The principal exports and imports of cereals, for the years 1866 to 1870, inclusive, were : EXPORTS. | ted6. «| 1867, | 1868: 1869. 1870. | | | Oats -..... -bushels-| 279, 795 499, 090 | 161, 543 180, 338 3, 056, 000 Barley and malt-.do-. 145 672 2, 320 pe 0 ee ae ee IMPORTS. | Wheat -.--- bushels... | 148, 054 142, 539 | 154, 889 155, 626 152, 800 Bloat 2... 352 do 85, 002 72, 767 93, 768 105, 160 114, 600 ee ae do....| 3,533,717 | 2,736, 648 375,211'| 3,975,997 | 4,202, 000 Rye-flour and meal .... bushels.-|- 374, 405 330, 506 | 359, 316 318, 614 382, 000 Barley and malt.do. ; 1,763,873 | 1,537,083 | 2,317,842 | 2,914,877] 2,101,000 The value of the principal ‘imports into Norway, in 1869, was as fol- lows: Animal food, 1,050,000 specie dollars; cereals, $7,384,000; coffee, $1,203,000; sugar, sirup, and honey, $1,119,000; brandies and spirits, $280,000; tobacco, $529,000; dry-goods, $2,616,000; hides and skins, : $518,000; coal, $749,000; salt, $577,000. The value of the principal exports for the same year: fish, (dried, klip, fresh herrings, &c.,) 7,155,000 specie dollars; skins and spawn, $855,000; cod-liver oil, $1,183,000; lumber, $6,629,000; ice, $105,000; sulphurous ores, $232,000; metals, $293,000; oats, $94,000. The commerce of Norway with the United States appears to be on the increase. In 1868 the number of Norwegian vessels arriving in thé harbors of the United States was 170, of which the aggregate tonnage was 71,576; in 1869 the number was 372, and the tonnage 148,126. In the former year the number of Norwegian vessels departing from harbors of the United States was 180, of 74,428 tons; in the latter year, 347, of 139,415 tons. GERMAN EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES. The statements below, relating to the commerce of this country with certain districts in the German Empire, are gathered from reports made to the Department of State by Mr. R. S. Kendall, United States consul — at Strasburg, and by Mr. E. Klamprecht, United States consul at Stutt- gart: EXPORTS FROM STRASBURG AND MULHAUSEN—There was, in 1871, a very large increase of exports to the United States from the consular dis- trict of Strasburg and Miilhausen, and that notwithstanding the great drawback to its manufactures, occasioned by siege and other ravages of war. But it is not probable that there was any real increase in the im- portation of articles manufactured in the district into the United States: Previous to the Franco-Prussian war large quantities of goods manu- factured in Strasburg and its vicinity were exported to this country from Paris or some other commercial center in Western France. Many mercantile houses in Paris were connected with manufacturing estab- lishments at Strasburg, from which they first transported manufactures to Paris, and then exported them to the United States simply as French 264 products. But during the war all goods manufactured at and near Strasburg, and destined for this country, had to be exported directly. Silk head-nets, which stand third in amount of value on the list of ex- ports from that district to the United States in 1871, have always been manufactured almost exclusively in Alsace; and yet there had been no direct export of them to this country previous to January, 1871, but they had been conveyed in bulk from the place of production to Paris, where they were assorted, put up in fancy boxes, and thence shipped. The same was true in part with respect to most, if not all, articles pro- duced in Alsace-Lorain and imported into the United States. Since the restoration of order and the re-opening of old avenues of transporta- tion through France, direct exports from Strasburg to the United States are again diminishing, and may yet settle down to what they were be- fore the war, though it is not yet safe to predict what effect the cession of that territory to Prussia is to have upon its manufacturing and com- mercial interests and relations. Many of its manufacturers, because of old business connections or of political preference, seem now disposed to transfer their business to French territory. The following table exhibits the several kinds and values of exports from the consular district of Strasburg and Miilhausen to the United States for the year ending September 30, 1871: . | } Articles. lyatne: francs. Articles. Value, frances. From Strasburg. 12270 5). 29 See SERS Sep reco ey $25. 80 | YGE ANNO Rr 2 a\2 sass conn ew eee 961. 75 (G23 AOS Se eee ee 2,645, 200) 70M SMMOMOS ea2o---~ ~~ oc onre = ree arene 2, 032. 30 Bruikmead-netalo>...<22-caceescace eee 786, 139. 85 | NGISER WALOSS fae 5 ccmceceeochcces ese se 532, 522. 50 | TY iG) ae ae tee tees 3 5, 270, 900. 35 Cotton and woolen goods ......---- 524, 873. 76 | —————— ECU 4E BS Re eee 224, 162. 50 | LTR 548 es ae eee ee 193, 150. 80 | From Miilhausen. | GA Th Se ee Steerer 81, 673. 40 | Patines and velvets...--....-0+-<-<-- 75, 106, 75 || Printed tissues.....--.------------- | 1, 651. 897. 40 MUMIAEOLARSEB Re onecue lek cere esee. 58, 227. 90 | Cotton and woolen goods ......----- 652, 753. 00 Soe Tet Tees Re ee ee 54. 986, SOM SnKIIODOUS | 52 0o- 9. == 5 seers eee 445, 282. 90 _ a i eeaeaes 29' 914. 90 || Chemical products .-...----. Bye > 3 106, 601. 40 TOLD) <2 S e re e e: 21, 053. 70 | Raper-haneings .2---..-2--.822-cc8e 47, 760 35 Effervescing powder.......--------. 10, 325.90 || Cotton twist ----.---.-------------- 22, 811. 60 SIRE PP 2s oc ck cep ees 8, 955.05 || Photographic materials......-...--- 20, 570. 00 Morocco leather-_.......-.--..----- 6, 562. 60 || Cotton tissue . --...--.------.------ 13, 880. 45 WER AE Ree co. fe oc ceo nee em oe 4 738 OOMIIDHITIOEY, on 52 Sos -\o- oa bela coer 10, 410. 00 (Ghost yGn) re eee 3, 340. 00 | S508 RESTS See ene eRe ae 68, 118, 40 IWidtCh-SPPiNOS 5, -2--..---20-2-0c2-- 2 AGS OOM PSHMOEICH | 6225-2 oe cocleee eee eee 7, 870. 50 DSi a ideas see 2,291.70 || —EEEE “Ai re 2) 993, 00 | oon ae | 3, 047, 956. 00 OPER AST ga SS oS } 2, 108. 26 | Total from Strasburg added ..-| 5, 270, 900. 35 J) SS Se eee ee 1, 934. 50 | —_— — ilandikerchiets -2.- 0 o..s-2--s- 00 | 1, 500. 00 |} Total for the district ..-....--- 8, 318, 856. 35 | | EXPORTS FROM THE KINGDOM OF WURTEMBERG.—For the year end- ing September 30, 1871, the exports to the United States from the con-. sular district of Stuttgart, Wiirtemberg, were as follows: |} Valuein jj Value in Articles. florins and Articles. florins and kreutzers. |} kreutzers. Fi. Kr. Fi. Er. Et SS SSeeer Soe) 55 55.455 saeeaee 2, 589, 333 30 | 10 ct rag) eee soe 5c =~ 5 199, 174 31 TG ee See peer ie el= 5 358 Jere 101, 429 22 || Jewelry.....-.----.-------------- 72, 290 54 2 ONTOS peg wens 54-55 eee 34,181 15 || Metal ware.........-.----------- 8, 316 44% Cotton, 00d). ! 22. -fpee oe -4--<- 91: 119 O15 ehayas--- =... 202-2 pee eee _3, 042 40 Wioolenigoods. °-2 ---eessse-------- 5, 622 1a MODIOTS..- 5 2-25 ae ee eee ee 157, 259 244 dimen! so0ds! = 5.2.22 eeen-mnn oe 1, 528 OSH Seuaries ..2..- 2.0.22 ae-neeereeeee 184, 922 21 MES par rO0ns 2c. eee eeee me =< 6,193 22 | —_—— SBOUKS 420) -peent a. b hale eee mae == | 28, 873 35 | Total :- value. .s-+2=22¢-08-—== | 3,779, 226 24 ET SR ee 3 292) 438 41 265 A florin is about 40 cents,-and a kreutzer two-thirds of one cent, or one-sixtieth of a florin. These exports to the United States exceed in ‘value those of any previous year. The several values indicate an in- crease in every article exported over that of the preceding year; of leather, by 222,598.10 florins; of corsets, by 214,262.32 florins; of cot- ton goods, by 43,187.55 florins; and of colors, by 57,665.42 florins. On account of the cheapness of female labor in the rural districts, corsets and embroidered cotton goods are manufactured at a cost which defies competition. It is stated that in the upper rural districts $,146 persons are employed in embroidering, at from 12 to16 cents perday. Embroider- ing is done by machinery as well as by hand, and in the district of Ravens- burg machines with two hundred and sixteen needles are severally worked by three hands, with a productive power equal to that of 25 hands. Under the head of leather, in the above list, kid-gloves ‘are represented by a value of 64,142.36 florins. The manufacture of these for exportation is rapidly increasing. Those manufactured at Esslingen (from which city alone, in Wiirtemberg, they are exported to the United States) are beginning to compete with the kid gloves of Vienna. The increase in the export of colors to this country over the preceding year is represented by 57,665.42 florins. This branch of chemical indus- try, the production and improvement of cofors, (aniline, tar-colors,) is re- ported as making rapid strides and yielding immense profits. The great increase in the export of leather, and doubtless of some other articles, is to be accounted for, in part, by the fact that previous to the Franco- Prussian war, leather manufactured at Ulm and Reutlingen was first transported to Paris and shipped thence to this country as a French manufacture. WEALTH OF WURTEMBERG.—In astatistical report, Doctor Rumelin, president of the statistical bureau of Wiirtemberg, reaches the conclusion that the private property in the kingdom averages 6,300 florins ($2,520) for every family, and 1,337 florins ($533) for every individual in it. This. conclusion is deduced from the following facts and estimates, represented by figures in round numbers: The kingdom contains—2,731,816 acres. of fields; average value per acre, 210 florins ; total, 573,000,000 florins; 881,607 acres of meadows, 315 florins, 275,600,000; 121,504 acres of gardens, 420 florins, 51,000,000; 79,964 acres of vineyards, average value per acre, 500 florins; total, 40,000,000 florins ; 228,931 acres of pasture-ground, 60 florins, 13,700,000 florins ; 1,880,425 acres of wood- land, 120 florins, 225,600,000 florins; mining lands, value, 35,000,000 florins ; 422,990 buildings, 640,000,000 florins ; railroads, 120,000,000 flor- ins; personal and movable property, 700,000,000 florins; capital rents, 400,000,000 florins; total, 3,074,000,000 florins. Deducting 774,500,000 florins for the property owned by the state, townships, and corpora- tions, in saline-works, forests, &c., and estimating the number of fami- lies at 565,000, there would be left 6,300 for each family. The average amount for each individual in the kingdom appears to have been found by dividing the total of private property by the number of inhabitants, which is not given. The same statistician estimates the annual income of the people at 276,000,000 florins, averaging for each family (not reckoning interest on dwellings) 756 florins, ($302.40,) and for each person 160 florins, ($64.) The parts of this income are represented in values and percentage, as derived from the following sources: From rural industries, 126,000,000 florins, being 45.9 per cent. of the whole; of which 111,500,000 florins, 40.5 per cent., are from agriculture and cattle-raising ; 6,000,000 florins; 266 2.2 per cent., from wine culture; 4,500,000 florins, 1.6 per cent., from fruit, and 4,500,000 florins, 1.6 per cent., from horticulture. From pro- ducts of forests, 10,000,000 florins, 3.6 per cent. From mines and peat- beds, 3,500,000 florins, 1.2 per cent. From increase in the value of raw materials, by manufacturing, 120,000,000, 43.5 per cent.; by domestic trade, 6,600,000 florins, 2.2 per cent.; by railroads and mails, 5,000,000. florins, 1.8 per cent. ; and from rents of capitals, 5,000,000 florins, 1.8 per cent.; total, 276,000,000 florins. It will be seen from the above that nearly 90 per cent. of the annual production of the people is derived from rural and manufacturing indus- tries, and that the laboring force of the country is pretty nearly equally divided between these two: that is, on the assumption that the average profit is the same with the two classes. Considering those engaged in agritulture as producers, and those in manufactures as consumers of their products, this is probably the best division that could be to pro- mote the interests of the two classes and the steady prosperity of the whole kingdom. THE COLONY OF VICTORIA. Mr. T. Adamson, jr., United States consul at Victoria, furnishes in- formation concerning the agriculture of that British colony, situated in the southeastern portion of Australia. It occupies an arrear of 80,944 square miles, being about the size of the State of Minnesota. The fol- lowing particulars respecting its agricultural and commercial condition, resources, and prospects, are gathered from a report for the year end- ing November 18, 1871, and are to be understood as not referring to a later date except when so specified. The population now numbers 729,654; among whom there are 70,960 more males than females; 17,770 Chinamen, 43 Chinese females, and 879 aborigines. In 1851, the year in which gold was discovered in the colony, the number of inhabit- ants was only 77,245. Immigration has been stimulated not only by the allurements of gold, but by a provision of the government through which resident immigrants could procure for relatives and friends de- sirous of following them, passes, in some instances free, and in others at greatly reduced rates; it being thought that this would both promote the re-union of families and secure a better class of immigrants. Of late free passes have been furnished only to unmarried young women, and a growing opposition to State appropriations for immigrant pas- sage-money has for several years occasioned an annual diminution in the amount, and is likely to soon put an end to them. Of the total area, 55,644,160 acres, 11,497,066 acres have been alien- ated from the Crown by sale or appropriation for roads and other publie purposes, and 27,370,340 acres are rented until wanted for settlement, under “pastoral licenses” from the Crown, at an aggregate annual ren- tal of £168,000. In 1869 a law was passed which, under certain condi- tions, gives the right of “free selection” of land before it is surveyed, in all parts of the territory not yet appropriated. For land thus selected or “ located,” the annual rent is two shillings per acre; but this is allowed as a part of the purchase-money in case the renter buys the selected lot; and he gains a title in fee-simple at the end of five years from the time of selecting, provided he complies with certain conditions relating to resi- dence, improvements, &c. Just what those conditions are, and how large a quantity he is permitted to “select,” we are notinformed. As might be anticipated, the policy which confers the right of free selection and incipient title, and that by which stock and wool-growers hold lands 267 “until wanted for settlement” under pastoral licenses. from the Crown, do not work harmoniously. The latter class complain bitterly that the right of free selection subjects them to a constant liability to be inter- rupted in their business and to have their improvements taken from - them without compensation. Agriculture and related industries—It is claimed that the colony has varieties of climate and soil adopted to all agricultural produc- tions which will grow within the range of climate limited on the north by England, and on the south by Italy. It now produces cereals sufficient for itsown demands, though occasional shipments of breadstuffs find their way into it from California and from the adjacent colonies. The climate seems poorly adapted to the growing of maize, and yet it is extensively grown for fodder. Of vegetables, fruit, dairy products, poultry, eggs, &c., the production is fully equal to the demand. In some years potatoes have been produced in such quantities that many have been left to rot because it would not pay to trausport them to Melbourne. During the greater part of the year butter sells by the quantity, at 8 to 13 cents per pound. Experiments in shipping it to London, not yet abandoned, have not hitherto resulted very favorably, the apparent ground of failure being — a want of adequate intelligence and care in making and packing it—a heavy drawback upon the price of butter in the market, by no means confined to that made in Victoria. It may be owing to alike cause that a few cheese factories started in the colony on the American plan have not thus far been remunerative. The cultivation of sugar-beets has been. introduced, and some companies have been formed for the manufacture of sugar and spirits from them; whether the colony can command, at present, sufficient skill and enterprise to insure success in this branch of industry, is yet to be determined. Another industry yet in its infaney is the production of wine. The grape attains great perfection here, and it would seem that intelligence, guided by experience, in the art of mak- ing wine, is all that is wanting to make Victoria a great wine producing country. Some incipient steps have been taken in silk culture; but it is thought that a lack of cheap labor must be an insuperable obstacle to success in that business, at least for some years to come. Attention has also been turned toward the culture of the olive for both the home and foreign markets. Among the conditions which favor the production of stock, wool, meats, butter, and cheese are abundant yields of grass and feed. Foreign grasses thrive well. Lucern, Italian rye-grass, and some other varieties of green food for cattle are said to grow with astonishing luxuriance. Wool has lately been selling at so low arate that many who, in more prosperous times, invested in flocks have been bankrupted ; but quite recently heavy advances in the price of wool have revived con- fidence and the business of sheep husbandry is growing in favor. The arrival of American wool-buyers has largely contributed to this result, and it is hoped that their presence may lead to an increase of trade with the United States in other commodities. During the month preceding November 18, 1871, more wool was shipped from Melbourne to the United States than in the preceding two years. In the return of exports from | Melbourne, for 1870, are specified 52,123,451 pounds of wool, (value $15,512,713, averaging. 294 cents per pound;) 14,137 head of cattle, ($199,616, averaging $14.12 per head,) and 13,167 hides, ($55,699 ;) but these are not all products of Victoria, a considerable portion of them having been brought to Melbourne for market or shipment from adja- cent colonies. 268 Manufactures.—Hitherto the great drawback upon agricultural pros- perity in the colony has been the want of a home market. Foreign markets are so distant that the cost of transportation more than ab- sorbs all profits on most agricultural products, to say nothing about the impossibility of transporting to a distant market many varieties of vegetables and fruits, (among the most remunerative of farm and garden products when there is a near market,) because of their speedily depre- ciating or decaying nature. With aview to advance the interests of agriculture by creating a home market, a protective policy was adopted in 1866, the principle of which has recently been extended by an increase of duties on manufactured articles. What the ultimate effect is to be on the prosperity of the colony as a whole is yet to be determined; but, in connection with it, several new industries are springing up, and home manufactures are on the increase. There is now one large woolen- factory in full operation, and two others are likely to be started soon. The principal woolen goods produced thus far are blankets and tweeds. Clothing is manufactured on an extensive scale. Among other nascent manufacturing industries may be mentioned several boot and shoe factories, one paper-mill, and a number of small establishments for manufacturing casks, furniture, coaches, harnesses, whips, leather, &c. The bark of the “* whattle tree ” is found to be very valuable for tanning leather, and for that purpose hundreds of tons are annually exported. Among the most important and extensive agencies for opening new channels to market for agricultural products are meat-preserving com- panies. Some idea of the extent of this business may be gained from the fact that one company, within the space of six months, put up the meat of over 9,000 oxen, and about 1,000,000 sheep. The cheapness of live-stock affords special encouragement to this business. Mining.—The mining of gold is now principally carried on by compa- nies, and from quartz mines, the alluvials having been nearly exhausted. In tavorably located mines three pennyweights of gold per ton of quartz pays all expenses, and six pennyweights per ton yields a fortune. The amount of gold mined in Victoria and exported, from January. 1 to No- vember 11, 1871, was 1,287,702 ounces, being 169,331 ounces in excess of theamount exported during the corresponding periodin 1870. Silver, tin, and antimony are found in the colony in paying quantities. Coal beds have been discovered, but their extent is not yet determined, and, owing to a lack of transporting facilities, they have keen worked, as yet, only on a limited scale. Commerce.—From January 1 to October 28, 1871, the total value of exports was $50,421,276; of imports, $47, 382,385. This, compared with the corresponding period in 1870, waS an increase in the value of ex- ports of $6,609,068, and a decrease i in the value of imports of $2,860,556. These opposite results are thought to be in accordance with the future tendencies of trade in the colony ; that is, by a steady increase in the variety and amount of its agricultural and manufactured products, it is to supply more and more its home market, and produce more and more for foreign markets. But there are some important articles for which, if the population increases, there must be an increasing demand, and which must be mainly imported, at least for years to come. Besides various kinds of finer goods, which the colony has now no skilled arti- sans, and no facilities for manufacturing, there are several articles, ne- cessarily imported, in which the commerce of the United States is 269 chiefly interested, such as lumber, (there being no soft wood grown in the colony,) tobacco, and the products of petroleum. There are in Victoria nearly two hundred telegraphic stations, from each of which a message not exceeding ten words (exclusive of the ad- dress) can be sent for one shilling, and one penny for each additional word; press-messages for half price. The colony, in addition to its internal telegraphic system, has telegraphic connections with New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia,and by submarine cable with Tasmania, (Van Diemen’s Land;) and expects soon to be in direct tele- graphic communication with England and the United States. From Sidney, New South Wales, to England, the distance is estimated at 10,665 miles via Brindisi and Suez; and at 13,362 miles via Fiji, Hon- olulu, San Francisco, and New York. BRITISH IMPORTS. WHEAT.—The total of wheat imported by Great Britain, in the first four months of 1873, was 12,296,089 cwts., being an increase of 1,265,889 ewts. over the imports of the corresponding months of 1872. Russia, which was so largely in advance last year, takes the second rank, and the United States stand first, though the receipts from the former in the first four months of 1872 were three times the quantity received from this country. Of these imports, 4,279,829 cwts. were from the United States, against 1,891,316 in the corresponding period in 1872; 4,002,370 from Russia, against 6,592,426 in 1872; 874,518 from Germany, against 775,725 in 1872; 1,062,199 trom France, against 59,792 in 1872; from Denmark, 204,122; from Egypt, 524,975; from Chili, 402,374; from British North America, 19,025; and from other places, 827,783 ewts. The average cost, in 1873, was. 12s. 10d., per cwt.; the cost of that from the United States was 13s. 4d.; from Russia, 12s. 4d.; from Ger- many, 13s. 1143d.; from France, 12s. 9d.; andfrom British North America, 14s. 9d. FLour.—The total of wheat, meal, and flour was 2,453,008 ewts., being an increase of 1,550,208 over the import in 1872; of which 280,731 ewts. were from the United States, against 181,265 in 1872; 1,244,232 from France; against 114,010 in 1872; 7,368 from British North America, against 930 in 1872. The average cost was 19 shillings per cwt.; cost of that from the United States, 17s. lldd.; from France, 19s.; from British North America, 18s. 74d.; from other countries, 19s. 2d. INDIAN CORN AND MEAL.—The import of Indian corn was 4,605,396 ewts., being 449,273 less than in 1872; cost 6s. 9d.; Indiaa-corn meal, 1,249 ewts., a decrease of 572 from 18725; cost £2 2s. ddd. Corron.—The total of raw cotton was 5,498,546 cwts., 271,447 less than in 1872: from the United States, 3,529,867 ewts., against 2,939,838 in 1872; from British India, 812,821, against 1,435,602 in 1872; from Brazil, 183,340, against 450,352 in 1872; from Egypt, 814,268, against 770,722 in 1872 ; and from Turkey, 33,656, against 31,301 in 1872. The average cost was £4 6s. 104d. per cwt.; cost of that from the United States £4 10s. 03d; from British India, £3 2s. 4d.; from Brazil, £4 1s. 3d.; from Egypt, £4 17s. 44d.; from Turkey, £4 17s. 1d. EXTENT OF CROPS IN GREAT BriTAIn.—The following table exhibits the number of acres in Great Britain under each crop named, and the total under all crops, for the years 1871 and 1872: 270 England. Wales. » 7 1871. 1972 1871. 1872. CAS a HE, a no, 3,312,550 | 3,336,888} 196, 334 126, 367 Barlevwor UsrOter w=). shot hoo cs-t we 2-2 See 1, 964,210 | 1, 896, 403 169, 751 168, 014 Oats 2 1, 454;144 | 11442075 | 253/672 256, 074 - ini Le 51, 155 52) 441 2) 338 2) 328 Beans 512,929 | 496, 158 4071 3, 312: Pease 382,104 | 352, 733 4.534 5, 821 Total under corn-crops.....--...--.---2------+ | 7,683,692 | 7,576,698 | 560, 700 | 561, 916: Adrien aMlnropis's.. 0... 21.0... !..--... oe eee | 93, 717, 660 | 23, 830,197 | 2, 604, 817 | 2, 635, 642: Scotland. Total for Great Britain. 1871. 1872. 1871. | 1872. ee ee ey 133,010} 135,702 | 3,571,894} 3,598, 957. Lo 0) Se ee eet Rr 251,822 | 251,915 | 21385,783| 21316, 332: MEO We le... 1,007,891 | 1,007,682 | 9'715,707 | 2 705, 837 hh i ea D ARIE 11, 402 12, 106 71, 495 66, 875: ya ri RAR 23) 835 24.535 | 540, 835 524, 005: ER Be ap 5. oe 2) 909 9/991 | 389, 547 361, 545: © 8, Total under corn-crops......-.-------2-2+eee++- 1, 430, 869 | 1, 434, 937 | 9, 675,261 | 9, 573, 551 Priddealerope’.ce.2)622.0..0:2.... eee 4,516,090 | 4,538, 334 | 30, 838, 567 | 31, 004, 173: STATISTICS OF GREAT BRITAIN. Summary of total acreage under each principal crop, and of the number of live stock returned in Great Britain, in each year, from 1868 to 1872. } | } 1868. 1869. 1370. 1871. 1872. ri | ‘ PRINCIPAL CROPS. Wheat: Acres. Acres. Acres. | Acres. Acres. Ly 2d 2 1 A oe See or ee 4 2, | 3,396,890 | 3,417,054 | 3,247,973 | 3,312,550 3, 336, 888. Balen ee soy. 6 ccc. See ec hoe eaters. 130, 552 135, 562 126,928} 126,334], 126,367 SOLUTE a a i gn ES 5 124, 683 135, 741 125, 642 133, 0L0 135, 702 | ERSTE TN S16 1 | a | 3,652,125 | 3,688,357 | 3,500,543 | 3,571,894 3, 598, 957 Barley or bere: Mingland. --—-. ==. .s.2e-s-s55-22,| 1, TRO 20b ed: 864, 088 | 1,:963/744")) 1964 O10 1, 896, 403: ANRC. GRA DP | 151, 608 157, 582 163, 853 169, 751 168, 014. Scotland. .......- SS a See Pe fa te | 919, 515 229, 810 244, 142 Q51, 822 251, 915 Great Britain.....2-.,-<.:2-: | 2,151,324 | 2,251,480 | 2,371,739 4 2,385,783 | 2,316,332 Oats: Mirrors ola meee oe. seh kono s,a. 1, 488,470 | 1,511,975 | 1,490,647 | 1, 454,144 1, 442, 075- TAVTLBE Secs Se BCR GUE yen amma 257, 153 252, 970 253, 057 253, 672 256, 074 RPBEATN ES Sec oct hice Sestecec eek 1,011, 430 | 1,017,775 | 1,019,596} 1,007, 891 1, 007, 688 meds ritaim.. 3.) -- 205255] 2, 757,053 | 2, 782, 720'| 2,763,300} 2,715, 707 2, 705, 837 |) a pclae bax Potatoes: | Wengen perenne 327, 173 356, 829 358, 890 391, 531 339, 056 NZELSORS > 8-7 2 ie ae ee | 47, 431 49, 107 48, 602 51, 853 48, 417 Noghland tampa oe sa ec cece oe 166, 939 179, 275 180, 169 184,307 | | 176, 615- GreatBripane ss. 54-005)... | 541, 543 585, 211 587, 661 627, 691 564, 088 Turnips and Swedes: ae Ree g |, le aa ing ands se eee eco 2c. Great Britain. 35.22.2052. 2. 25. 2,308, 539 | 1,930,452 | 2,171,138 | 2, 499, 602 | 2, 171, 749 CATTLE-RAISING IN TEXAS. In the latter part of January last this Department addressed to corre- spondents in all the counties of Texas in which cattle-raising has been a prominent industry, circulars, soliciting accurate information respecting the extent, modes, profits, and tendencies of that business in their re- spective localities. Correspondents known to have special facilities for obtaining the information desired were requested, after careful investi- gation, to give facts and estimates, based on reliable data, respecting the total number of cattle, the proportion of different classes named, the amount of feeding and care bestowed; the cost and profit of raising, and some indication of the size of the larger herds. The information em- Ase in a large number of responses is here presented in condensed orm. % MODES, COSTS, AND PROFITS OF RAISING.—The prevalent custom, to which there is scarcely an exception, is to let herds run at large the year round, without any feeding, Hence, besides taxes and interest ‘on the amount invested in the herd, the only expenses are for herdsmen and their equipments, for additional help in branding and marking, and for marketing. In herding advantage is sometimes taken of the prin- ciple of co-operation. Our correspondent in Cooke County states the leading facts of cattle-raising in Texas thus: The cost of raising cattle in this county is the interest on the money invested, (and the cost of a stock is commonly $6 per head from yearlings up;) the fax on the value of the stock, and the cost of the hands and horses to attend to them about five months of the year. One hand and four horses are required to the thousand head. Several stock-raisers operate in connection; hire a man to drive the provision wagon and cook for the hands; and by thus throwing their forces together it dees not require so 272 many men and horses as it would were each stock-raiser to operate alone. Hands can be hired at from $15 to $20 per month. The horses employed are range-horse&, and they subsist on the grass. They will gather up their cows, calves, and eet, drive them to the most convenient ranche, pen them, mark and bran@ the calves, let the cows and calves go, but hold the herd of beeves. A “ranche” here is any farm house, or even a cabin, on the prairie, with an inclosure used for penning cattle. Stock-raisers in Cooke, for instance, will hunt their cattle in Denton, Tarrant, Wise, Montague, and Grayson. They gather up, mark and brand, from time to time and turn loose. All stock cattle and horses must make their own living on the range. Cattle receive no attention from the owner, save that of marking, branding, and gathering for sale. Steers are generally thrown upon the market at four years old; but in any lot of cattle gathered as beef-cattle you will find more or less from five to seven years old, which are always in better condition than the four-year-old ones, and stand driving better. Barr n cows are sold at from four years old, upward. Owing to the high price of corn, cattle, beyond a very insignificant number, are not fed for the market. Those who make it a business drive their cattle to Missouri, or farther north, where corn, &¢., can be purchased at comparatively low rates. This correspondent states that a leading stock-raiser, who had kept a strict record for seven or eight years, found that, in from 600 to 1,000 calves annually branded, the difference between the males and the females never exceeded twenty. He further reports that Texas cattle are evi- dently deteriorating; that they do not attain to the same size at the same age they once did, and ‘not nearly so many heifers become mothers at two years old as formerly, when the range was much better.” He estimates that at present the number of calves found for branding in the spring is one-fourth of the number of the whole herd; but ‘some few years ago, cattle properly attended to would double their number in three years.” The profits, formerly 33 per cent., are now assumed to be only 25 per cent. A few extracts from other correspondents will afford additional light respecting treatment, cost, and profit: . Guadalupe: When the calves are a few weeks or months old they are branded and turned loose, and perhaps never seen again by the owxer until driven up to be sold or butchered, or to secure the calf by branding. No one in our county pretends to herd his stock, except when they are brought together to be sent to market. The inerease is about all profit, there being almost no expense incurred in feeding or wintering. Kaufman: Herding the only cost; profit, about 30 per cent. Liberty, Chambers, and Jefferson: Cattle support themselves upon the natural grasses, and the only cate exer- cised is by superiutending herdsmen, whose force is doubled in the spring at marking and branding time. Stock-men fave lost seriously this winter, and the profit in raising is reduced to abont 25 per cent. Travis: In this county catile are permitted to run at large on the prairies,and are only collected in herds at the nearest pens at branding time. No feeding in winter. Hands are hired at $20 per month to brand and mark. Mason: The actual cost of raising, or rather permitting a male calf to raise itself to be a “ four-year-old beef,” is literally nothing, except the marking and branding of the calf, and the interest on the capital invested in the mother-cow.. The cost of marking and branding ranges from 25 to 50 cents per head, never more. Average four-year-old beef-cattle are selling here this spring at $12 in coin per head; choice beef-eattle, at $18 per head. Austin: The only care heretofore has been the gathering and branding of the cattle in spring, also of those cattle that have left their customary range. If done by others, it has been the custom to give every fourth calf. The ruling rates for stock- cattle the past year were from $5 to $6 specie per head; beeves for the city market, $14 specie per head. Atascosa: It costs about one-fourth the gross profit to raise cattle for market. Feeding is entirely dependent on the wild grasses. In caring for cattle we have to keep bands in the work two-thirds of the year, furnishing, for one thousand cattle, about tert horses and two hands at $15 per month, and provided with horses, coffee, breadstuff, and salt, but no meat, as they furnish themselves with fat calves. The size of herds in this county ranges from 300 to 10,000. Grayson: Heretofore there has been no cost attending the raising of cattle, except that of branding and marking; that usnally costs the owners of large herds the hire of a few hands for some two or three months. There are no cattle fed here except a few milch-cows and work-oxen. Good beef-cattle are worth from $15 to $20 per head, and do not cost, I presume, the producers more than $1 per head. Milch-cows are worth from $10 to $20 for cow and calf, Stock-cattle, cows, and calves, and two-year-olds, will average $5 per head. Onur _ butchers are still (February 3) buying cattle from the grass, and we have some for beef still on the market. ; 273 The range of estimates for the cost of production, it will be noticed, is somewhat wide. This may be due in part to variation of the margin’ between the estimates and the actual cost; but probably is chiefly due to a corresponding range in actual cost, owing to different degrees of advantage or disadvantage of location or surroundings, and extent of losses in severe weather, and especially to different degrees of business tact. LOssES.—Texas is probably before any other State or Territory in advantages for raising cattle without expense for feeding, shelter, or inclosure. But even here the risks and liabilities to losses, for the want of such conveniences, are so great as to almost force the conclusion that smaller herds of better quality, with provision for pasturage, feeding, and sheltering as occasion required, would be more profitable. The return from Refugio represents that two years ago the number of cat- tle in that county, according to accurate estimate, was not less than 100,000, but deaths from starvation the last two winters will reduce it to 50, 000. In Guadalupe, last winter, while the few who provided pas- tures saved the most of their cattle, the loss, from cold and starvation, was terrible. In Hunt, owing to the severity of the winter ‘‘many of the yearlings have died, and many more will” before grass springs up anew. Bexar : Cattle are dying so fast that no one can tell how many are left, or how many are gone. Some say more than one-half are already dead, and others put ‘it still higher. One man informs me, that during a trip from the coast up here, one hundred and “fifty miles, he was rarely out of sight of dead horses and cattle, and in one place he stood and counted eighty mares and colts (dead) within fifty yards. This of course only applies to stock “within the line of settlements—farther west where there are very few settlements and less stock they do better. Not the least preparation of any kind is made to feed cattle, horses, or sheep, except those kept up for use, and the supply of grass has become exhausted—eaten and tramped out. The returns from Atascosa and Live Oak Counties, represent that the severity of last fall and winter has been so fatal to cattle that it is impossible to estimate the numbers now living; from Medina, that ‘‘under the trying circumstances of last winter—no grass, and intensely cold weather—nearly one-fourth of all ourcattle perished ; and milch cows in a large proportion;” from Grimes, that “my neighbors and my own experience is, that out of 300 to 500 head each, our stocks have gone down. 50 per cent. in less than six years, without selling or using 25 per cent. of the increase ;” from Austin, ‘that, as the large stock-raisers do not feed their cattle, and as owing to a four months’ drought in the fall, they were reduced at the beginning of winter, they are dying in large num- bers, and it is safe to estimate the loss by death, the present disastrous winter, at between 25 and 30 per cent.;” from Mercer, that, “ the mor- tality of cattle during the winters of 1871 and 1872 has been without a parallel—principally among cows and the younger stock. The most reliable estimate I can get of calves branded in 1871 was 75,000, and in 1872, 60,000. How many of them are now living, I can give you no estimate that I would consider reliable. Cattle stocks are generally calculated at the rate of 4 to 1—that is, if a stock brands 1,000 calves, it is estimated that the stock is 4,000 head—but it rarely ev er gathers that number of late years.” MILCH-COWS AND WORKING-OXEN.—In the cattle-raising sections of Texas, the number of cows and oxen raised and trained for domestic uses, whether for home use or to be marketed, is comparatively small. According to the report from Refugio, “ not more,than one in a hundred 5A 274 of cows is milked, and not more than one in a hundred of the male cattle is broken to work.” Reports agree in representing that very little attention is given to the quality of milch cows, and that they and work- ing oxen receive very little feed or extra care. Mercer: But few cows have been milked the last few years, on account of the scarcity of grass around the ranches, and no ranchero pretends to supply himself with hay or fodder for milch cows. Nearly all the old and gentle ones have died, and we will, if we want milk, have to get gentle, young stock. Oxen have, in a measure, given way to horses and mules. The most serious loss to the cattle-men last winter was bulls. The law requires a bull to be left with every 40 cows; it has not been done, and the old stock nearly all died out. This willbe felt worse next year. Hunt: No cost of any consequence is incurred in feeding milch cows or working oxen. They subsist on the range, and few cows are milked during the winter months. Medina: No stables are provided formilch cows. They are fed on hay and corn-fodder during the milking season, whenever, from lean state of pasture, necessity requires, but not otherwise. So are working oxen during the working season. Bexar: Our system of cattle-raising is all wrong. We should have a less number, but of better quality. It takes, on an average, ten of our cows to give a water-bucket of milk, poor at that, while, I am told, one northern cow will give it twice a day. Ten Texas calves in the fall will not sell for over $15; and, I am told, one northern calf is worth as much. Then, why should we keep ten, when one will yield as much. Ihave also learned that an im- proved blooded beef in New York market is worth $40 more than a Texan, and that they will generally weigh 25 per cent. more at the same age. Fayette: Working oxen are diminishing rapidly, being substituted by mules and horses for wagoning and farming purposes. MARKETS.—A large number of Texas cattle are sold to traders by producers at their ranches, to be driven into adjoining, or shipped to more remote States, where corn is much cheaper and stock much higher, and then fattened. A smaller proportion probably is sold at home, to be taken to market for beef without further fattening; and to some ° extent operators themselves drive their beeves, as collected from the ranches, to markets in Texas and neighboring States. Feeding cattle for market is scarcely known in Texas. Milan County reports that about 3,000 head were driven from that county to Kansas and other markets in 1872, at a net profit of $10 per head; Medina, that for the Jast two years all their beeves have been driven to Kansas, where, after deducting all expenses for driving, they have netted $13 to $17 in gold per head, (the ages ranging from three to five years,) and three-fourths of these proceeds are estimated as net profits, that is, after deducting all expenses of raising and marketing the animals, kept from three to five years, the profit is from $9.75 to $12.75, in gold, per head. But it is probable that in estimating this profit on the animals which are raised and sold, there is no offset for the immense number which are raised and perish in such winters as the last. The return from Burnet represents that, on account of the limited home market, stock-raisers have “‘ had to resort to driving their surplus stock to Kan- sas; an operation by which many farmers have lost more money on one trip than they ever gained for many years previous.” In Fayette “all beef-cattle, over three years old, are sold off every spring, and driven into Kansas and other markets.” CHANGES.—This system of cattle-raising now prevailing in Texas can never co-exist with agricultural improvement. So far as it does prevail, to that extent it must prove an effectual bar to immi- gration, and to all forms of manufacturing, mechanical, and diversified agricultural industry. The natural causes, therefore, which are oper- ating to diminish its profits and necessitate its decline, whatever tem- porary losses they may occasion, are evidently working for the future good of the State. They are preparing the way for superseding an 275 exclusive system of rural industry, which, though it brings to a few, and only a few, very great profits in some years, yet largely reduces the annual average of profits by the very great losses it brings in other years, and which militates against almost all other forms of industry in the same section, necessitates a sparse population, and prevents internal improvements generally. The following extracts will show the changes in cattle-raising now taking place in Texas. Some of them also point to or suggest the fur- ther changes and the ultimate advantages to result from them: Hunt: The raising of cattle in this county is rapidly decreasing ; owing, first, to failure of range, the settling up of the county, and the disposition of owners to turn their attention to agricultural pursuits; second, to the prospect that a fence law will be passed by our legislature. Milan: Grass is giving out, and stock-raising is falling off 35 per cent. yearly ; in its stead agricultural interest is advancing rapidly. Mer- cer: The cattle men will have to buy land and put cattle upon it so as not to overstock it, or abandon the business. Public opinion and the rights of other parties will not submit any longer to this buffalo mode of raising cattle. The whole country is now eaten out by wandering herds of cattle and horses, and where beautiful grass formerly grew nothing but weeds can be séen. Burnet: The yearly increase of herds from some causes, especially the scarcity of food during winter, has not been as large of late as in former years. The size of cattle is also diminishing. Grayson: The cattle-herding system of our State has very materially changed in the last six years, and large herds are no longer found in this county. The most of them have been transferred to Wich- ita County, some one hundred and fifty miles west of this. There are no cattle fed here except a very few milch-cows and oxen. But the old programme must now be changed. Our wild grass is rapidly giving way, and as yet we have no tame grass that we can rely upon, and our cattle will have to be fed from our fields. Fine varie- ties are now being introduced, and they will take the place of our long-horned or Texas . cattle, provided they acclimate well. Lyon: Cattle-raising, which has never been ex- tensively carried on in this county, is gradually on the decrease, owing to the fact that the people are devoting almost their whole attention to farming. Grimes: A small herd of cattle will not pay well, as without strict attention they would all bestolen or killed out. It is a safe estimate to say that this county (now estimated to have 23,000 head) ten years ago had over 50,000, if not quite 60,000, head of cattle. Farmers are now turning their attention toimproved stock; but not much can be done in that line until pastures can be fenced. Fayette: This county is ceasing to be a stock-growing one, and is rapidly being settled and fenced up for agricultural purposes. Austin: Many of our stoek-raisers are getting discouraged, and are of the opinion that cattle- raising is no longer profitable, and are selling out. ' SIZE OF HERDS.—A large portion of our correspondents overlooked the request that the number of cattle in the herd be given, with the name of the owner. The following are names of owners and numbers of some of the larger herds reported: Kaufman: Bailey Dougherty’s numbers 2,000; J. Nash’s, 1,500; John Moore’s, 1,000; J. Hardin’s, 1,000; Dr. Pyle’s, 800. Refugio: Thomas O’Coner’s, 3,000.; John H. Wood's, 17,500; John Linny’s, 17,500; J.and R. Dushel’s, 9,000. Hunt ; J. Harris’s, 5,000; Jacobs & Black’s, 2,000; Frederick Black’s, 1,000 ; Thomas King’s, 2,000; E. J. Jacobs and E. Cox’s, 1,500; McDonald & Co.s, 1,500. Cooke: Samuel E. Doss’s, 5,000; William Downard’s, 4,000; Widow Loring and sons’s, 2,500; W. J. Morris’s, 2,000; Mrs. Brother’s, 1,500; rank Gooding’s, 1,200; Elijah Parry’s, 1,000; Mrs. Long’s, 1,000. Mason: Ben. F. Gooch’s, 20,000. Austin: E. Johnson’s, 3,000; The brothers J. and J. Hill’s, 4,000. Fayette: James Reynolds's, 4,000. Grayson: Burrel Yolooroo’s, 10,000, scattered over ten or fifteen counties. TOTAL NUMBER.—The following table shows the total number of cata tle, and the proportion in the several classes specified, in the counties named: ‘ 276 Herds. . as ae Working- Total of cat- Counties.j Milch-cows.| “oxen.” ae 4 ; T'wo.yeans tle. told Yearlings. | old and y 5 over. Kaufman 2: ties ses 2s 252553 1, 000 500 3, 000 3, 000 500 8, 000 Guadalupe jseet amos. A=) sas =e es aeee 4, 000 | 3, 535 6, 186.) 72 ae ee 35, 352 Ne cts yey se) Ee es eee 2, 000 1, 000 6, 000 | 5, 000 6, 000 20, 000 Waherivess cess to: ot. 267 178 3, 333. | 1, 667 7, 888 13,833: Ohamiens=.--2-25- - 2-2 - 2067 178 3, 333 | 1, 667 7, 888 13, 333 VeGHeENON ~~ s-eeesst/$- 25tcss 267 178 3, 333 | 1, 667 7, 888 13, 333 TUG LN 2 aes ae 3, 000 2, 000 8, 000 | 6, 000 17, 000 36, 000 Lit LG) 3325S eee dees Bese ene See 1, 000 | LE eee ee) Pear ee 39, 657 TEA ELIL OED) eee a pet A eae 500 ZL) | ane SHG ey SABER hosts) | tiem os 50, 000 saab Rc ae eee ees 3, 000 ae 3, 000 4, 285 16, 715 30, 000 PTE SLE hee ae eT IY Pe ee 35 7, 000 5, 600u| sense 28, 000 1 120 To Soe ee eee Pees 800 | 13, 000 13, 000) 5-05 eee ae 65, 000 dE 12) eS ee eee 800 5, 000 10, 000 7, 500 19, 500 50, 000 NIPSUT ae oe dregeana a aeeed eee seed amare 8, 000 | 8/000) |oe- ost eer ae 40, 000 Derik es hs See oT ee a 12, 500 | 12} 500 fees eee 50, 000 AG ARUONDEY ea epee « Acie stn | See sdeeec st. 1, 000 6, 000 |. 15:00)4) 22-3205 Be 30, 000 Lelvii SS ee ee ee eee ee 600 | 3, 000 SOD S| oe eee 13, 060 apes = ey eisai 3, 450 2, 760 5, 060 | 4, 600 7, 130 23, 000 SGU Bs coscgehe Gopdebadaiee) BedeSap se oe5|psenrerotioc slo: soe pecan ERE SS eee ho sesas-teS. 35, 000 TT ay 54 A ee 2, 000 1, 000 5, 000 5, 000 24, 000 37, 000 ROME em one Scr. cans cia ais iS 3, 600 1, 200 2, 400 | 2, 400 2, 400 12, 000 Jeb?) qosesesesses6ese cesses suc EBSBEESES 60+ - 05 7 eSSeRREB BS e5555s) 6 5686-5 -5- 642, 558 The number of cattle in the twenty-one counties above named, re- ported for the census of 1870, and for State assessment the same year, were as follows: Reported for Reported for the census of 1870. assessment in 1870. Counties. ; Milch-cows.| Wine: Dbbes pale Total Total. MAN = ast ie es hese 3, 033 675 21, 935 25, 643 25, 043 (G5 ae eee Sees seer eee 2 6, O61 2, 358 49, 096 57, 515 | 40, 553 i 5 SSeS ee eae? 9, 672 2,077 25, 141 36, 890 | 29, 266 LUST 455 eee as 2, 706 714 23, 601 27, 021 24, 132 CLT ia ean oe LED 1, 205 | 334 24, 338 25, 877 23, 861 cdhetterspnie cee. 2224 2526 at 743 204 15, 103 | 16, 050 45, 445 DU op joo a aes S| 4, 106 1, 564 23, 142 | OH. 819 | 4. od basa Mciennane: Seen os, TN 3.774 1,131 20, 857 | 25, 762 30, 326 TPs Riratn 4 52) Seca eae me a eee 1,556 584 99,785 | 101, 925 89, 408 Jive Set SB6 5 Baee SSR See 8, 952 8, 991 30, 765 48, 708 29, 031 OOO tas secre nore. ee eee o ene Sees 3, 015 994 26, 509 30, 518 26, 101 Matias cst d. bos td: 8, 264 1, 337 32, 960 | 42, 561 51, 971 Burnet . 3, 023 787 20, 078 23, 888 29. 837 WO ST 3 3 Sa hee ae ae | 2, 588 229 16, 285 19, 702 34, 120 7TH, Ey 10, 009 4, 473 | 44,576 59, 058 58, 205 Teh 011) yeh ae a ga | 4. 656 919 92, 047 97, 622 | 166, 764 Te( 5 1] 2 YaST G8 lets Tere eg a 3, 348 573 15, 525 19, 446 14, 314 (ai is 25) eee ae ee | 5, 779 4, 765 17, 814 28, 358 22, 463 10 FEU bro SAAR eee Se ee 10, 836 4, 321 40, 272 | 55, 429 44, 446 Guaysnneeeredts...22), pails of). 60) 4. 840 1, 704 24, 463 31, 007 24,710 ADI ta 2. 7 SE RBS One eee ee 5, 263 1, 414 18, 041 24, 718 24, 638 | pe ee | eee Vers ts ae Total in twenty-one counties... 103, 429 40, 148 682, 933 826, 510 834, 634 | | From the foregoing tables it appears that the twelve counties which report to this Department in 1873 a total of 20,151 milch-cows, reported in 1870 for the census 50,878; the eighteen counties which report in 1875 a total of 22,294 working-oxen, reported in 1870, 31,118 ; the twenty-one counties which report in 1875 a total of 642,558 cattle, reported in 1870, 826,510; the twenty counties which report in 1873 a total of 606,558 cattle, reported in 1870 for the census 797,698, and for assessment 834,634. Taking into consideration the unquestioned fact that the returns for 277 assessment, on the average, fall considerably below the actual number, this comparison indicates a falling off within three years of not less than one-third in the aggregate numbers of cattle in the portions of the State coyered by the reports. It also indicates that there are now in the coun- ties reported only three-fifths as many milch-cows as there were in 1870; but it is quite probable that some of the reporters for the census did not distinguish between “ milch-cows” and “ cows that give milk.” For in- stance, Hunt County reported a number of milch-cows equal to one- fourth the total number of cattle, which is just the proportion of ‘““mother-cows” usually estimated as the average in herds and aggre- gates. The decrease in the number of working-oxen is sufficiently ac- counted for by concurrent statements of our correspondents that they are being gradually superseded by horses and mules. FACTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT IN TEACHING AGRICULTURE.—Soon after the close of the war there was formed in Baltimore an association of Friends for the purpose of advising and assisting impoverished Friends in the Southern States. The immediate object was to afford physical relief; but as the continuance of physical want can only be prevented by remoying its causes, the association wisely connected with their beneficence a system of mental, moral, and religious education. Their principal field of operations was in the rural districts of western North Carolina. In the outset they were met by a difficulty which they foresaw, unless removed, must prove an insuperable obstacle in the way of effectually helping a community, where want of bread and want of intellectual and moral culture extensively prevailed, to rise to a condition in which they could support and educate themselves inde- pendently of foreign aid. Homes provided with facilities for secular and religious education imply adequate means. With a rural popula- tion these can be obtained from no other source than the soil. But in the section where their advice and aid were most needed, the soil had become so impoverished by thriftless cultivation, the herds and flocks were of such inferior, unremunerative varieties, and the prevalent modes of husbandry so necessitated, not only scant returns, but a still further exhaustion of the soil, that, without a change for the better, continued poverty and dependence were inevitable. Besides, it being the prevalent notion that the meager products of the land were owing, not to a defective style of farming, but to a worn-out soil, the dispo- sition of the more capable and enterprising, especially among the young, to emigrate seemed to be restrained only by the want of means to get away. With a view to remedy this discouraging state of things, the association, in 1867, purchased a farm of 200 acres, located at Springfield, on the dividing line between Randolph and Guilford Counties. On this they placed, as their superintendent, an expe- rienced and enterprising farmer, and furnished him the means of teach- ing improved agriculture by exemplifying its processes and by bringing within the reach of the farmers in the region round about the necessary facilities for entering upon a career of improvement themselves. He was expected to conduct his farming operations in such a way as to show to the farmers in the neighborhood what modern improved agricultural machines and implements are and how they are worked; what advan- 278 tages there are in utilizing all the manure that can be made on the farm, and superadding chemical and other fertilizers; in deep plow- ing and thorough cultivation; in draining and under-draining; in adjusting soils, fertilizers, and crops to each other by rotation and other- wise ; in superseding, or at least improving, small, scrubby native cattle, sheep, and hogs, by thorough-bred stock; and in increasing the stock capacity of the farm by the culture of new grasses and other varieties of green fodder. He was also to be the agent of the association for bringing within the reach of farmers in that locality, and furnishing at cost, or nearly so, selected seeds, improved agricultural implements, and blooded stock, and for organizing agricultural clubs and awaken- ing a spirit of inquiry and enterprise by lectures on farming, circulating agricultural newspapers, &c. The results of this practically benevo- lent enterprise have equaled the most sanguine anticipations of the association. In the winter following the purchase of the farm, through the agency of its superintendent many farmers’ clubs were organized, nearly four hundred subscribers to agricultural papers were obtained, and about two tons of clover-seed were distributed at cost. In 1871 (no reports have come to hand for the intervening years) the superin- tendent reports, not only that the farmers in the immediate region are making rapid strides in agricultural improvement, but that the central leaven is extending from them into regions more remote. Among the evidences of this are noted, first, the greatly increased demand for clo- ver-seed. At the time the farm was purchased, throughout that region the want of pasture and hay was an insuperable obstacle in the way of keeping stock to any extent. To meet this want the association made special efforts to secure a general introduction of clover. In 1868, in addition to two tons of clover-seed, several tons of the best Peruvian guano were forwarded to the superintendent, with instructions to fur- nish both the seed and the guano at cost to farmers willing to test them in conjunction. It was found that after once “setting” the clover on exhausted soil with guano there was no necessity for further use of it. In 1871, as a direct consequence of the example and facilities afforded by the association’s farm, over 10,000 acres had been successfully seeded to clover, and the superintendent was confident that very soon clover would be largely cultivated on every farm in western North Carolina. A second evidence of a growing interest in agricultural improvement was found in the demand for improved agricultural implements. Among those he had furnished were mowers, reapers, wheel-rakes, iron and cast-steél plows, cultivators, clover-seed gatherers, &c. And it was ob- served that, into whatever neighborhood one of these agricultural ma- chines, which supersede hand-power by horse-power,. goes, it imme- diately becomes a silent orator which successfully pleads for the remoyal of stumps, stones, knolls, and filling hollows, and for the under-draining of places too wet and soft for horses and machine to pass over. A large amount of under-draining had been done on almost all the farms for many miles around. A third evidence was apparent in the increasing numbers who visited the farm for the purpose of seeing what is done ou it and how it is done. In the spring of that year strangers came in such numbers that it required nearly the whole time of the superintendent to show and explain the improvements they had come to see and learn | about. Of thorough-bred stock, kept for production on the farm and for propa- gation in the surrounding region, there were five head of Alderneys, a Southdown buck, a Chester sow, a Berkshire boar, and, in greater or less numbers, offspring and crosses from the same. During the year, on 279 a small stream running through the farm, at a cost of $875 a bone-mill had been built, which will crush and grind 1,500 pounds of bones per day. itis believed to be the first ever built in North Carolina, and from it great benefits to the farms in the vicinity are anticipated. The superintendent thinks the region is well adapted to fruit-growing; and, in view of the results of experiments since he began his farming opera- tions there, he is convinced that the choicest fruits'can be grown on the poorest soils by fertilizing them with peas plowed under, and mulching the trees with leaves. He has made experiments in soiling for two years, and with so favorable results that he mends to feed in that way all the cows and heifers on the farm next yeas 4 Last year I took from twenty square rods the food for one cow one hundred and twenty-two days, and this year have had nearly as satisfactory results. I have now growing one and a half acres of rye and one acre of oats for first feeding in the spring, to be followed with lucerne, Hungarian grass, orchard-grass, clover, and corn, and wind up with beet, carrot, and turnip tops. The bull and one cow have not been out for eighteen months, and are perfectly healthy. Labor is cheap, but manure is the great desideratum. In their report for 1872 the association represent that their agricul- tural enterprise at Springfield, with respect both to the farm and to the beneficial results they designed by.it to diffuse through the neigh- borhood and over the State, has been favored with continued and growing success. On the farm, now well stocked with horses, mules, cattle, sheep, hogs, and fowls, the barn was full, very large crops of hay, wheat, and corn having been produced. From a field of seven acres, which up to within three years had been covered with briars and sassafras, and considered the most exhausted part of the farm, 170 bushels of wheat had been harvested, 40 bushels from one acre, the other six averaging 212 bushels. The superintendents both of agriculture and education are reported as receiving the hearty co-operation of all classes of citizens, and as qoanently invited to deliver public addresses relative to their respective epartments, not only in the neighborhood of their central operations, but in distant parts of the State. The educational efforts, first made with the special design of encouraging and aiding the children of needy Friends, have now grown into general and permanent schools. In eleven adjacent counties, out of 6,000 children who have received in- struction since 1866, more than half were from families not connected with the order of Friends. The superintendent of the farm reports to ie association the following interesting summary of results thus ar: The effect of our operations on the community has been gratifying, and can be seen for fifty miles around. About 15,000 acres have been sown with clover in the sur- rounding counties since our operations commenced. Many improved implements have been introduced. Instead of the scythe and the cradle, are frequently seen the mower and the reaper. Large numbers of people from all parts of the State continue to visit the farm, to see for themselves the new way, and they very generally express them- selves satisfied that it is an improvement on the old exhaustive system. All such, more or less, will become centers of influence and improvement. The effect of our educa- tional and agricultural efforts in staying the tide of emigration to the West is very apparent, and has already saved to North Carolina hundreds of her best citizens. STATISTICS OF BUTTER AND CHEESE PRODUCTION.—The averages in- volved in the statistics of butter and cheese production are frequently brought forward at the meetings of dairy associations to show the pro- gress of these industries and to illustrate certain points connected with their management. The census of 1870, supplementing other data, affords the means of presenting some of these averages with more precision « 280 and completeness than have hitherto been possible. The following ab- stract is founded chiefly on the census publications of the three } past decades, compared with official tables of imports, exports, &e. : From 1850 to 1860 there was an increase of 47 per cent. in the butter product of the United States, and a decrease of 2 per cent. in the cheese product; increase of population 354 per cent. From 1860 to 1870 the cheese product increased 57 per cent., and the butter product 12 per cent.; increase of population 225 percent. For the twenty years, from 1850 to 1870, the increase of the cheese product was 54 per cent., and that of the butter product 64 per cent.; increase of population 66 per - cent. The growth of the cheese interest from 1860 to 187 0, consequent on the rise ‘ant extension of the cheese-factory system, presents a re- markable contrast to the exhibit of the preceding decade. The aver- age annual export of cheese (domestic product) during the ten years ending June 30, 1870, was 43,641,796 pounds, against an average of 7,853,383 pounds for the preceding decade. The exports of 1871 and 1872 averaged nearly 65,000,000 pounds. The census of 1870 states the number of cheese-factories in the United states at 1,313, and their product of cheese at 109,455,229 pounds, ’ showing an average of 83,363 pounds per factory; number of cheese- factories in New York, 818, averaging 95,362 pounds of cheese. This statement of production chiefly covers the favorable season of 1869. On referring to_the New York State census of 1865, it is found that the reports of 380 factories exhibited an average of 83,278 pounds of cheese, and 424 reports showed ap average of 307 cows per factory for the season. One hundred and thirty-three factories, “ using the milk of 300 cows and upward,” gave full statistics, including the length of the working season, the latter averaging a little more than six months; average number of cows, 504; average of cured cheese per cow, 283 pounds; average pro- duct of cheese per factory, 142,432 pounds. From comparison of all attainable data, it would appear that in 1869 and 1870 the cheese-factories of the United States did not average ov 300 cows each, and that the average of cheese per cow for the working season fell below 300 pounds. There is no reason to believe that this average of cows has been increased since that time; indeed, the reports of the dairy associations have indicated a tendency in the contrary di- rection. New York factory statements, appearing in the reports of the American Dairymen’s Association, show that 400 pounds of cheese per cow for a season of seven months to seven and a half months fairly represent the extreme averages of the State—that is to say, averages covering a long season. The United States census exhibits of 1859, 1860, and 1870, collated with statistics of export and import, show, for each individual, an ay- erage yearly consumption of butter ranging from 133 to 144 pounds, the latter figures being for the middle period, or that of 1860. The average consumption of cheese has ranged from very nearly 3 pounds to 4 pounds, the latter being the exhibit of 1850. For 1870 the rate was a little over 3 pounds per individual. Mr. G. E. Morrow, of Madison, Wisconsin, secretary of the Northwestern Dairymen’s Association, states that Mad- ison, with a population of about 10,000, averaged, in 1872, a consunip- tion of 4 pounds of cheese per individual. The following table shows the rates of increase of the butter and cheese product, during twenty years, in the States named, with the rates of increase of population : 281 Percentage of in-| Percentage of increase in | Percentage of increase in crease of population.| amount of butter produced. amount of cheese produced. Z e z : : | 2 States. So) ‘seri et pets g g g s g ec (ea) @ @ BD @ @ fe @) @ we bo) bon = Se ri So ~_ re 8 8 £ 8 8 8 2 £ 8 Sp ere ieee. 2 3 g g s 8 @ @ @ @ oe) ie o) @ @ @ = Sel Saal snl Saal = sol => as New York..-...--. 252 13 41 29 4 34 Loss, 24 107 1024 Pennsylvania -..}| 254 QL 52 47 4 (ca Raikes = dozeites 700 to 8 25 675 to 8 15 superfine western....-..-.-.-- do----..|' 5 80 to 6 25 5 60 to 6 10 extra to choice western ..----- doseeee: 7 00 to 12 50 6 50 to 10 30 southern ship’g, com. to choice..do..---. 6 00 to 8 2 6 25 to 8 10 southern family, ord’y to choice.do.-..-.- 8 15 to 12 50 8 25 to 11 50 Wear, No. spring: ....---.---=- per bushel..| 175 to 1 78 166 to 1 69 ING: 2 UBpling col. com=G~ems- sO sr eee, Oe. GO Libs 1 55: ‘to 1861 winter, red, western..---.---- do..&.- 180 to 1 95 170 to 1 9 winter, amber, western...--. - eA 195 to 2 05 170 to 195 winter, white, western ...-.--.. doxzehee 195 to 2 35 1.90) tori alg Popepee ee a tee ee Soom tees wa~wes eee se dO veneer 98 to 1 00 964 to 97 BIT aN Bod Se SL Ae ain pees eee dO mete 90 . to to 110 (GO a5 SHA pede 4 Sas ype ope ppeeee domes 68 to 714 61 to 67 Diba ee eee ene atelcinw c= «w= cae Ota ees 49 to 54 48 to 583 ay, rs @alby eee elie see ~~ per ton..-| 26 00 to 28 00 26 00 to 28 00 second quality..--.----- etescncie =dObaceee 23 00 to 25 00 22 00 to 24 00 IPGrc Mess joceit alec estscme nics +> per barrel..| 19 00 to 16 374 to ——— OXTLAG PLUME sens ac sac ows -= o\ oe dossseer 18 00 to 14 00 to PLUME MGES = 2 ssie a cicsie oo = oo le dosssee. “18 00 to 18 50 17 00 to 17 50 Wari coer strat ceeresc ects wc per pound. - 094 to 092 08+ to 94. Beek plain mess .----<)5--4-- <2--2- per barrel..| 9 00 to 11 7 9 00 to 11 50 BEG ee ret oe ecitiae wo noe do.2ue—- 12 00 to 13 50 11 25 to 13 00 Bier western... - men ccle ao. per pound... 32 to 35 18 to 24 Slated Ary socio - ae oe eeicee dose: 35 to 39 24 to 29 Cheese, western factory -.-----.......d0.-.--- 10 to 144 1l to 14 Shane macoOny ssee esas eee eee dose 12, to 16 12 to 154 Cotton, ordinary to good ordinary....do.-...-- 15 to 163 144 to 164 low middling to good middli’g.do...--. 183 to 224 184 to 22 Tobacco, lugs, all grades-..-.-. Sesser dol saess 07 to 08s 07 to 084 common to medium leaf. ~~... do. 22eee 084 to 104 084 to 104 Wool, American Saxony fleece..-...-. d0s2peee 48 to 55 48 to 5D American merino, full blood -...do.-.-.--. 48 to 54 48 to 54 American, combing.....-..----. dolecece 538 to 63 58 to 63 ulledisrasce Ske cas Gt ae rs dof aeee 28 to 48 28 to 56 California, spring clip, unwash’d.do-....-- 21 to 31 20 to 3l California, fall clip, unwashed..do-..--- 19 to 24 5 fe 0) 24 PROSCASE Bear sunusts. Jue aie a sos koee dos sess 20 to 32 170 32 BOSTON. Flour, western, superfine.....---. per barrel.-| 5 50 to 6 00 5 50 to 6 25 WIERTERMNERULAS.. S24. 6252. 32. -Oneeeee 675 to 9 00 675 to 9 00 WESHERMMCHLOICO.\-5.-20 s205--- dos.eee 9 50 to 11 50 9 50 to 12 00 southenniextras! .l2-<2-<-.L2./d0le. 2. 675 to 7 25 700 to 7 50 choice Balhimore ss)... 3... doe seer 10 00 to 12 00 10 00 to 12 00 Wiheatin--292see eee 2526 > per bushel.- 160 to 200 160 to 2 00 ING) sdb aae poaoss 244 Gscmoeeseomeeros doses 95 ton muU) 100 to 1,05 IBEDIS) 52 e seen ee sens oan ~~ cia OO See 90) tom e20 90. to 1 20 Oats eter on oe eee ee cls |x 2 '=- isi.e CO See 49 to 5S 48 to 50 Corn, southern yellow .----.-.-.----.- dou-seae 73 to 74 70 to 71 western yellow i-ces----=>-- << -- doteeeee 73 to 744 70 to 71 Hay, eastern and northern. ........--per ten..| 16 00~ to 28 00 15 00 to 26 00 291 Market prices of farm products—Continued. Articles. May. June. Bosron—Continued. Beef, western mess.....-.-------- per barrel..| $12 00 to$12 50 | $12 00 to$12 50 WESLCLUGXtnat eee a seca s-- C0.. 50 fe 13 00 to 14 00 12 00 to 12 50 Pork; prime... =... Rue ee Bee cts = MO 225 15 00 tu 15 50 14 00 to 14 50 TESS ts seers ei etd leiden oie < GU ee ee 19 50 to 20 00 17 00 to 18 00 aries sees Nese eae sae sass per pound... 092 to 10} 094 to 092 Butter, N. Y. and Vt. fair to choice new.do...... 39 «to 40 23 to 29 ; western, good to choice new..do...... 35 to 38 25 to 27 Cheese, N. Y. and Vt., factory ..-..... dol 11 to 16 10 to 144 New York and Vermont dairy--.do....-. 10 to 15 to Ohio factory, good to choice..-..do...... 12 to 153 12 to 14 Cotton, ordinary to good ordinary.... do...--. 134 to 174 12 to 17 low middling to good middling do...-.. ‘ 183 to 22 184 to 22 ADC UENCCTOY na a ee dOwerece 84 to 10 7% to 09 common to medium leaf ....do...-.. 094 to 104 09 to 104 Wool, Ohio and Pennsylvania........do.-¢ -- 45 to 58 45 to 60 Michigan .......- CoM eee do..¥..| 42 to 50 22 to. 50 other) western - .j2)- 3. - 525. 25- dO. 5.0. 40 to 49 | 40 to 4G Pullegete soo. Se Se eee o dO: os 20 to 50 20 to 55 commbipie-feece 55-3. 4ocm =~ = - do 252 60 to 65 60 to 65 CaitOrnlaian st. so sscers eases =! - GOs sacs 18 to 35 17 to 35 exas fess SE Settee sti... dO.- - diassco8 1 232 to 1 25 1 30 to One apr ee Oe dosti } pad. . Go. 154 | 1.19). tayh.20 REN fee foo clo et Se eS dpassae | 69 to 694 681 to MELOY UNO. foe 5 Caeser ate eee. GOs. 524 | 714 to 81 70° to 78 REN NOs yen s eee oe ade os dozsscce 30¢ to 314 38} to 394 MEO ENGE Spe eee eels Meee S. do.es23 74 to 383 324 to 322 Picky WUMMOUMY <2 as sjcse 2 =o. Jats'es = per ton....| 15 00 to 17 00 15 50 to 17 50 Spine tial) She 6 Be tee A ee do-==s2: 12 00 to 17 00 12 00 to 16 00 IBGE IN GSS aoe soe <0 ets chk per barrel..| 18 00 to 18 05 16 15 to 16 20 DEE ENS He occ tas cme oR Co cence - dosszeee 9.00. to 9.25 900 to 9 25 GxiraMessaee se. 2. soe... dO. Be 10 00 to 10 25 10 00 to 10 25 gS eee sees {Sais 28 per cental.:| 905 to 9 10 850 to Butter, strictly choice .....-.--.. per pound..} 32. to 35 23 to 25 common to choice roll -..----. do.25222 | 24 to 30 | to Cheese, New York factory ------.-.--do.....- | 15 to 16 | 12 to 134 Wioum factorys-csose 42 -- ~~ s - doss5e2e io. 123 to 134 Olio wacioryer s-senee se so SS. dOsssees 13 to 14 | 11 to 124 western factory.....--...-.-. do.2hs8 to.) 14% 11. toi, ESE NVDGL HUD Washedis esse. ats 562222. doce 45 to 55 | 45 to 52 fleece-washed ..-.:.-.---.----- do. ss233 | 37 «to 47 | 37 to 45 LE WARGO sees cee ees oe a. do2-22 4) 27 ~=«to S351 27 =«t0o 30 CETL es SE Ee Rs 2 ee eet NOfec=ae 38 «to 43 | 38 to 44 | SAINT LOUIS. | Flour, winter, superfine--.-...--..-per barrel... B50). tor. 5 3d cslenitas OOH to. 40.00 WINED, OXUAS)-\. 505-025. do. c22e 625 to. 7 50 575 to 7 00 winter, choice and family --.-. G0-.-.28 800 to 925 | 800 to 8 874 Wheat, red winter, No. 1......-..per bushel..| 172 to 1 80 165° sto. 172 RECT ULGCRy NOs oe atis felo Loe dos eeas BZ0=.to ;uEL@s 1 60 to 1 65 APLMMO NGS oor es oo. dono ses 125. toy 1430 130 to 1 PASE (Gy 2) See es See donc 68 to 65. to 70 ACV Ae seh eet ena cea. OO. a5 See 90 to 1 00 65 to 70 POLIT oe a sae eee ae ee ee oS Go.2223 Uhevsito 4Gi | 3%. to 48 (TNR ESE fe Ee Eee oe eee re 31 to ae) 32 to 424 Hay, shipping and choice timothy. per ton..-..| 16 00 to 17 50 to 20 00 Pere D UNG so ve ckcrca oe oe es WO}. soe 13 50 to —— | 17 50 to petten ICR 8 et wc eee per barrel..| 18 50 to ———]|. 16 75 to 17 50 PAGE MINORSt os 22 eae ce nec eeeS e G02. 2228 14 00. to ——— | 14 00 to 1 ES 5 AS a ol ei per pound..} 72 to 104 74 to 9 Butter, prime to strictly choice .......do-....-- to 19 to 22 Choice packedes 2s Sana. dos so 26 to 30 155 *te 18 Cheese, factory ane aan see ees eee oe = dose 14 to 153 to Monon, middling esha tence 2-00... 226 18+ to 18} 18 to 18} Bool fub-washedsss cost. .eette dow. 2. 43 to 50 42 to (4% fleece; washegyssre se eres =: dose | - to 38 «to 45 unwashed, clothing..--........ dole H 25) tO 30 to. ——— unwashed, combing -.---...-.- do ss 35 to | 32 to 35 PRODSCEO, TOOS\.: 2520s per cental..| ——— to ——— 400 to 6 00 common to medium leaf....do..--..- |}—_—- to ——— | 62% to 8 00 NEW ORLEANS. Ploue pipertine ..-..-. 2-2 seas per barrel..| 5 50 to- 550 to 575 BSUS 22 oc 5 See ae eee dosssest | “5-75--to- 8.25.) .6 00 to, GERTICG 12 Ss os et ane eee dosssts | 850 to1000 | 825 to 950 Sern White. :......2-. J.02 ures per bushel. .| brite + 59 57 to 58 MEMO, o- os occ oe oe eee tee dos- oe i 57 to 58 57 «to 294 Market prices of farm products—Continued. Articles. May. June. New OrRLEANS—Continued. Onis ete ee SL LE ee oR dos $0 43 to $0 44 | $0 45 to $0 46 Hay feboice ©8080 kee oen per ton....| 27.00 to 2800 | 25 00 to PUUMG Ree ee ck hoe es see 3 Ee do. 22eer 23 00 to 25 00 21 00 to 25 00 Ponkeemesse oe oes. see sana Sol per barrel..| -18 50 to 19 00 |717 25 to 17 50 CXbRa PMIMNe) 2s. 3e esse ski << hoe dosescee to to erie xas Werres-ecteoe 5 - ccc a\<'s =i-'os dO: 55555 11 00 to 12 00 11 00 to WVOSLEDN bers a etscee see ee do..s3282 14 00 to 15 00 14 00 to 15 00 DGS Bee ais See ee Lega See per pound.. 32 to 102 94 to 104 Butter, choice western. ....-.---.---- dO.nee 40 to 45 26 to 28 - choiceiGoshen = .05--.525-.-.2: Osada 50 to 36 to 38 Cheese, choice factory ---------.----- dossss2- 13 to 12 to 14 New York cream... ..). 2.7. ==: does 18 to 19° 7 to Cotton, ordinary to good ordinary ....do-..---- 122 to 1532 | 12 to 16 low middling to good middling-do-. .-.- 174 to Ao | 162 to 193 Mnbacco dues os 5.2 ote Han tie bate te dota 8 to 8s | 74+ to 9 loweleaft: «sch skis aesc2e- 68 dois 228e2 9 ito 94 | SEtio 10 medium-leaf ....-.---. = oes COR Samee 10 to 103 | 10 to il Wao a IE ioe a es eS a dos-seee | 25 to Dor 30 to ——— Nsouisiana, Clean es. se<.c~ ee doris 2 oa 23 to —— SAN FRANCISCO. Flour, ‘superfine..--..-..----.----per barrel 500 to — 450 to 525 pata et eee Wee, 6.4.1... dane | 525 to 550 | 525 to 5 50 ni her Grades) se eicee ese - > 2c doceeees — to 5 75 to 6 00 Wheat, State 42... -\2-\-----)---- per centaleaifed 75 to 1-90 1.85) tomes Oreron Sea hoses scseeees 2c dos.ses- 175. to 1 8 1 85. to 2390 Bamle vara antace ence eree seehet esas dotess=. 115 “to” 1 40 125 to” 150 COSTS SC a eee do) 33322 215 to 2 35 1 35 to 2 10 Worn, white.2-\----fss2s5 2.265. -5--COleeeee 115 to 125 to 13 WeUlOWiasocesinGuices sacceeccccce do sss222 1 123 to 115 1°25 to 13 PIN OUAUGE MeO tec cistern ees bec el. per ton --| 2100 to — 10 00 to 21 00 FOURS RMESS=% c= so 2o5a2 Sose beso. per barrel..| 19 CO to 19 50 18 00 to 18 50 prime mess .----. Meare ee ese do iceees 18 50 to 17 00 to 17 50 SEELEY aes ee eS eee doses 10 00 to 12 00 10 00 to 12 00 LL iil SS3 2S eee ae a ete per pound ..} 104 to 12h. 104 to 12 Buimenvovernland .:. <2 st.2sksecce-s dojsseee 15 to 20 15 to 18 Walifornia tices see ae eee do.22ee 25 to 3 25. to 324 CAGE CS Rs SR Se do s2ssse 15 to 1 15. to, is GdS35S) 43.45 b oS Aen oe ee ee doaaaee3 12 to 16 | 12 to 14 MOL PN MOLVO soe to 6. 25% 25) s00 ston “6n62e unshorm)2 tem erases i= 2 os oar do *-2eee 600 to 7 00} to spring lambs)-fase4----, <---). dosseeee 700 to 8450/1000 to. 14:00 Hogs, good,:corm-fed ¢- en. --.-.--=-- do. | 600 to 700 = ton nae 295 Live slock markets—Continued. May. | June. BOSTON. Cattle, choice, live weight.....--.percental..| $10 50 to $11 00 | $7 50 to $7 75 extra, live weight ....-.--.--.--. Oi ~ cae 950 to 1025; 700 to 7 2 first quality, live weight..---.. GOeclus 800 to 900|] 637 to 662 second quality, live weight....do...--. 600 to 750; 525 to 6 00 third quality, live weight ....do..--... 500 to 550] 450 to 5 00 Worlsino-OXeNecee -<-s=--/dee per pair..| 100 00 to 275 00 |100 00 to 275 00 milch cows with calves. ...- per head..} 35 00 to 60 00 |} 35 00 to 60 00 milch cows, extra.--..---.---- oes sees 65 00 to 87 00 | 65 00 to 90 00 PANTO Wi COWGese ais = socio eos. se dOs-.- 55 15 00 to 4000; 15 00 to 40 00 VGALLIN ON ose sa .o5- cess ewes Cho Saar 10 00 to 18 00/;1000 to 18 00 iwio-Vear-Odse re. sac-c6 ve saine MO: S2i-. 19 00 to 2800; 1900 to 28 00 three-year-olds...--...--.---- dors s =; 600 to 7 00 to clipped..--._- Me Res AS Ee tetas mache doe. sic. 450 to 675 to fair to good ..--- eee ciao bates dove ==. to 450 to 625 POGA OETA, see eens oe sk GOre os 2: to 600 to 6 50 HGS (COLN-TEC 2 ten oes eee 25s Oss - < - - Won tos Si2by eid oON mond TS stibl-fed., nets. 4s seemimeo sae Que. = 2: 72 to 775} 700 to 725 | CINCINNATI. Cattle, fair to prime shipping..-.-per cental..| 550 to 600| 500 te 575 pheepxeood, toichoice..2-.. 2-5. See. Gt See 200 to 700) 450 to 650 common toltaire... 3... saaeesse does =2 =. 400 to 500] 350 to 450 Jamibss.2 33585 Wes «32, seats per head.. to 350 to 6 00 EGOS CHOC oss aean.<.- aee ea pericenital -: 590 to 6 00 |\— to .5 2 CHICAGO. Cattle, extra graded steers, 1,400 pounds and Upward. . seeeeecee ae: percental...| 5 90 to 61d io c0 to Joye choice beeves, fine, fat, well-formed, 3 to 5 years old, 1,300 to 1,450 pounds ..... 222 2)6-o2-.per cental..| 5° 50ito 5:70'}.' 5/50 to 576 good beeves, well-fattened, finely formed steers, 1,200 to 1,300 pounds, per cental.-| 5 10 to 5 35| 525 to 5 40 medium grades, steers fair in flesh, | 1,100 to 1,250 pounds.-.per cental..| 4 80 to 5 00 | 4 80) to” 45045 butchers’ stock, common to fair steers | and good to extra cows, 800 to 1,100: BOUBGH - . -0'- 3 520 hes percental..| 400 to 500; 400 to 52 296 | ie, Live Stock Market—Continued. | May. June. ae | Cutcaco—Continued. | Cattle, stock cattle, 700 to 1,080 pounds |’, | per cental.-|'$3 85 to $4 90 | $3 75 to $4 90 MHLenlOnsc ss + -..a5 so shee ORs 3 00 to 400/ 300 to 37 Texans, north-wintered.-.--- doreeo=- 400 to 450} 400 to ‘ 50 Nexans. comme. ......,.-s2es doteech. 465 to 5 00 | 465 to 525 Hogs, good to choice .......----.-.-- dGee eet 5 25 to 5 30; 485 to 490 Sheep, poor to choice...-...----.---. doves: | 4 00 to 6 50 | Sens SAINT LOUIS. Horses, driving animals, good to extra,perhead! 100 to 200 | 100 to 225, COMMON'tO Taleo. ==, ae eee doz=--4 90 to 125 | 85 to 110 draught animals, heavy to extra heavy, per head. 125 to 225 120 to 220 Mules, good heavy animals ...-..-...-. dopeeei 6139), to 175 | a 165 BRU Ane one Soe tel eae eee do.-..| 200 — | © 200 — Cattle, choice native-blood steers, 1,300 to | | G00 pounds 7---5.--)-- per cental.-| 6 00 to 650!) 57 to 600 prime second-class, 1,150 to 1,400 POUNCS teres <-> o< = per cental..| 5 50 to 600 | 525 to 57% good third-rate native-blood, 1,050 to 1,300 ponnds...........percental..| 450 to 500) 450 to 5 00 fair butchers’ steers, 1,000 to 1,200 pOUnUSee ae -ees-- ==. per cental..| 400 to 450} 450 to 470 , thrifty stock steers, 900 to 1,300 Pounds ss 4--ee es. = aH per centa]..| .4 00 to 450/-450 to 5 00 INFEVIOT 2 2,45 452) \212 = nis 3 sti dosee. 200 to 400} 250 to 4 50 good to choice corn-fattened Texans, per cental..| 3 50 to 5 50 | 4 50° toy 5708 Weal CalVES- men -cie-5 soee per head... 600 to 1000} 7 00 to 10 00 milch cows with calves.-.-.--- dotcers. 25 00*to 60 00 | 25 00 to 60 00 Sheep, extra mutton grades .---,. per cental..| 6 50 to 675 |.550 to 6 50 Common) to) 00d sao --- oe. dove’. 350 to § 75 | 450 to 5 00 Hogs, extra grades, gross weight-.-..do.-----. 5 30 to 535 | 465 to 470 TALEO POO ac 7) - atte oleae doeese=- 5 10 to 525|} 455 to 4 60 common to medium .....--.- doses: 495. to 500! 435 *to 4 40 NEW ORLEANS. | | | « Cattle, choice Texas beeves....----. per head...) 50 00 50 00 HUSH OMAN LY coece-- ooo - eee eee do....| 35 00 to 4500! 35 00 to 45.00 Recond quality:+-----1..2s5- sees do....| .20 00 .to 28 00 | 20 00 to 25 00 oI eG UAHGY 222 =. )eo 5 Seer do.---| 15 00 to 1800) 1500 to 18 00 Western beeves, net... -- per cental..| 1000 to 1250) 1000 to 12 50 mileh cows, choice .-...... per head..| 80 00 to 100 00 | 80 00 to 100 00 milechiCOWwS. 2 2222=s<--225 eee do..-.|. 35 00 to 5000] 35 00 to 50 00 CalVesraiese (ic. ons /scs5.4eee ed Ones 8 00 to 12 00 8 00 to 12 00 WEARUIMOS sine S022 aio = eee do..../ 1000 to 1400} 1000 to 14 00 SHES PA TSE GUANILY 2.225 5 we nne os ooo ao... 5 00 'to 6 00 5 00 to 6 00 Neconduqualiby .2.2...552s52eee doeee: 300 to 4 05 3 00° to , 4 05 thirdsquality i: 2.2.22. one see ose-- 2.00" tol 320 200to 210 TEGIES Fe OS S)¢ = sSa goo ae aeeees esas per cental.. 600 to 7 00 6 00 to 7 U0 FOREIGN MARKETS. WHEAT.—‘The month of April opened, in the London market, with moderate stocks of English wheat but with good supplies of foreign, one-half of which were American. The foreign. trade, however, was 297 limited, and the floating-cargo trade in favor of buyers. The weather during the first and third weeks was favorable for wheat growth and quite the reverse during the alternate weeks. During the first week the London averages were 55s. 3d. on 2,041 quarters, and during the fourth week 55s. 1d. on 3,696 quarters. The iniports of wheat into the United Kingdom during the four weeks ending April 26 amounted to 2,168,664, the import trade showing a very great decline in the last week. The interior markets of England about the close of the month manifested an increased activity in the wheat-trade, the advance of prices averaging about a shilling per quarter. The decreased import caused a firmer feeling in foreign grain in the London markets, but as the weather began to clear up and the prospect of home crops to brighten, the tone of the market became Jess buoyant and confident. The wheat-trade of Paris, which at the first of the month showed a tendency to higher prices, settled down quietly to a steady range. Prices were steady also at Marseilles, but rose with fine weather at the close of the month. The month closed at Odessa with moderate sup- plies at fuil rates. At Liverpool, American white wheat ranged from 13s. to 14s. per cen- tal; red winter and southern, 12s. to 12s. 6d.; spring No. 1, 11s. 10d. to 12s. 6d.; spring No. 2, 11s. 3d. to 11s. 10d.; Canadian white, 11s. 8d. to 13s.; Canadian red, 12s, to 12s. 6d. ; California white, 11s. 4d. to 12s. 3d.; Chilian white, 11s. 4d. to 11s. 9d.; French white, 12s. 6d.; French red, 11s. 7d. to 12s. 1d.; Spanish, 12s. to 12s. 2d.; Danubian, 7s. to 9s. FLour.—tThe standing flour quotations of the London market were as follows: Best town households, per sack of 280 pounds, 47s. to 54s.; best country households, 44s. to 47s.; Norfolk and Suffolk, 38s. to 42s. In Liverpool, English and lish superfines ranged from 40s. to 42s. per 280 pounds; extras, 43s. to 51s; French, 48s. to 53s. 6d.; Spanish, 47s. to 47s. 6d.; Trieste and Hungarian, 64s. to 76s.; Chilian and Californian, 42s. to 48s.; American, per barrel of 196 pounds, western, 28s. 6d. to 31s. ; extra, 30s. to 34s.; Baltimore and Philadelphia, 30s. to 35s.; Ohio, 31s. to 35s. The Paris market from a state of steadiness gradually rose, the later quotations being 44s. 2d. to 48s. 8d. per 280 pounds. INDIAN CORN.—In Mark Lane, London, the regular quotations for Indian corn were the same as in our April report, 31s. to 33s. per quarter for white; yellow, 26s. to 28s. In Liverpool, at the close of the month, American white brought from 30s. to 31s.; yellow, 27s. 6d. to 28s.; Trieste, 27s. Gd. to 28s.; Danubian, 27s. 6d. to 29s.; Galatz, 28s. 6d. to 29s. 6d. Woou.—English wool was steady in price, Southdown hoggets rang- ing, at the close of the month, from 1s. 10d. to 1s. 11d. per pound; Kent fleeces, 1s. 10d. to 1s. 11$d.; Southdown ewes and wethers, 1s. 74d. to 1s. 8d.; Leicester, 1s. 9d. to 1s. 10d. The second series of colonial wool sales in London.opened April 28 with a large number of English and foreign buyers. The catalogue embraced 7,000 bales—2,500 Port Philip, 1,200 Sydney, 1,400 Adelaide, 1,600 Cape, 300 New Zealand. The competition was spirited, and Australian washed wools maintained their position. ButtEerR.—The later quotations were, for Dorset, 136s. to 140s. per cwt.; Friesland, 130s. to 134s.; Jersey, i12s. to 130s. CHEESE.—Cheshire, 70s. to 84s. per ewt.; Double Gloucester, 66s. t S0s.; Cheddar, 76s. to 94s.; American, 56s. to 80s. Tok © art | ah wali fee ai thy ay fic 1 Eats ies bie PORy gis ete aaa | is MONTHLY REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SEY, Deaths, WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1873. oe re Bae >. eN MONTHLY REPORT. CONDITION OF THE CROPS IN JULY. During the month of June, conditions of vegetable growtli were re- markably diversified in different parts of the country. In the New England and Middle States and as far south as the Chesapeake Bay, the general character of the season was one of drought; in many counties disastrous to vegetation. The opposite class of hygrometrical condi- tions prevailed in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, where the rain- fall was enormous in some localities and excessive in its general average. Cases are reported in which nearly every day of June was rainy. The ground became thoroughly saturated, and the grass gained such head- way that many fields of corn and cotton were abandoned. This abun- dance of moisture, however, was unfavorable to the development of insect life, and consequently the depredations upon the cotton-crop were much less than the previous reports had given ground to fear. In the inland Southern States—Arkansas, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Kentueky— the rain-fall was abundant, and in many places excessive, but not to so injurious an extent as in the States farther south. South of the Ohio River the rains were generally moderate, and in many places the weather was reported very fine. Westward an increase of atmospheric disturbances is noticeable; heavy storms of wind, rain, hail, with thun- der and lightning, were frequently destructive of growing crops. West of the Mississippi accounts are somewhat variant, the majority, how- ever, showing an abiindant rain-fall, while in no case is the drought severe. Heavy hail-storms are reported in this quarter also. In Cali- fornia the general character of June was cool and dry, with exceptions, especially in the northern part of the State. In Oregon the rain was more general and heavy; in some cases enabling farmers to dispense with irrigation entirely. In Linn County the rain-fall was greater than for twenty years. WHEAT. Our statistical correspondence represents a larger number of coun- ties than in any previous report. Returns have been received from 918 counties growing winter-wheat, and from 337 growing spring-wheat; the former have increased 167 and the latter 51 since the June report, show- ing a total increase of 218. These returns have been carefully analyzed, and a synopsis of their statements will be found in the tabulated exhibits accompanying this article. The following table shows the status of all the counties reporting in regard to both winter and spring wheat: 302 } Winter-wheat. Spring-wheat. emcee so) = | e I i] is ~— States. laos | 8 | So )"3o 4 Seton on cn on 3) , 2 | woe | ee | ms tae aeons 1.23 | 22 | 2S ) 23 ee eos pomtal ~ ~pb pb ~ + 5 Sea q ARs Aas q Ei 5 5 5 = 5 S. 5 ° iS iS) =) 5) oO oO 2) oO i) a) | | INAS. 35 CS QUES GOS dee AEE oe eee Peres 2 See sBeca il 1 1 2 6 SNieamelnI SUING Prot ietelae alae else ae [eisai = 2 oo oma ale ee Eee me 1 2 3 Soe 4 4 Sire eee en ee ee ool eo a Pepe ee i 1 2 1 Q 6 IRN CHUSBULS: ectees ene ceric ate ace Ss ccch acc cee eee mene se ccccs | Silene ih 1 2 OEMS ane sei ale eam mise ccie'cio ale wine ans cao SRE Rete s|inds os Joceese| asics. See Peel (oes. CD TTAG TCU. 5 aS Sg Cee a AEE SEE SE Ee eRe eRe Eos 5 5-15.55 a ae | eee il a ge aS } 3 cee 1 NP WWOK sereet Jos = S55 SE NRCC EE SABE ae sa ioc lc SSaseuee | 1 7 31 1 3 24 IWGR? UGGS Satake. SES ee CaaS 55. Se) aan 4 6 3) | 22s Se eeeage 1 PECTIN SW ERTUEA Me Soe ete ae alcl= c/a w odie wlo.c ee sje s ois dee See eee ose 17 13 16). 2ceee 3 11 SPICE Saeiecine 2 = ecie oS ab acs cepa sss ee Meme Renee | 1 1 1.2: 42232 eee Wiis bie |e See Acs See See ee ee ee Sees Sra 4 4 Coane iL al erent WILTED). 25 36 AS GSA ae eS Ae | lhe Sa | 12 Q1 38 |i... sc cones alee IN ila ORTHO ES 5 See te ae ee ee RRS ee) | LP 4 15 32) Sane 5 8 PSIG EIBG TUNIS see oot haere aioe Hee ele ale bs als oc ae yee eee eee ele fe oe 2 10°|.....2 4 . 095 Peach-crop very poor from severe cold and heavy sleet in February and March. High- land : Peaches a failure. Norru Carorina,— New Hanover : Fruit-crop almost entirely destroyed by heavy frost in April. Chatham: So much rain that grapes have rotted badly. Over one-third of my pear-trees are dead or dying with the blight. Chowan: Not enough apples to make vinegar for the county’s use. Pears, peaches, and grapes will fall short of an average erop. Franklin: The fruit-crop is very uneven ; the hail damaged it in some sections of the county. Iredell: An entire failure in apples and peaches on account of late frosts. Davidson: The late frost killed both apple and peach blooms in many places. Alamance: Fruit-crop very short—almost a failure. This county, in 1872, shipped 400,000 pounds of dried fruit—berries, cherries, plums, peaches, and apples. The ship- ment in 1873 will be very small. Moore: The late frost destroyed the apple and peach crop except in very elevated localities. Robeson: The only year within my recollection that the fruit of all kinds was so entirely destroyed by frost. Clay; The apple and peach-crop almost a failure. Madison: Apples were nearly all killed by the late frosts, and the fruit-crop generally is almost a failure. Stokes: Apples and peaches continue to drop off. Stanley: The frost of April swept away the apples and peaches. Burke: By reason of late frosts, the apple and peach crops are an entire failure in some parts of the county. SourH CaroLtmna.—Clarendon: Fruit of every kind seriously injured by late frosts ; not a-half crop on the trees. Lexington: Grapes generally destroyed by the frost. Only once before, in the last thirty years, do I remember such a calamity to have befallen us. GEorRGIA.—Richmond: Varieties of grapes of the types distivalis, Cordifolia, and La- brusca are decaying badly, except Ives, Delaware, and Concord. The latter are not quite sound, but better than most other varieties. Scuppernong and all varieties of the type Rotundifolia are sound, but the crop of fruit small, owing to the superabund- ance of rain during the inflorescence of the vine. Crop of peachessmall; injured by frost April 26. A very large crop of pears. Baldwin: Apples and peaches were injured by late frosts. Gwinnett: All fruits killed by late frosts, except in a few localities. FLorips.— Orange: The orange-crop promises to be a good one. Jackson: Peaches are about the same as last year. Grapes are doing well. ALABAMA,—Jefferson: The increase in the culture of the grape, particularly the Scup- pernong, is great in this county, and the increase of wine from the same will be at least 300 per cent. this year. Montgomery: Early apples and peaches ripe, very good, and the crop more abundant than last year. Grapes promising and abundant; also strawberries and blackberries. Winston: Fruit not as abundant as common, but larger, and therefore quite equal to an average crop. Calhoun: Apples and peaches have rotted and fallen off badly. Grapes have been pierced by an insect, and are rotting. Bullock: Apples and peaches were injured by the late frosts. Mississipri1.—Newton: Peaches were plenty, but have rotted. Amite: Peach-crop nearly destroyed by a series of late frosts; apples not injured. Grenada: The fruit crops all better than last year. Lee: Fruit crops as promising as ever seen. Peaches and apples ripe; grapes, both cultivated and wild, are very abundant, but all the tame varieties are more or less rotting from the constant rains. Smith: Very late frosts and heavy hail destroyed the apples and peaches to a considerable extent. Tishemingo : Not many peaches; grapes are rotting. Wilkinson: Peaches, grapes, and other fruits much injured by excessive rains. : LovuIsIAns.—Franklin: Apples yery fine and plentiful; peaches, supply scant; pros- pect good. Morehouse: The peach-crop very small; apples fine; grape-vines heavily laden with fruit ; never have seen the like either in France or in Germany. Texas.—Dallas: Peaches an entire failure from frost the 25th of March. Blanco: Apples, pears, peaches, cherries, figs, plums, almonds, and wild grapes, all destroyed by late frost and grasshoppers. San Saba: All fruit entirely destroyed by late frost and grasshoppers. Upshur: Very late and much injured by rains in June. Gonzales : Fruit killed by late frosts; peaches nearly all destroyed; but few apples growing. Medina: Peach-crop damaged by the grasshoppers. Colorado: The frost killed the peaches. De Witt: Peach-trees are bending with fruit of fine size. Grapes fine. llis: The frosts killed all our fruit. Hays: Peaches and grapes all killed by frosts and freeze last spring. Karnes: Fruit crop very much injured by the late frosts. Grapes were nearly ' all destroyed except the variety known as the the Black Spanish, which was not much affected by the frost. There is an abundant crop of the native wild-grape, (known as the Mustang,) from which excellent domestic wine is manufactured. ARKANSAS.—Franklin : The apple-crop bids fair to be a very large one. No peaches except on very elevated situations. TENNESSEE.— Williamson: The apple-crop is a failure. Stewart: Fruit nearly all killed by late frosts. Lawrence: Peach-crop greatly damaged by late spring frosts. Giles: Apples and peaches a failure, except on high points and points protected by timber, from the frost of April 26. Meigs: The late frosts killed almost all the fruit. Smith: Frost the 26th of April killed nearly all our fruit; the little left is in 336 : poor condition. Bedford: Apples and peaches a failure, except in a few localities on the hills. Bradley: All fruit generally cut off by a frost April 25. Grainger : Fruit is a failure, but on the high “ knobs” we have some apples and peaches. Sevier: Have never before seen so complete a failure of fruit. Dickinson: The late frost killed nearly all the apples |peaches, pears, and plums, and greatly damaged all the smaller fruit. Humphrey: Fruit almost a failure. Morgan: The heavy frost in April blighted the fruit. Hentress: No apples or peaches to speak of; small fruit good. WEsT VirGinia.—Monroe: Rose-bug rather troublesome on fruit-trees. Mercer: Apples, peaches, &c., were badly destroyed by frosts. Pleasants: The leaves of apple- trees are turning yellow, and the fruit dropping off. Barbour: Peach-crop an entire failure. MLaleigh: Light crop of apples; very few peaches. Boone: Peaches winter- killed; apples look well. Kentucky.—Daveiss: A severe freeze, late in May, did much damage to fruit in many localities ; killed nearly all the grapes, but the vines put out again with a pros- pect of one-fourth of a crop. Adair: Fruit killed by frost. Jefferson: The only fail- ing fruits are pears and strawberries. Lawrel: Apples nearly all killed by late frosts ; no peaches. Butler: Apples a total failure; peaches almost a failure. Fayette: Fruit generally a fair crop. Hardin: Apples and peaches almost an entire failure. Taylor: Fruit crop a failure. Logan: The late April frost destroyed all fruits except on a few high hills. Owsley: Not half a crop of apples and scarcely any peaches. Out0o.—Meigs: Apples and peaches dropping off badly. Noble: A fair crop of apples if nothing happens. oss: Peaches a failure. Franklin: Fruits, both tree and small, suffered by the extreme cold of last winter. JZorain: Grapes, winter killed. Marion : Grapes largely killed by the winter. Vinton: Owing to the frosts in April and May no fruit except grapes and a few apples. Coshocton: Peach-crop a total failure. Crawford: Peaches all killed ; great bulk of grape-vines killed and crop almost noth- ing. Otlawa: Ouly a few scattering peaches. Holmes: Peaches all winter-killed; - grapes and pears promise an abundant crop. Hancock: So large a crop of apples never known here before; they have to be knocked off in order to save the trees. Athens: The apple-crop almost a failure; no peaches. Allen: A large proportion of the grapes killed by the very cold winter. Micnican.—Van Buren: The severe winter nearly destroyed peaches and grapes; apples falling off. Cass: A pinching drought in June made havoe of the apple and strawberry crop. Clinton: Apple-trees badly damaged by the severe winter; many killed; apple-crop small. Hillsdale: Apples fair; peaches winter-killed. Manistee: Very few peaches; grapes look well; strawberries plenty. Shiawassge: But few ap- ples; peach-trees mostly killed by the severe winter. Tuscola: A limited supply of fruit; no peaches. Washtenaw: Many peach-trees killed by the hard winter. Benzie: The severe winter killed many of the peach-trees. Lapeer: The winter killed a large part of the peach-trees, and damaged grapes. Livingston: Apples all drying up on the trees. Monroe: The exceedingly cold winter killed nearly all the peach-trees, and injured a good many grape-vines.. Newaygo: Many trees that blossomed full have dropped all their fruit, and most of the others have but a light crop. Antrim: The curculio is stinging our pluins. InpDIANA.— Ripley : No apples; no peaches, and the grape-vines were badly damaged in the winter; strawberries, also, damaged very much. Shelby: Apples falling off continually ; have not heard of a peach in the county; atleast 50 per cent. of the trees killed by the winter. Dubois: Peach-crop very short and falling off the trees. Kos- ciusko: Peach-trees nearly all winter-killed. J’lcyd: Peaches very plenteous in some localities, and in some none. Hamilton: Peaches all killed, and the trees a good deal injured ; a large per cent. of the grape-vines were killed. Newton: The unprecedented ‘winter did considerable damage to fruit-trees and grape-vines. Pike: Peaches in good condition, but the quantity not more than 20 per cent. Franklin: Apples dropped off badly ; not many left; no peach-blossoms; trees injured by winter; general failure in fruits. Howard: Fruit a partial failure. Morgan: Apples amount to but little; peaches to nothing; grape-vines nearly all winter-killed. Iiuinors.— Morgan : Fruit nearly an entirefailure. Bureau: Apples average in con- dition, but not over one-fourth of acropin quantity ; a tenth of the trees killed or badly injured by the winter. Madison: Summer apples a full average ; winter apples not half a crop. Nopeaches. Sangamon: Fruit crop very light; grapes mostly frozen to the ground, but making fine growth for next year. Champaign: Peach-trees nearly all killed ; apple and pear trees badly injured. Clark : The apple, pear, cherry, and plum crop nearly all blasted. Peach-trees badly winter-killed. Jersey : Peaches and small fruits a fail- ure ; apples and pears knotty and wormy; Concord grape-vines heavy bunches ; other kinds a failure. Washington : Apples more than half stung by the cureulio; falling off. Peaches all killed by the hard winter ; trees nearly all killed. Winnebago : Canker-worm destroying nearly one-third of the orchards in this vicinity. Whiteside : Indications are that the apple-worm will bring the crop down to one-fourth. Straw- berries pretty much winter-killed. Carroll: The past winter very destructive to fruit- trees. Clinton: Eight-tenths of the peach-trees dead, and one-tenth of the apple-trees 337 dead or dying from the effects of last winter. De Witt : Apples average in condition, but lamentably deficient in quantity ; also grapes, Lfingham: Apples have dropped off ; no peaches ; over one-half of the trees winter-killed. Fulton: No peaches ; apple almost an entire failure. Hancock: Peach-trees and some apple-trees badly injured by the winter ; tender kinds of grapes killed. Anox: The appie-crop a total failure ; many trees dying from theeffects of the winter. Lawrence: The apples have nearly all fallen off. No peaches ; trees nearly all killed. Macon: Grapes few—the Catawba the only kind that has any. Moultrie: Apples a failure. Putnam : Apple-trees very much injured by the winter; many dead, and more will die. Tazewell : Peach-trees _mostly killed by the winter, and apple-trees badly injured; many will die. Vermilion : Bearing peach-trees nearly all winter-killed, and apple and cherry-trees considerably injured. Warren: Last winter injured fruit-trees of all kinds, killing many apple, pear, plum, and sweet-cherry trees. All tender varieties of grape-vines, with a part of the Concords, suffered to some extent. In orchards of 500 trees, notan apple to be found, though the bloom was fuller than usual. White: Apples and peaches dropping off badly. Boone: Apples not affected by canker-worms doing well, but many orchards are being denuded. Hdwards: The tent-caterpillar has riddled many orchards, and a terrible hail-storm completed the destruction. No peaches. Massac: Apples and peaches somewhat injured by the cold last spring. Ogle: Most of the apples have fallen off. Some ofthe fruit-trees, and the tender varieties of grape-vines, were killed or injured last winter. Raspberries that were mulched are doing well. Afercer : The heavy bloom of fruit-trees will result in but a small crop. Franklin : Apples drop- ping off very much. Peaches nearly a total failure. The winter caused much damage to the grape-vines. WIsconsin.—Clark : Apples, grapes, and strawberries injured by cold winter and hard frosts in May. /Washington: Five per cent. of the apple and pear trees dying; the trees blossomed out beautifully ; three weeks after, they looked in a sickly condition, and now the leaves and fruit are drying up. Brown: The bloom of apples was very profuse, but a cold night during the blooming season seems to have destroyed much of the fruit. Richland: Apple-orchards winter-killed; look very bad; grape-vines badly winter-killed. Walworth: Fruit comparatively a failure. Dodge: ‘The frost in May nearly destroyed all the apples, pears, and strawberries; will not be more than one- tenth of acrop. Vernon: Apples a failure; the bloom deceptive, and over half the trees dead or injured. Callumct: Peach-trees nearly all killed, and other fruit-trees and grape-vines injured very much, last winter. MINNESOTA.—Mower: Fifty per cent. of the apple-trees and grape-vines were killed. Douglas: The last winter injured young orchards and killed some entirely, leaving only the crab species uninjured, Jsanti: The extreme cold of the winter did immense damage to our young orchards. Olmsted: The severe winter destroyed many kinds of standard-fruit trees, supposed to be quite hardy, and a large amount of small fruit. Ramsey: The winter killed a large portion of the apples, pears, peaches, and plums. Goodhue: Apple-trees, with few exceptions, very much injured by successive freezings ; many bearing-trees ruined; grapes have suffered from the same cause. Iowa.—Clarke: The yield of fruit promises to be extraordinary. Lyons: From 5 to 10 per cent. of the bearing apple-trees killed last winter; most of the trees that are now dead blossomed and threw out leaves; peach-trees all killed; 50 per cent. of the plum-trees; 10 per cent. of the grape-vines. Guthrie: Grapes winter-killed, more than I ever knew them; even Concords, both old and young, killed to the ground; apples bloomed wonderfully, but the hard winter destroyed a great many. Harrison: Apples succeeded well, and are planted in large amount each year.. Delaware: Fruit generally fair considering the damage done last winter. Floyd: Apples almost a failure; many trees killed. Hardin: About 20 per cent. of the fruit-trees and grape- vines killed by the winter. JLowisa: Last winter greatly injured the fruit-trees; old trees suffered the most. Marshall: About 15 per cent. of large bearing apple-trees died after blooming. Taylor: Peaches almost played out; quite a number of trees killed, and others badly injured. Des Moines: Bearing peach-trees killed last winter; apple- trees badly damaged; next to no crop. Monona: Apples and grapes reduced by the severe winter. Muscatine: All kinds of fruit manifesting the bad effects of last winter. Jasper: Past winter very severe on fruit-trees and grape-vines; 50 per cent. of the apple-trees and grape-vines killed, and more of the pear-trees. Tama: Grape-vines injured by winter; many two-year-old Concords killed; pear-trees and many apple- trees dead, and others injured. ; MissourI.— Gasconade: Peaches on the low land were nearly all killed last winter. Platte : The apple-bloom was very heavy, but most of the young apples are fallen off ; not more than a fourth of a crop. Many of the trees dying; the decay commences on the south side of the tree. Cass: Peaches an entire failure. Caldwell: Peach-trees and grape-vines badly frozen and killed on low ground. Barton: Fruit of all kind a total failure on account of the cold last winter. Cole: Apples below average in quan- tity ; no peaches ; grapes doing well, the Concords and similar varieties promising a full yield. Taney: Almost all peach-trees killed. Adair: All the old peach-trees 338 killed; the young trees doing well, but no fruit. Bollinger: Apples and peaches good pus scarce ; most of the peach-crop killed by the freeze. Grapes good, though theie S some rot, owing to an insect, I think. De Kalb: Peaches killed last winter. Holt: The largest bloom of apples is resulting in the poorest crop ever known; a blight in the twigs or ends of the limbs, and insects or worms in the young fruit. Unless we do something to encourage birds our fruits will fail; we have very few birds, and no law to protect them. Lawrence: Peach-crop all killed, and apples damaged greatly. Lincoln: Apples are falling and have been all the season. Moniteau : Peach-trees, to a large extent, killed; no fruit. Catawba grape-vines killed; other kinds injured, but will make a partial crop. Pulaski: Peaches totally winter-killed ; nearly all the eld trees killed ; the young trees uninjured. Grape-vines growing vigorously, but not so much fruit as last year. Saint Clair: The blight very extensive this year, particularly in young orchards. Worth: Peaches a failure; all killed inthe winter. Clay : Peaches an entire failure, and apples and other fruit nearly so. Grapes injured by the freeze, the Concords alone sustaining the estimate for the crop. Howard: Peach-trees all killed, except those one or two years old. Grape-vines, except Concords, all killed to the ground. Jefferson: Peaches an entire failure; many orchards killed, and have been cut down. Pears blighted and nearly a failure. The blight has just struck the vineyards, and the crop is much injured. Phelps: Peaches all killed; apples only three-fourths of a crop and some wormy. Grapes rotting from warm, wet weather. Dale: No peaches. Callaway : Peach-trees nearly all killed, and other fruit-trees and grape-vines injured very much. KANsAs.—Shawnee: A species of blight has attacked the apple-trees in the western part of this county, killing to the ground whole orchards of bearing-trees. Douglas: A terrible blight has again appeared among our apple-orchards, killing very many trees from fifteen down to three years old in nurseries. The blight acts precisely like the pear-blight. /Vyandotte: Peach-crop an entire failure; probably one-half an apple- crop. When in bloom the trees were injured by some insect—many branches being killed, and in some instances the trees—resembling the blight in pear-trees. Coffey: Apples and peaches which promised a full half crop in May have cast the fruit until there will be but little more than one-fourth crop. Morris: In May a furious hail- storm (some of the stones weighing three ounces) injured fruit very badly. Nemaha: A blight on the peach-trees—“ curled leaf” —is damaging all the orchards in the county. Apple-trees have done badly; much of the fruit falling off the last two weeks. Woodson: The apple-crop will be very light, owing to a severe storm that seemed to blast them in the bloom. Linn: Grapes not winter-killed are looking well. Clintons not in- jured by winter, and Concords not much; but rose-bugs are eating them up. Labette: Not any apples or peaches ; killed by the frost. Zogan: Apples in condition are equal to last year, but in quantity only one-fourth. Miami: Young trees doing uncommonly well; have never seen such growth. Osage: Peaches all destroyed by winter freeze. Ripley: Apples and peaches very scarce; a great many old peach-trees killed. Wash- ingion: Peach-trees were not killed in this county last winter, and there are peaches wherever there are trees old enough. NrEBpraska.—WMerrick: A fearful snow-storm in the middle of April ruined a great . many fruit-trees. CALIFORNIA.— Sonoma: The fruit and grape crops will be better than was expected. Butte: First grape-blossoms were cut down; second blossoms, nearly as good as the first, put forth and promise well as such. Sacramento: Fruit-crop injured by late severe frosts; on same localities the peach-trees and crop are injured from the effects of mil- dew of the foliage. San Luis: May frosts destroyed half of our fruit, but that left appears to be of superior quality. Mendocino: Our fruit-crop is short, owing to late frosts, except grapes, which promise a large yield. Tuolumne: The heavy frosts in April and May injured fruit of all kinds; apricots and waluuts were almost entirely cut off; cherries, strawberries, and peaches, about one-half. San Bernardino: The peaches and grapes have been affected by late frosts. Klamath: The grapes were seriously ip- jured by frost. : OREGON.—Lane: Fruit in general looks much better than last year. Clackamas: Apples and peaches rather below average on account of late frosts. Strawberries, cherries, cherry-currants, and the Lawton blackberry do well in this county. Clatsop : Small fruits, both cultivated and wild, abound. Douglas: The peach-crop was injured by the late frost. i Uran.— Utah: The cold rains and frosts in May and the beginning of June killed the early peaches. Jron: Frost, June 6, killed apple, pear, and peach blooms. Strawberries blighted badly. Heavy crop of English gooseberries, and red Dutch currants. Wash- ington: Fruit-crop short owing to late frosts. 309 POTATOES. An increased acreage in potatoes is noted in Vermont, Connecticut, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Ten- nessee, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Ore- gon. The acreage remains the same as last year in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, North Carolina, Mississippi, Indiana, and Minnesota. The remaining States showed a decreased acreage. The maximum acreage is found in Nebraska, 121; and the minimum in Del- aware, 86. The potato-bug extended its ravages in the Eastern States, while in many points in the West its injuries were quite severe. Fear of this insect in many cases induced the cultivation of smaller crops. A condition above average is reported in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri. In Wisconsin the con- dition was full average, and in all the other States below. The maxi- mum, 111, is found in Georgia; the minimum, 76, in Delaware. NEW HaMpsuire.—Oheshire : Early potatoes suffering from drought. Carroll: Wiil be a good crop if the rain comes. MASSACHUSETTS.— Dukes: Suffering very much from drought. Norfolk: Late- planted crops backward. Plymouth; Early-planted crops have suffered severely. New Yorx.— Wyoming : Potatoes looking well; Colorado bug has just appeared. Chautauqua: Potato-bugs injurious. ings: Crop not so good as last year. iret NEw JEeRSEY.—WMorris: Shortened by drought, but improved by late rains. Bur- lington : Somewhat injured on high lands ; look well on heavy lands. PENNSYLVANIA.— Montgomery : Early potatoes shortened by drought. Hwntington : Colorado bugs at work ; early plantings injured and later ones threatened. Fayette: Seriously injured by Colorado bugs. Zlk: Late Rose, as well as all other varieties, attacked by the bug. Beaver: Colorado bug very injurious. Snyder: Colorado bug at work. Cambria: Colorado beetle on hand as soon as the crop wasup. Butler: Con- siderably injured by bugs. Pike: Average yield 150 bushels per acre. McKean: Bugs. Forest: Bugs bad; many save their crops by destroying them. Crawford: Bugs for the first time. Jefferson: Greatly injured by bugs. MarYLAND.— Dorchester : Early potatoes injured by. drought. Vireinia.— Warwick: Yield and price good. Chesterfield: Large yield of small tu- bers. Princess Anne: Potatoes sold in Norfolk at $6 per barrel. Nansemond: Early pole a promising; later plantings better. Northampton: Potato-culture suc- cessful. DELAWARE.— Kent : Late plantings delayed by drought. Nortu Caroiina.—Moore: Seriously damaged by drought. recog CAROLINA.— Greenville: Peruvian potatoes ran to tops and took a second growth. ALABAMA.—Montgomery : Unusually fine. Winston: Benefited by rain. Marshall: Never better. Bullock: Full average and better than usual. MississippPi1.—Tishemingo : Remarkably fine. TEXAS.—Gonzales: Nearly destroyed by frost. Wayette: Almost a failure by late frosts. De Witt: Marketed in May. Austin: Early Rose has done well. TENNESSEE.— Morgan : Injured by wet. West VirGiniA.—Raleigh: Fine. Kanawha: Seriously injured by bugs; where the bugs have been destroyed crops are good; sprinkled lime a good preventive. Dod- ' dridge : Cut short by potato-bugs in some localities. Cabell: Early potatoes seriously injured by the Colorado beetle. Marion: Some crops not properly attended to havé been swept by the Colorado beetle. Pocahontas: Fair condition. KENTUCKY.—Anderson : Crop promising. Oxn10.—Portage : Increased acreage. Morrow: Crop reduced one-half by Colorado bugs. Franklin: Reduced 20 per cent. by Colorado bugs. Trumbull: The whole crop threatened by Colorado bugs. Meigs: Potato-planting reduced by fear of bugs. MICHIGAN.—Antrim: Plenty of bugs, but farmers have the inside track. Monroe: Potato-bugs less numerous than last year. Lapeer: Potato-bugs very destructive ; Paris green and other remedies successful where used. Benzie: Potato-bugs very few. Tuscola: Fewer potato-bugs. Shiawassee: Potato-bugs less annoying than formerly. Mason: Bugs plenty and active. Manistee: Potato-bugs require constant eftorts for their destruction. Hillsdale: Bugs less numerous than last year. Jonia: Shortened ay Garett. Calhoun: Shortened by drought. Branch: Crops look well; bugs abun- ant. InpdiAna.— Howard : Doing well; lady-bugs killing off the potato-beetles. Franklin : Look well; fewer bugs than formerly. Martin : Colorado bugs numerous. Marshall: 340 Damaged by bugs. La Porte: Colorado bugs lively. Harrison: Look well. Orange: Bugs more successfully resisted than formerly. Ripley: Early potatoes ruined by drought. Scott: Fine; no bugs to hurt. Ogle: Suffering from bugs. Massac : Crops declining through drought and bugs for two years. ; ILLino1s.—Sitephenson: Bugs less troublesome than formerly. Montgomery : Early potatoes a larger crop than for years. Lake: Bugs very destructive. Winnebago: Bugs numerous. Sangamon: Badly need rain. Madison: Bugs not numerous ; picked from the vines. Bureau: Bugs determined to have the crop. WISCONSIN.—Juneau : Bugs persistent and destructive. Clarke: Bugs troublesome. - Columbia: Bugs numerous and destructive. Milwaukee: Late planted but fine. Port- age: Looking well in spite of the bugs. Ozaukee: Bugs lively but easily destroyed. Brown: Abundant, but the rains help the vines to grow well in spite of them. Mrxnesora.—Renville: Bugs less numerous. Jsanti: Growing well, but the bug is destructive; Paris green a very effective remedy. Wright: Nearly all destroyed by the bugs. Nicollet: Affected by continual wet weather. Iowsa.—Lee: Late potatoes promise afinecrop. Harrison: Production decreasing on account of low prices. Missourr.—Phelps: Look finely. Ozark: Look fine. Bollinger : Early-planted good. Cass: Extra. : KaNnsas.—Bourbon: Seriously injured by chinch-bugs. Butler: Late potatoes suf- ering. NEBRASKA.—Jefferson: Extra good. Dixon: Bugs early and plenty. CALIFORNIA.—Sacramenio: Shortened by drought and frost; in some localities com- ‘pletely ruined. OREGON.—Columbia: A severe frost, June 23, killed potato-vines. Clackamas: In- jured by late rains. Daxora.—Clay : Bugsin some localities. Sioux Falls: Look well in spite of potato- bugs. WASHINGTON.—King : Season unfavorable for potatoes. SWEET-POTATOES. An increased acreage in sweet-potatoes is reported in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, West Virginia, Michigan, Lowa, and Kansas; in South Carolina the acreage remains the same as last year, and shows a decrease in all the other States, no crops being re- ported in New England, New York, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The condition of the crop was full average or above in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee; it was below average in all the other States. The maximum, 108, was in Florida; the minimum, 76, was in New Jersey. FLoriIpa.—Jackson : Sweet-potatoes fine; late growing rains. Vireinia.—Pitisylvania: Late planted, and show but little results as yet. ALABAMA.—Montgomery: Promising. Geneva: Good. | New Jersey.—Burlington: Plants badly killed by hot weather after setting oub. Texas.— De Witt: Increased area planted. Karnes: Promising. lowa.—Harrison: Culture increasing. SUGAR-CANE. _ An increased acreage was planted in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi, and a decreased acreage in Texas and Louisiana. The in- crease in Alabama amounted to 15 per cent. The crop was above aver- age in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, and below average in the other States. The growth of sugar-cane is reported in 75 counties, of which 1 was in South Carolina, 19 in Georgia, 10 in Alabama, 7 in Missis- sippi, 10 in Louisiana, and 16 in Texas. ALABAMA.—Geneva: Crop never better. Bullock: Increased acreage planted ; crop better than usual, promising a large quantity of fine sirup and sugar. x FLorips.—Hillsborough : Some crops a complete failure; their deficiency of yield made good by increased acreage. ; Mississiprr.—Louisiana sugar-cane largely grown here; 15,000 gallons of molasses made last year in this locality, besides a considerable quantity of sugar. : LovISIANA.—Plant cane very good. Lafourche: Plant cane a good stand but behind- hand. Rapides: Stubble cane killed again and but little seed planted; the latter very good. St. Mary: Sugar-cane has resisted the rain better than the corn. O41 SORGHUM. Few of our correspondents make any notes upon sorghum, and those who do generally concur in representing that the cultivation of it is on the decline. The only exception noticed is in Texas, where, in De Witt County, “the sorghum-crop is increasing and is really a profitable crop.” In West Virginia, Doddridge County, it “has been a failure for the last year or two on account of rust; very little planted this year;” in Jeffer- son County it “has pretty much gone out of cultivation.” In Osage County, Kansas, it has “ nearly gone out of use ;” in Washington County, Ohio, it is “nearly abandoned ;” in Washington County, Illinois, “ the cultivation of sorghum is almost entirely suspended ;” and in Renville County, Minnesota, ‘“ that crop will be a failure.” In the twenty-three States which report its acreage and condition by figures, the acreage is less than last year, in all except Texas, (in which it is 9 per cent. greater, ) the range being between 63 in North Carolina and 96 in Arkansas and Nebraska. In Virginia, in which the average is 13 per cent. less. than last year, the condition is 6 per cent. above average. In Wisconsin, in which the acreage is 88, the condition is 102; in Georgia the acreage is 79 and the condition is 100. In the other States reporting, the condition ranges from 82 in Maryland to 98 in Arkansas. In North Carolina, Texas, and Tennessee, it is 97. BEANS. In Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Delaware, Mississippi, and Michigan, the acreage in beans is reported the same as last year. The States in which it is increased are Maine, New York, Maryland, Alabama, West Virginia, and Ohio, 102; Connecticut and Texas, 101; Georgia, 103; Florida, 113; Arkansas and Oregon, 105; Minnesota, 107; Kansas, 111; Nebraska, 109. In the remaining States the range is between 90 in Vermont and 99 in South Carolina and Wisconsin. In condition, Rhode Island and Michigan are average; South Carolina, 102; Georgia, 105; Florida, 118; Alabama, 107; Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oregon, 106; Arkansas, 103. The condition in the remaining States ranges between 80 in Delaware and 99 in North Carolina and Wisconsin. TOBACCO. An increased acreage was planted in Virginia, Texas, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. Arkansas and Tennessee return the same acreage as last year, while a decrease is re- ported in’ New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, and Illinois. The crop was full average or above in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas. In all the other States reported it was below average. The maximum, 102, was in Alabama; the mini- mum, 76, in Massachusetts. CoNNECTICUT.—New Haven: Impossible to make the plants live. VIRGINIA.—Spottsylvania: Crop increasing. King William: Low prices of grain have stimulated tobacco culture. Bedford : Tobacco culture retarded by rains. Fluvanna: Tobacco-plants plenty and planting season good. Lurtenburg: Acreage fullaverage, but late planting, &c., will bring the condition below average. Prince Ldward: Planting delayed ; increased acreage. Orange: Good stand. Caroline: Season favorable. Pow- hatan: Good. Pittsylvania: Culture increasing. Sussex: Improved eondition due to _ free use of fertilizers. Mecklenburg: Starting well. Halifax: Poor stand; injured by drought; decreased acreage. Essex: Failed to secure a stand. NortH Caroiina.—Parsons: Very bad condition. 342 MaryLannv.—Howard: Planting delayed by rain. Calvert: Severely injured by drought ; but one-sixth of a crop standing. i TENNESSEE.—Stewart : Good time to set plants. Truesdale: Not in first-rate condi- tion; too wet for cultivation. Robertson: Bad condition. S KEntucKky.—Logan : Culture increased on account of the establishment of a large warehouse. Henry: Too late planted for a good crop. Carroll: Late planted. Adair: Increased acreage; promising. Daveiss: Unprecedented acreage planted. ; Inpiana.— Brown: Acreage increased 10 to 15 per cent.; fine planting season. WISCONSIN.—Dane: Low prices have restricted the cultivation of tobacco. Wal- worth: Growers discouraged by frosts and low prices. Missouri.—Ozark: Looks fine. Cedar: Tobacco-growing greatly on the increase ; we produce an article equal to Virginia’s best. Holt: Largely increased acreage. Chariton: Early planted looks well. OREGON.—Clackamas : Rather cool. WOOL. The wool-clip was full average or above in Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, lowa, Missouri, _ Kansas, Nebraska, California, and Oregon; it was below average in all ‘the other States. The maximum, 127, was found in Oregon, the mini- mum, 92, in Tennessee. : . Nortu Caro.ina.—lIredell: Average clip. Floyd: Wool interest falling off; too many dogs. GRORGIA.—IVilkinson: Wool-raising a failure on account of worthless dogs, Texas.—De Witt: Wool production increasing. Kentucky.—Carroll: Fall of prices has induced farmers to hold over for a better market. On10.— Washington: Held above present offers. Medina: Wool-clips lighter than usual, but the increased number of sheep will bring the aggregate clip to a full aver- age. “INDIANA.— Owen : Clip short ; sheep sold close last fall. Txirois.— Boone: Clip less than last year. Wisconsin.— Walworth : Clip full average and fully up to last year, despite declining prices. Missourt.—Phelps: Clip short, CaLirorNIA.—Clip short in staple. Mendocino: Clip largely increasing. 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By TOWNEND GLOVER, ENTOMOLOGIST. INSECTS INJURING CoRN.—In the month of June Mr. J. 8. Nixon, of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, sent to the Department of Agriculture specimens of what he calls ‘‘a new enemy to ‘the agriculturist,” in the form of a small beetle, which on examination proved to be the Systena Fig.1, ° blanda of Melsheimer. This insect is about 0.12 of an inch in length, and of a light creamy clay-color, having three. longitudinal darker stripes on the wing-covers. These insects vary very much in color. Mr. Nixon writes that the beetles have nearly devastated a field of corn, eating the leaves and leaving the bare stalks standing. They hop like a flea, and when disturbed hide themselves in the soil, if they have not time to escape by flying away. They are very active and voracious, and being found in . ereat numbers, they are very destructive to the corn-plant. They have not attacked anything but the corn (maize) so far. _ These small beetles have not hitherto been reported as injurious to any of our crops, and as they are nearly related to the cucumber or flea beetles, the same remedies used for them will apply to the Systena blanda. THE COLORADO POTATO - BEETLE.—The much-dreaded Colorado beetle, Doryphora decem-lineata, has made its appearance in Mary- | land, specimens having been received from Mr. Onderdonk, president of the College of Saint James, Washington County, where they were injuring potatoes materially by devouring the foliage. Larve were also received from G. 8S. Dressler, Oriental post-office, Juniata County, Pennsylvania; so it appears that this destructive insect is making its way east, and next year we may expect to hear more of its ravages in Pennsylvania and Maryland. THE GRAPE-VINE-ROOT LOUSE.—The roots of the grape-vines, both foreign and native, in the gardens of the Department of Agriculture, have been examined carefully for the Phylloxera vastatrix, or grape-vine root gall-louse, especially where the vines appeared sickly and weak, and although the grape-vine leaf gall-louse, Pemphygus vitifatic of Fitch, had been extremely plentiful on two of the vines (Muscat-Hamburg and Black Prince) in the grape-house, indeed so much so as to necessitate cutting them down, yet neither on these vines nor on any others near them could a true root-louse (Phylloxera) or any other insect be found, either in the autumn, winter, or spring. A deep trench was also cut between a long row of grape-vines planted for experimental purposes, and the roots being exposed, were carefully examined, yet none of the destructive root-inhabiting species could be found, proving conclusively that this destructive insect has not made its appearance in our ex- perimental grounds. TRAP-DOOR SPIDER.—The Department of Agriculture has received from Mr. M. B. Wever, of Johnson’s Depot, Edgefield County, South Carolina, through Mr. Charles R. Dodge, a very remarkable specimen of the nest and spider of the so-called trap-door spider. Some doubts ‘having been expressed as to the locality of this spider, Mr. Wever writes: 346 I found the spider about the 1st of February (!) on an elevated piece of ground near my house, six miles east of Edgeiield village, the county-seat of Edgefield County, on the head-waters of Turkey Creek, on my farm, twenty-five miles north of Augusta, Georgia, near Johnson’s Depot, Charlotte, Columbia, and Augusta Railroad. I took the spider from the ground only a short time before it was shipped. It feeds only at night. A few years ago [had a mate to this. The hole was built under the pillar of my house.‘ In visiting the nest at night I have found the spider absent on two or three occasions, but always at home during the day. The spider sent by Mr. Wever so closely resembles, in form of nest, habits, &c., the Cteniza nidulans, or trap-door spider of the West Indies, described by Mr. Gosse in his Sojourn in Jamaica, that we doubted its having come from South Carolina, until we received Mr. Wever’s inter- esting letter, and we shall therefore make some extracts from Mr, Gosse’s account of its natural history, &c. The spider first digs a cylindrical burrow with its jointed fangs and mandibles, from four to ten inches in depth and about an inch in diame- ter; the bottom is rounded, and the top, which is level with the surface of the earth, is closed by a circular lid, continuous with the tube for about a third of its circumference. This part may be called the hinge. The mouth of the tube is commonly dilated a little, so as to forma slightly-curved rim or lip; and the lid is sometimes a little convex inter- nally, so as to fall more accurately into the mouth and close it. .Our specimen agrees in every respect excepting that the lid or trap- door is nearly circular, but with part of the circumference cut off, so as to form the hinge to the lid. The lid itself is composed of fragments of earth, spun together with a light gossamer web, and appears to be thicker where it forms the hinge to the trap-door. The spider itself never makes ~ its appearance during the day, but must hunt for its prey at night, as several flesh-flies, put in the glass globe in which the nest is placed, in- variably disappear before morning. When the lid is disturbed, the spider holds it down by means of its claws, and it is with the greatest difficulty that it can be opened, the animal exerting its whole strength, ‘to prevent its being accomplished; but when this is effected it retreats to the bottom, whence it may be partially drawn up by placing a twig in the burrow, which the spider savagely seizes with its jaws, and may then be partially dragged into daylight. A piece of string, inserted one day under the trap-door to facilitate opening it when required, was re- moved by the spider and cast outside. We have only been able to give an imperfect sketch of the nest and Riot, spider, as the animal could only be seen for a Sein 2 very short time, when momentarily dragged into SLEEP >, view, as it almost instantaneously retreated to 2 Se the bettem of its burrow as soon as brought into daylight, and we were afraid of killing it outright, if it had to be forcibly dragged from ,/. its burrow. From what was seen it appeared to wl/z be of a dark-brown color and somewhat hairy. LUMINOUS LARVA.—Mr. Wever at the same — time sent a large larva of a cream-color, shaded —— with chestnut on the back, that was very lumin- ous, and showed a bright phosphoresent light _ in the rings of the body and spiracles. This light was of a pale bluish color, and so bright that it could be plainly seen in daylight, by ae putting it ina dark corner, or shading it with the hand. As the larve of Melanactes, a species of Hlater or ‘‘snapping- re. O47 bug,” are said to be luminous, it is possible that our larva belongs to the Elateride. It was found in wood-earth, but died soon after it was- received. INSECT INJURIES.—Onr statistical correspondence shows a very seri- ous development of noxious insects during the month of June in various parts of the country. It is very desirable that the self-sacrificing gen- tlemen who are so faithful in securing for the Department the latest and most reliable reports of the growing crops, could be induced to give special attention to the farmer’s insect enemies in their respective neighborhoods, and furnish more specific data in order that the differ- ent species may be identified and the extent of their mischievous influ- ence estimated. In several cases new insects have been noticed, either under names of merely local significance, or by description too imper- fect for identification. In these cases it would be well to forward spe- cimens to the Department, even in the case of long known insects. This _course would be desirable, as it would enable the entomologist to recog- nise the exact character of the insect depredators in different parts otf the country, and to suggest remedies for their devastations. Grasshoppers, (Caloptenus, sp.)—The foregoing remarks find especial application in regard to the reports of grasshoppers. There are reasons for supposing that two species, C. spretus and C. femar-rubrum, are repre- sented in our reports. It would be impossible for any but a careful entomologist to distinguish them, and hence the propriety of sending specimens. Only four counties east of the Mississippi notice the presence of these insects. In some localities of Carroll, New Hampshire, they are very numerous, and unless checked by rain it was feared they would do great damage to the growing crops. In Warren, Virginia, they had destroyed some of the pastures, and were making demonstrations upon oats and barley. In Jefferson, West Virginia, they appeared in great numbers ; so thick, in some’ places, that it was possible to take them up by the shovelful. They are also reported as “thick” in Edwards County, Illinois. West of the Mississippi their mischievous influence was felt from Texas to Minnesota, and westward to the Pacific coast. Texas had an especially severe visitation. In Medina and Bandera Counties they nearly destroyed the grain-crops, vegetables, and fruits. They were also very destructive in De Witt, Blanco, and Kendall. In San Saba, their presence delayed corn-planting till May 1. In Murray County, Minnesota, these pests appeared June 12, and ruined many late-sown crops. In Jackson they appeared in countless numbers and remained about a week, eating up the crops very clean. In Cottonwood they appeared June 15, coming from the southwest, and were very destruc- tive, especially upon the wheat-crops, reducing the yield of the county to only a half average. At the date of the report-the young were be- ginning to hatch. In Blue Earth they were observed coming in the same direction. Our correspondent in Martin County leaves the condition of spring wheat and barley without note, since both are now covered with grass- hoppers. These appeared in the western and southwestern parts of the 4A 33° = county, June 17, and twenty-four miles more easterly on the 21st. They appeared about noon, on days of sunshine, high in the air, seeming in the sunlight to be of asilvery hue, their wings light brown. At first scattering widely, the second day at noon they appear in immense num- bers, filling the air even to the ground. Gardens are first attacked, onions and cabbages fall before their ravages in the beginning, and, fol- lowing, all tender plants, even tobacco and wormwood; next barley and wheat, the leaves of which they strip in patches. About the fourth day, increased in numbers, they make a united attack on nearly all kinds of grain—seeming to leave corn and peas comparatively undisturbed. About the seventh or eighth day they begin to rise, and, if the sun is warm and the weather clear, leave finally about the eighth or ninth day about noon. Millions of these insects may at that time be seen flying in the air in the wind direction. They began toleave Martin County on June 29, and four or five days had elapsed before all had gone. They injured but did not destroy the wheat-crop, some pieces being left al- most unmolested, while others were badly stripped. Vegetable-gardens are generally ruined. 2 SS ne Cee 2 to: 0. 401 YY 2224 38h 5S a Ce ite el = ee eee eee 0. 368 Tietoks Jkt ALAS eee er eee Repame REISE SS 2 ee ee eee econo t 0. 249 Rigger meeeee Steric id. oe ee ere eo ie bode eee 0.339 ROR eo ee ce wea ES 3 30 on en nn ae BOTANICAL NOTES. By Dr. GEorGE VASEY, BOTANIST. SUPPOSED AMERICAN ORIGIN OF RUBUS ID AUS, (THE GARDEN RASP- BERRY.)—Our cultivated raspberry is an importation from Europe. Our native red raspberry, (2. strigosus,) however, is so near it that the specific distinctness has been in doubt; and specimens from British America and the Rocky Mountains certainly occur which a botanist 395 must needs refer to R. Ideus itself. In his studies of the European Rubi, Professor Areschoug (in Botaniska Notiser, 1872, and in a trans- lation by himself in Trimen’s Journal of Botany, April, 1873,) makes prominent and important the fact that R. deus has no near relative, or, in other words, is the sole raspberry, in Europe, but in mode of growth, in the bark, &c., as well as in the fruit, accords with American species, with one of them so closely that all who have come to the con- clusion that species have a history must needs infer a community of origin. Areschoug concludes, accordingly, that “ this species did not originally have its home in Europe, but its origin is to be found in the east of Asia, viz. Japan and the adjacent countries, or perhaps in North America.” It is one of the members of that old boreal flora (as we sup- pose) now mainly East Asiatic and North American, which has found its way to, or held its place in, the north of Europe somewhat exception- ally. Both R. strigosus and &. Ideus inhabit Japan and Mandchu- ria, and Maximowicz regards them as forms of a common species. Pro- fessor Areschoug adopts the now familiar idea “that the Asiatic and North-American floras have reciprocally mixed with each other by pass- ing Behring’s Straits and the islands which in its neighborhood form a bridge between the two continents,” which is a partial explanation of a problem that has to be treated far more generally, now that we have rea- son to believe that this flora formerly filled the Arctic Zone. (Dr. A. Gray, in the American Journal of Science and Arts, June, 1875.) ANEMOPSIS CALIFORNICA—A NEW MEDICINAL PLANT.—Mr. J.J. War- ner, of Los Angeles, California, who it appears is an old resident of that country, has recently written to Professor Henry, Secretary of the Smith- sonian Institution, a letter respecting the medicinal qualities of a cer- tain California plant. The letter and the package of roots accompany- ing the same was referred by Professor Henry to the Agricultural De- partment as coming within the range of its operations. Mr. Warner states that he has been acquainted for some fifteen years with the medicinal properties of the plant of which he writes, and in his own person, and the persons of others, has known it to have remedial powers of unusual efficacy in the treatment of diarrheas and bowel com- plaints, and externally for bruises, for inflammations. and for old ulcers. The use of the plant has heretofore been restricted principally to the Indian population, and to domestic practice among the residents of California. Mr. Warner writes with apparent calmness and candor, and says that he has for several years entertained the desire that this remedy should be more generally known, and in pursuance of that desire has made the communication here related. His desire has been quickened of late by the reports of the prevalence of cholera in the Atlantic States, which disease he thinks might be prevented or mitigated by the use of this remedy if taken in season. Some dried specimens of the plant in a flowering state were sent, by which it is identified as the Anemopsis Ca- lifornica, a low herbaceous perennial of the natural order Saururacez. it seldom grows over a foot or a foot and a half high, with a thick, creeping root-stock, which is somewhat spongy in texture, of a brownish or reddish color, and of an aromatic, slightly astringent taste. Dr. Edward Palmer, who has traveled in California, Sonora, and Ari- zona, as botanical collector for several of the Government surveys in that region, reports that the plant is highly esteemed as a medicinal plant among the Indians in the above-mentioned countries, where it grows. The roots have been placed in the hands of Dr. Toner, President 356 of the American Medical Association, and will be given to competent medical men, that their properties may be carefully investigated. GRASSES FOR THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST.—Specimens of Bromus unioloides, Willd., which is the Bromus Schraderi, Kunth., (a truly Ameri- can, and not, as has been stated, an Australian grass, ) are frequently sent in from Texas, and generally with very encouraging statements of its valwe as a suitable grass for that section of country. Recently Mr. Louis Lehmann, of Brenham, Texas, has sent specimens of ‘a native winter-grass, which springs up in November or sooner, as the rains set in; it grows all winter, and is fit to cut for hay by the 1st of April. Cattle and horses eat it very greedily.”. Mr. Lehmann thinks it will be a great acquisition. It appears to be the Phalaris Americana, Ell., much resembling the Phalaris arundinacea, L., or Reed-Canary-grass, which is common in wet swampy grounds in the Northern States, but the Texas species is smaller and softer, intermediate between the Northern species and the common Canary-grass which produces the Canary bird-seed. It is well worthy of experimental trial by the farmers of Texas and the Southern States. Norway oats.—Mr. C. A. Sullivan, of Starkville, Mississippi, seuds to the Department a specimen of the ‘“‘ Norway oats,” and also one of the common black oats. The former specimen was grown from seed distributed by the Agricultural Department. The two were grown on very poor soil—red-clay hill. The Norway stalk has ninety-one well developed seeds, while the other has thirty- seven faulty ones; the difference in the size and strength of the stalk is equally as great. Both were planted at the same time and grew within twenty feet of each other. SALT OR MINT WEED—Iva avillaris, Pursh.—Mr. William Budge, of Paris, Utah, sends a specimen of “a very obnoxious weed, called by the farmers in this section salt or mint weed.” Mr. Budge says that its roots penetrate sometimes as much as fifteen feet into the earth, and it increases so fast and is so injurious to crops that it threatens great damage to that section of country. It is a low insignificant plant, very abundant in the valleys of Utah. It also occursin Colorado. We solicit further information respecting it. FRUIT-GROWING IN INDIANA. A correspondent in Clarke County, Indiana, sends to the Depart- ment the following account of the rise, progress, and profits of fruit- culture in the vicinity of Otto: Fruit-growing as a specialty in the vicinity of Otte isa comparatively new industry, having been introduced within the last fifteen years. From asmall beginning, under circumstances somewhat unfavorable, it has become one of the leading industries of this locality. The pioneer fruit-grower in this section, Mr. Argus Dean, in the spring of 1857 pro- eured 1,600 peach-trees from a nursery in New Jersey, which he set upon a bluti of the Ohio River, immediately in rear of Marble Hill, and about two miles northeast of Otto. This orchard bore its first crop in 1861, and two successive crops, when the cold storm of the 1st January, 1864, so injured the trees that they never entirely re- covered. They were cut away several years ago. It is not to be presumed that this first effort proved highly remunerative, yet it convinced Mr. Dean that iruit-culture might be made profitable in this locality, and he resolved to prosecute the business on a more extensive scale. For this purpose he purchased an old farm, the soil of which, 357 never strong, was badly exhausted. The ground was first prepared by being welk broken with a turning plow and a portion of it was sub-soiled. In 1861 he set upon this farm about 1,800 peach-trees. They were set in alternate rows, both ways, with apple-trees. This peach-orchard has been very successful, having borne four good crops. In 1866 he set 2,000 peach-trees on adjoining ground, which bore a partial crop in 1871, and an excessive one the past season. His next peach-orchard consisted of about 5,000 trees, which were set in 1868 and produced a crop the past season. In 1870 he set about 6,000 peach-trees on the river bluff opposite Westport, Kentucky. If the season should prove favorable this orchard will produce a crop in 1874, when he will have over 14,000 peach-trees in bearing. ' Mr. Dean has about 25,000 apple-trees, 2,000 of which are in bearing, and consist almost entirely of such varieties ashave been proven to be adapted to this climate and soil. He has 500 trees of the famed cider-apple, “‘ Hughes’s Crab.” For the cider made from the fruit of these trees he finds a ready sale at $15 per barrel. On account of having to handle such a large quantity of raw peaches this season and the difficulty of obtaining good help, the canning and preserving department had to be conducted on a smaller scale than was first intended. It amounted to 350 dozen’ of three-pound cans of peaches, and about 100 dozen of peach-preserves, jellies, &c. Of the apple product he will make about 50 barrels of crab-apple cider, and 1,000 gallons of apple-butter, selling but a small quantity of raw apples. Mr. Dean finds the best market for raw peaches in Cincinnati, and for preserved fruits in Louisville. The raw peaches he sent to Cincinnati this season amounted to something over 4,000 bushels, commanding a good price throughout the entire season. The gross receipts from all kinds and conditions of fruits will be something over $10,000, but the outlay has been larger than usual in such business. His peach-orchards are plowed at least twice each summer, pruned and wormed, and the fruit is thinned when the crop is excessive. In the preserving departments the best refined sugar is used, even in the apple-butter, and everything is done with the view of producing a first- class article in every department ; for such, a first-class price can always be obtained. Mr. William S. Dean commenced operations in the spring of 1867, by setting 2,000 peach-trees and 700 apple-trees. In 1868 he set 350 peach-trees, and 500 in 1870. Last spring he set 1,500 peach-trees, and has made arrrangements to set 900 peach-trees and #00 apple-trees the next spring. Mr. Dean furnishes the following statement of tlie proceeds of his peach-orchards: Sold at Cincinnati in 1871, 375 bushels, amounting to $1,012; at other points 80 bushels, amounting to $120; sold at Cincinnati in 1872, 2,458. bushels, amounting to $5,648.20; at other points 100 bushels, amounting to $150. Average daily shipments during the past season 44} bushels. His apple-orchard, con- sisting principally of tested varieties, prominent among which is the Hughes’s Crab, are located upon the bluff of the Ohio at an elevation of about 365 feet above the river, its geological character being that of the gray or cliff limestone, natural underdrain. In the spring of 1868, Mr. Jonathan C. Davis, of Clermont County, Ohio, and Mr, William S. Greene, of Cincinnati, entered into copartnership for the purpose of culti- vating fruit in this vicinity. For this purpose they procured a piece of land in rear of Otto Landing, on which they set between 5,000 and 6,000 peach-trees the first season, and about 5,000 on another piece of land in the same vicinity, and they have since that time set out between 5,000 and 6,000 more. In 1871 the proceeds of their peach-crop. amounted to $1,000; this, however, included the crop from a small orchard which had been previously planted on the premises. The crop of 1872 amounted to 3,227 bushels, and the gross receipts to $7,740. The season commenced on the 17th of July, and ended. on the 4th of October, the shipments averaging 46 bushels per day. Mr. Davis is said to be the pioneer peach-grower of the West, having planted an or- chard in Clermont County, Ohio, in 1847. In that locality he carried on the business extensively and successfully for many years. He is emphatically a peach-grower, havy- ing given his whole attention to that branch of fruit-growing. As a result of his long experience he is thoroughly posted on three essential points, viz: How to grow peaches ; how to pick and pack them; and how to sell them. He has lately purchased a tract of land containing a little oyer 300 acres, and embracing the finest location for a fruit- orchard in this region. On this he will set 20,000 trees this spring, and will set somuch of the remainder as may be adapted to that purpose in a short time, perhaps next spring. The peach-crop of the past season was very large, amounting in the aggregate to 9,985 bushels. ‘The season commenced about the middle of July, and closed the first week in October, during which period the shipments from Otto Landing averaged 143 bushels per day. The peaches of Otto have become celebrated wherever known, and command the highest price in some of our principal peach-markets; consequently the growing of this fruit has become a leading branch of industry here, and from present indications it is reasonable to presume that at no very distant day all the tillable land on the river-bluffs in this region will be occupied with orchards. The peach does not seem to require a strong soil, and it is the opinion of some of the growers here that certain va- 358 rieties can only be successfully grown on very poor soil. As to the correctness of this theory the writer is not prepared to decide, but he is convinced from observation that peaches of large size and superior quality can be produced on very thin soil. This is a favorable locality for the growing of both peaches and apples, compared with the general character of the western country. The under stratum of rocks, kiown as the cliff limestone formation, crops out about ten miles above Madison, and dips beneath the old red sandstone at New Albany, which latter formation forms the range of hills known as the ‘“ Knobs,” aud this peacb-region lies about midway of this cliff formation. Of all sections underlain by the cliit stone, where the surface is level for any great distance, the soil is necessarily wet, and it is only where the rocks have been cut through by the Ohio River and smaller streams that the soil is dry. This dryness is on account of the rocks having been exposed to the drying influence of the atmos- phere for a long period of time, so that by shrinkage cracks and open fissures have been made, leading from side to side of the declivities formed by the river and streams. Those cracks afford the most perfect underdrainage, which in process of time has changed the nature of the subsoil from a white, tenacious clay to that of a red, friable earth, and wherever this kind of subsoil prevails in this formation both peaches and apples do well, if properly cared for. It should, however, be understood that the ex- cellence of all our improved fruits depends more upon artificial appliances than upon any peculiarity in natural causes. This is proven by the fact that we have as great extremes of success and failures in this locality as they have elsewhere. The points upon which the peach-growers of Otto principally depend for success are thorough cultivation, pruning, and worming, and where the crop is excessive thinning is practiced. In picking and packing, the fruit is handled with great care. The boxes are made of the proper size to hold full measure. In packing, the deceptive practice of “ putting the best on the outside” is not allowed. RAISING SILK-WORMS IN THE OPEN ATR. An experiment in silk-culture of very considerable interest and im- portance is now in progress in England, at the international exhibition at South Kensington, which is based upon the accepted principle that prevention is better than cure. It is known that silk-worms are liable to various and sometimes very grievous diseases, attributed, no doubt with good reason, to the unnatural condition in which they are reared, in unhealthy confinement, and deprived of the influences of the open air, so essential to the sound development of all animal life. The infee- tion has been for some years universally prevalent in the silk-producing districts of Europe, being transmitted from generation to generation, producing increasingly debilitated progenies. of worms, till at Jast the extermination of that invaluable race of insects and the ruin of the silk- growers seemed almost inevitable. Japan was for a time the only source of healthy eggs; but large importations from thence into Europe have, from some cause, been found to be at least partially diseased. In this state of things Dr. Chavannes and M. Roland, in Switzerland, have conceived the rational idea of preventing, by simple means, dis- eases which science has found to be without cure. Their plan, which has been tried in Switzerland with promising results, and is now being tested at South Kensington, is merely that of restoring the silk-worm to its natural conditions, by rearing it in the open air on the mulberry- tree itself, and thus of producing, under circumstances dictated and demanded by nature, a healthy, uncontaminated race of silk-worms. M. Roland, who appears to bave elaborated this plan very carefully, has published a pamphlet containing a treatise upon the subject, in which he maintains that ‘* by rearing on the tree, and especially by allowing the eggs to remain on the branches throughout the winter, the worm becomes more robust, and after some years returns to a state of nature. Ultimately the larva has nothing to fear from violent wind, heavy rain, or burning sun, and remains firmly fixed on the branches or Sc ee tit 359 on the leaves. The pattern on the wings of the moth becomes more strongly marked, its movements are much more lively, and it makes use of its wings as much as its naturally sluggish nature will allow it to do.” The singular entomological fact is stated, that at first the silk- worm has much difficulty in holding on to the tree in very windy weather, and often lets itself drop by gnawing through the stalk of the leaf on which it is feeding; butin a few years the caterpillar becomes stronger and ape lively, the moth more alert, and the insect “ completely regenerated,’ and its eggs, exempt from disease, promise an unfailing return; for the following year. The mulberry-trees, in accordance with M. Roland’s plan, are grown as standards, headed down at a height of three feet, so as to resemble a Standard rose. They are pruned or pollarded every spring, the object being to secure the formation of a number of young shoots, with fresh, tender leaves, the older, harsher leaves not being suitable for the insect’s food. The annexed cut, copied from the London Gardener’s Chronicle, wil? illustrate the method of proceeding. Over the head of the tree, as will be seen, is fixed a hood or cover of wire gauze and canvas, about three feet in diameter, the top and bottom being made of fine painted canvas. This hood is slipped over the tree, the lower end being tied care- fully round the trunk, with in- tervening wadding, so as to prevent injury to the tree, as well as egress of the worms or ingress of other less desirable insects. The silk-worms are placed on the head of the tree through the upper opening of the hood, which is then closed carefully, like the. bottom. Two stakes, one on either side, are then thrustinto the ground, and the hood is made fast te them to secure steadiness. In spring the worms are hatched naturally at the same time that the shoots make their appearance, and when they have nearly eaten the leaves of one tree they are shifted to another. Thirty trees and ten hoods will rear silk-worms sufficient to produce an ounce of eggs. It will be observed that this 4 1 ‘ LZ 7 OY SSO L | f 7 i . . . . yy, Mii Lao ey ; %, ingenious but simple contriy- nN DUA NS RR, Sy NURI ance contemplates only the (CB) Up Poa SO Voy rearing of worms in the open ay , oh Y VW ANY, YY: ir oj its 3 . 9ea7 DYES) Fo thei IME air, in a state of uature as it were, the great object being te SILK-WORM REARING IN THE OPEN AIR. secure healthy eggs and a ro- bustrace of worms. It is obvious that when it is desired to secure the most 360 abundant supply of cocoons, in the quickest manner, and at the least expense, a more artificial mode of rearing must be resorted to. Hence, M. Roland has contrived, for hatching eggs more expeditiously, what he calls a “ magunanerie,” which is a shed with a span-roof of shingle and sides of wire gauze, having blinds for shelter against the wind or direct rays of the sun. This shed is placed in the most airy situation, and precautions are taken to insure thorough ventilation and freedom from damp and the access of injurious insects. Cleanliness and free ventilation are the essential features of the system throughout. But, as will be seen, the rearing of healthy eggs and the rearing of silk are two very different processes; and it is to the former only and to the rational and simple method of accomplishing it, as recommended by M. Roland, that it is the present object to call attention. AN ECONOMICAL. LIME-KILY, The value of lime for agricultural purposes has brought it into use wherever it can be obtained at a reasonable cost. The art of making if is so simple and easy as to allow every farmer who can cheaply procure limestone, (or shells,) to make it a part of his regular operations to burn his own lime. It is desirable, therefore, that he should have the means of doing so at the least possible expense. All that has been written for our reports, heretofore, on the subject of burning lime, has too many scientific details interwoven with the practical portions to be readily comprehended by the unlearned. What a farmer wants to know is how to build a kiln, how to fill and fire it, and how to use it, and how all this may be done at the least possible expense. I have under- taken to elucidate these points by drawings and directions which can be easily understood. There are two classes who engage in burning lime. One pursues it as a business—to make profit by Selling to others. The other burns lime for his own use. Of the first it may be said that the time occupied in the process of burning is an essential element in the success of his business ; hence the construction of his kilns with expensive chimneys, to secure uninterrupted draught, even by means of blowers, when neces- sary—the only means of keeping his laborers constantly employed. But to the farmer, who burns iime for his own purposes, it is a matter of little importance whether his kiln burns out in twenty-four hours, (as it may be made to do, by artificial means,) or whether it occupies a week to produce the saine result, because coustant attention is not re- quired as a matter of profit. Besides, it is a work which can be done at seasons when it will not interfere with the ordinary operations of the farm. The kiln once filled with stone and coal, and fired, may be left to do its own work, requiring only occasional regulation of the dranght. The kiln should be built in a side bank, so high that a wagon-load of stone driven near the top can be placed upon a platform, and there be broken into convenient sizes for burning, and from thence be thrown by hand or shovel into the kiln. This platform should be about four feet wide, and extend the whole length of the rear side of the kiln; and it should be as high as the wagon, and on a level with the top of the kiln, or nearly so. he kiln may be built of any kind of stone which will make a strong wall, and should be well bound throughout, on all sides, with planks and logs, as represented in the drawing. Without this, 361 ‘the expansion and contraction. occasioned by the heating and cooling, _ wonld soon destroy the walls, however strong. The inner-wall should > = . 1. Front elevation. A B C D, timbers 12 by 8 inches, each log projecting 4 inches over the other. KE, ) Janks 12 by 2} inches, extending through the wall. be a foot thick, and constructed of materials indestructible by heat, such as fire-brick, or soapstone—the latter being preferable. One thus lined, which [ have had in use for many years, is seemingly as perfect as when built; and it is not even a pure soapstone, but bastard,” found in many places in the mountains of Pennsylvania and elsewhere. The iron bars of the grate should be narrower on the top than on the bottom, and they should rest loosely on cross-bars, so that they may be shoved to one side or the other, and allow the lime to pass through, as may be needed, when taken out. The hinder part of the grate should be elevated, so as to throw the lime forward as it is taken out at the front. This is either a draw-kiln, from which you may take the lime as 362 it is burned, and continue to fill at the top, or a permanent kiln, as you may please to use it. : 2. Sectional view. KS WW \ x WS EAA SETS PRE LLP IAT A EIT | 5 FTL ———EEE =a ae a ee Sd = | To fire the kiln, at first, the bottom, for two or three feet in depth, sheuld be filled with dry materials, such as old stumps, rails, corn-cobs, 363 and the like; then put in the coal, and stone, (or shells,) in alternate layers, each deep enough to hide the preceding layer. Then fill the eye of the kiln with dry kindling-wood, and set fire to it. When the mass becomes thoroughly on fire, it may be necessary to close the eye of the kiln with boards, to moderate the draught; for, on very windy days, I have known the draught to be so strong as to carry the fire straight up- ward to the top, without perfectly reaching the sides. On limestone farms, the fields of which require that the stones be hauled away as they are turned up by the plow, such a kiln is the place to put them, that they may be turned into lime when the farmer has little else to do. ROTATION OF CROPS IN SWEDEN. _ The Department has been favored by the Secretary of State with the following dispatch from the Hon. C. C. Andrews, Minister of the United States at Stockholm, in relation to Swedish agriculture: LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Stockholm, June 28, 1873. Sir: Having visited Mr. Alex. Dickson’s estate, Kyleberg, near Odishog, in South Central Sweden, to witness the operation of his steam-plow, and being favorably im- pressed by his skillful practice of agriculture, I requested him to have the kindness to -put down in writing his system of rotation of crops, which he did, as follows, remark- ing that the soil, mixed clay and loam, though of first-rate quality, had been much exhausted during many generations before it came into his possession. “T have,” he states, ‘ three various. rotations, viz: 1st, fallow; 2d, autumn-sown rye; 3d and 4th, clover and seeds ; 5th, vetches, cut green; 6th, autumn-sown wheat ; 7th, mixed grain of barley and oats. ; “ Second rotation.—1st, Swedes, turnips, carrots, or mangel-wurzel; 2d, barley; 3d, and 4th, clover and seeds; 5th, autumn-sown wheat; 6th, mixed grain of barley and oats. “ Third rotation.—1st, mangel-wurzel, Swedes, carrots, or turnips; 2d, barley; 3d vetches, cut green; 4th, mixed grain. “ The last rotation is carried out on the lightest part of the land, and is what is gen- erally called the Norfolk system. At present, I am giving the six years’ rotation two root-crops in succession, in order to get the land thoroughly cleansed from weeds and put into first-rate order for the succeeding crops. It is my intention to give the seven years’ rotation the benefit of two root-crops, (potatoes and Swedes or other bulbs,) after having gone over the six years’ rotation. “The manure is applied to the fallow or root crops. In order to secure a good crop of rye, it is almost indispensable to have fallow precede it. The farm-yard manure is from preference drawn out to the fields in winter on sleds, and put into large rectan- gular heaps, which ought to be covered over with peat-earth, or the earth round about the heaps. In spring, as early as the condition of the land allows, it is spread and plowed in for the root-crops, which éught to be sown very early, in order to secure a heavy crop. The fallow is manured after having been well wrought and cleared of weeds. The manure is then plowed in and left till shortly before the rye is sown, unless the fallow should require to be harrowed or quelled, to destroy weeds. I now give all the crops two hundred-weight of Balur guano superphosphate, which is applied to the winter-grain immediately before or after sowing, so that it may get harrowed in. For the spring-grain it is applied in the same manner ; and for the root- crops it is sown broad-cast over the field just before drilling.” I saw Mr. Dickson’s steam-plow in successful operation by his ordinary farm-labor- ers, who had acquired their skill onthe place. He considers it, on the whole, economi-. cal, especially as it enables him to take full benefit of favorable weather. I was particularly struck by his careful method of saving grain-seed. The soundest and best developed grain is selected for the purpose, and separately stacked and left unthrashed till near the time it is required for use. * As a general rule, the most cultivated and wealthy gentlemen of Sweden devote a good share of their personal attention to agriculture. The income from the larger estates is about 4 per cent. The rural beauty and charms of many, perhaps most, of BA 364 the larger country estates of Sweden, combining as they do arable field with handsome woodland, hill, valley, and lake, are scarcely anywhere surpassed ; and no traveler should form a judgment of Sweden till he has seen something of them. I have the honor to be, &c., C. C. ANDREWS. Hon. HaMILTon FIsuH, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. STEAM-PLOWING IN ENGLAND. A communication on this subject from a farmer of Huntingdonshire, England, and kindly furnished to the Department by Mr. John C. Wal- lis, of Cumberland County, Virginia, will be found to contain facts of considerable practical value to those interested in this system of cul- ture. The writer says: I think it is cheaper than horse-power, since it requires three and sometimes four horses to do less than an imperial acre per day. I need not go into statistics to prove this further than to say that we bought our tackle in 1859, and are still using the game windlass and cultivator we then started with, and the former has not cost us £5 for repairs during the time, nor has the latter except for the wearing parts—the wheels and shares. We have had 1,000 yards of new wire-rope twice during the time, at a cost of £50 each time, and we now need 1,000 yards more. In regard to the engine, the cost is little compared to the work done, provided it is of sufficient power; a 10 horse-power is quite sufficient for our implements. Concerning the matter of the best system I am not in a position definitely to say, but my opinion is that, with a farm of, say, 1,000 acres or upward, Fowler’s double-engine system might be employed to advantage ; but on a farm of less size perhaps Smith’s round-about plan would suf- fice. But ona farm cobsisting of land light and dry enough for a pair of horses to plow an acre and upward in a day, I have seen no system to supersede it at present, yet I do notsay wemaynot, * * * butIcansay that all my neighbors envy me the mode of steam-cultivation, both on account of the quantity and quality of work done, and the lit- tle cost of it. However, few farmers have sufficient capital to spare, £500, for a 10 horse- power engine and the proper plow. But if I had a farm of 300 acres of strong land, I would try hard to spare £200 for the tackle, even if I had to hire the engine to work it. The cost of steam-cultivation stands something like this: I pay the men 3s. 3d. per acre the first time over, 3s. the second, and 2s. 6d. per acre if I go over it a third time with my large cultivator, and we average over six acres per day ; so that the following is about the cost of a day’s work: 8. d. BMLCTER TAG OS» 2. | ate Se ee - Sa eee Perr ae Sao soe | 1s 0 lew soncoals; ats. 68. 25-6 52ce poe meee ce wins 3 oe eee eos os cep pe 1b, 0 Maniandi horse to supply water..< --sermer--- o-oo 6--- ose oes oe ee ee ee 3° 6 ORE See tee ecu = boat leo. coe Oe > oe oles oe eee eee 1 0 Wear and tear and depreciation in value2.2... .- 222. 252. 22-202 basses sees eee 10 0 In all, £2 11s. 6d., or 8s.7d. per acre, equal in United States currency to $2.14 per acre. I think you will agree with me that we cannot get the work done with horses for the same money, even without regard to the superiority cf the work. I think in a former calculation I put the wear and tear at £1 per day, but experience has proved that too much ; for, as our men get more accustomed to the work, the breakage is less ; and now I have allowed 7s. 6d. per day for hauling water, whereas we often do without the horse. When it is near, a man can carry it. As to the increased yield per acre of grain through this system, I think it has, with the extra assistance of increased quantity of manure, increased the yield about 8 bushels per acre, and in most seasons it certainly does assist the drainage and enables us to grow much more and better roots; but in such an exceedingly wet season as the last all the advantages disappeared in that respect. The land was like so much plastic clay, and although we grew some good roots, it was so wet that they could not be fed on the land. But then again the steam-plow came to our aid, for though we had to cultivate the land four times over and crush it with our heavy crosskill roller twice over with the engine, yet we got it to a better and finer tilth, and got in the oats better this spring than we could possibly have doue with any amount of horse-labor; so that, aithongh it has not quite realized all that some sanguine people expected, yet it is steadily increasing in use. A great deal has been done in this neighborhood this spring, but I think that 25 acres per day is the most I have heard fof. Perhaps less than 20 365 acres may be considered the average with the double-engine plan. All who have used it seem satisfied with results, and with the advantage of being able to do so much work just at the right time. I have just broken up 10 acres of clover-land which had been pastured to sheep since the first week in April,and hope to get it ready for a crop of tur- nips this month (June) with but little horse-labor, thus setting them at liberty for other work. Therefore, I can only repeat that it has more than justified our continued use of it, and what I should do without it I scarcely know. Our correspondent, Mr. Wallis, after referring to the fact that the writer of the foregoing has had fourteen years’ experience in steam-plow cultivation, and further referring to the fact that in this country the price of labor is getting so high (alluding more especiaily to the South) that resort to more machinery is necessary to allow the raising of crops at a profit, says: If I had had a steam-plow this year I could have put in at least 200 acres of corn in- stead of 50, and instead of 150,000 hills of tobacco, could easily have put in twice that number, with the same number of hands and horses. A corn-crop can be put in and worked entirely by steam; and in working a crop of corn I should think a 10-horse engine ought to plow 20 acres per day easily. Mr. Wallis had five years’ experience with the steam-plow in Europe. POULTRY-RAISING IN FRANCE. The Department is indebted to our Consul at Lyons, France, General J. P. Osterhaus, for some interesting statements concerning poultry- raising in that country. France feeds 40,000,000 hens annually, worth on an average 2 francs 50 centimes each, (50 cents,) or a total of 100,000,000 franes. The practice of making capons (emasculating the males) is very common, and the females are also rendered incapable of breeding, being unsexed—the French use in this connection the term réformé—and in that condition they are known as poulardes. This gives them a tendency to fatten, and is done when they do not promise well for laying, or have ceased to be fertile. Pullets of the largest breeds are generally selected for this purpose. About one-fifth of the 40,000,000 hens are so treated, and yield, at the above quotation, 20,000,000 francs. Besides the poulardes, 2,000,000 capons are annually sold, yielding 5,000,000 frances. The 40,000,000 stock hens produce every year at least 100,000,000 young chickens. If, of this number, 10,000,000 are allowed to replace the one-fifth sacrificed to Epicurus, and another 10,000,000 for various casualties, there remain 80,000,000 spring chickens, which, sold at 1 france 50 centimes, (30 cents,) represent the sum of 120,000,000 franes. for the sake of accuracy, the enhanced value of the poulardes and capons must be taken into the account; this is not. less than 6,000,000 franes, and raises the aggregate realized annually from the sale of the various kinds of chickens to 151,000,000 francs. Estimating the other prod acts of the 40,000,000 stock hens at 240,000,000 frances, we have a grand total of 391,000,000 francs, ($74,000,000,) which the chick- ens of the French farmers annually yield to them. Should the number of stock hens be increased to 150,000,000, as com- petent persons advise, the yearly earnings would not be less than 1,000,000,000 francs. The Consul adds, that from his own observation the exportation of - chickens has become a regular business. The district of La Bresse is particularly noted for the quantity and quality of its feathered products, and all France and neighboring countries prefer to purchase in that 366 region. The minute and scrupulous care bestowed on the raising, dress- ing, preparing, and packing of the fowl guarantees fully against the or- dinary risks of transportation. Henry IV, the most popular of the French kings, promised to make France rich enough by the wise measures of his great minister of com- merce, Sully, to enable every peasant to have his chicken-roast on Sun- day. Nowadays this would not appear an extravagant prophecy. BEET AND BEET-ROOT SUGAR. The immediate success of the manufacture of beet-sugar on the conti- nent of America—and of its ultimate success there can be no doubt, now that public attention to the subject is thoroughly aroused—will be de- | pendent upon two facts: First. The proper selection of seed. Second. The reducing of the principal product of the root to such a ‘shape as to render its easy conveyance to the great centers an easy mat- ter. On this latter depends the general and universal cultivation of the root, and until its growth becomes general and universal, the pro- duction of the sugar will be confined to a few localities more imme- diately adapted to its growth and to the easy manufacture of sugar. The selection of the seed is of the first importance—of the various kinds of best beets grown for sugar. The roots. may be classified into two varieties, viz., those which are slightly colored, and those which are white. Each class has its admirers. The red garden-beet is not used for sugar. In the first instance, and for a number of years, we shall have to rely on imported seed from the beet-growing countries of Europe, and therefore we shall, in a great measure, be dependent on the character and honesty of the seedmen importing from France and from Germany. Yet there seems to be no reason why we cannot grow our own seed when the principles of producing are understood. The beet, like every other plant and production of nature, is suscepti- ble of great and constant improvement. In its case, as in all others where plants are propagated by seed, “like has the greatest tendency to like,” and therefore we may rely on it that the roots which are rich in sugar will produce seed for the succeeding crop, which will also be rich in sugar; and by constant and careful selection, a constant, although slow, improvement may be depended upon. When the root was first cul- tivated for sugar, 5 per cent. was considered a good yield; now 10 per cent. of sugar in the roots is of constant occurrence, and some of the most favorite kinds are known to produce 15 per cent. of sugar. The difficulties in the way of selecting roots for seed consist in the fact that each root is a perfect plant, and that in order to insure im- provement, each root which is to be planted for seed must be tested in one way or in another. Vilmorin, the great seedsman of Paris, was a great improver of the root. His plan was to test every root before planting it for seed. He punched out a small piece of the root, reduced it to pulp, extracted the juice, and, by a set of very delicate instruments, he ascertained the specific gravity of the juice. The ropts which showed a great richness were planted for seed, while those under a certain average were rejected ; the process did not interfere with the seed-bearing power of the root. By this means he found that he could produce roots of even a greater 367 F richness than the parent plant, and he followed out the course for a few years, until his ‘ pedigree” roots would in the average produce double and eventually even treblethe yield of sugar. He thus established a new kind of beet, which bears his name, and is now known as the “ Vil- morin Improved.” ‘This root is partially colored, the skin being pink or reddish, and it grows considerably out of the ground. Doubtless hundreds of other growers followed similar, if not the same plans, and the consequence has been a wonderful increase in the rich- ness of the root in sugar. It is not to be supposed that the general seed-grower will adopt this extreme course, but the fact of the possibility of improvement being once established, each grower will observe for himself and adopt his own course, and thus a greater or less degree of success and constant improvement will be certain to follow. Of one thing we may be pretty sure, namely, that as the entire root increases in specific gravity so will its richness increase, and therefore a selection of the roots for seed becomes a comparatively easy matter. The following plan may be pursued: Get a tub of water; make the water so thick with sugar that the richest root will barely sink in the mixture; then, as you dig and wash your roots, try all those you mean to keep for seed in this sweetened water. Those which sink, select for seed ; those which float, reject, and let them at once go to the mill to be ground into pulp for sugar. All the roots which you intend for seed should be again thoroughly washed so as to get rid of the medicine in which they were immersed, and they should then be carefully stored for setting out in the spring to produce seed. _ ft is necessary to make the trial of the root as soon as dug, because, let them be ever so carefully stored, some roots will dry more than others, and then those which dried least, although they might be poorest in sugar, would show the greatest specific gravity, while those which are richest in sugar might, if too much dried, show a light specifie gravity. There are various other methods by which those who observe closely will easily ascertain which of the roots are richest, and will thus be able to select, without so close a trial, the most promising roots. The fact once ascertained that improvement is possible will surely lead to improvement being made. Another great fact must be specially borne in mind, that the roots which are intended for seed must not on any account have their tops eut off. The outside leaves should be removed, but the small heart- leaves should not be removed or injured, for by so doing you injure the future stalk which is to bear the flowers and seeds. It is also important to note the fact that the lower ends of the roots and the parts covered with earth are far richer in sugar than the tops and parts which have grown out of the ground. This difference can be made apparent by any one in the following manner: Take exactly the one-seventh of a pound of the root, that is, 1,000 grains, (this is done to show the specific gravity ;) attach it to a very fine wire or silk by a small hook, which is to be attached to a scale-beam such as is used for weighing medicines, (the scales need not be removed,) but have a corresponding piece of wire or silk attached to the other end of the beam so as exactly to balance. Then immerse the piece of root which has been attached to the wire in water, so that it hangs free from the sides of the vessel, and is at about the center of the water, and put in the other scale. weights until they just balance the piece of root; you will find that the piece of root, when-cut from the top of the bulb, will be sc arcely heavier 368 than the water which it displaces, while a piece of the root cut from the lower end of the bulb will require many grains to balance it, and thus show that the lower end of the root is far richer and of greater specific gravity than the upper. Professor Voelcker, of England, gives the following as the relative specific gravity or weight of the root, and its consequent richness, when the root is divided and tried in different parts or sections. For example, a beet-root, grown in Berkshire, England, being divided into six por- tions, and analyzed, 1, the top, next the leaves, contained 54 per cent. of sugar; 2, the next, 74 per cent.; 3, the next, 83 per cent.; 4, the next, 104 per cent.; 5, the next, 102 per cent.; 6, the next, 11. 06 per cent. In a beet-root from Surrey, England, cut in four divisions: Top, 1st, 6 per cent.; 2d, 84 per cent.; 3d, 82 per cent.; 4th, 94 per cent. An- other turnip-shaped beet contained: Top, 44 per cent.; bottom, 8.05 per cent. A great deal has been said and much mystification made about the possibility of growing roots which contain a greater proportion of salts than of sugar. Doubtless there is considerable truth in this; but of one fact we may be certain, and it is a practical fact: “That all beet- roots produced in good old Jand, which has been manured the previous year, will produce the maximum of sugar which the kind of root will produce; and that the production of salts will not be to a greater extent than is natural and necessary for the perfecting of the root for its pres- ent yield of sugar and its future production of seed.” The practical grower of beets may, therefore, banish all these specu- lative ideas, and proceed on the axiom that ‘ The better the land, (pro- vided it is old land.) and the better it is manured, the more sugar will follow to the acre; whilst on poor, sandy soil, and on mucky or peaty land, although the roots may be large, and the crop per acre heavy, yet he may expect that his yield per acre of sugar will be far less.” A rich clay, a clay loam, or even a rich sandy loam, well fallowed the previous year, and well manured, (also the previous fall,) will also pro- duce the maximum of sugar, and, bearing this fact in mind, no one will be so silly as to sow his beet on any other kind of soil. If he does, he will meet with disappointment. Of the various kinds of absolutely white beet the “ Silesian White” Sugar seems to be the best and the hardiest. The root groWs almost entirely under the ground, and thus does away with the necessity of earthing up, a process, however, which should always be practiced where possible. In all cases it may be taken as a general rule, that the sugar-bearing roots should be earthed up with the plow or cultivator as often as the roots force themselves considerably above the soil. All the Silesian beets have colored skins above ground. Any person going into the raising of sugar-beets should get as many kinds as possible; try them all; keep a record of the results, and then cultivate that kind which he finds most suitable to his own farm. In doing this he can never go wrong; every farm varies from others in some respects; no person can be expected to know beforehand the kind that is most suitable for his land, and nothing but actual trial and ex- perience can be perfectly depended on. Hardiness against the effects of frost is a most important point, and the prudent beet-producer will be especially careful to select those kinds which are least sensible to frost. Actual experience is the only guide to be depended on. The second great point is the reduction of the root to such a state 369 that it is easily carried to the centers, where it is to be reduced into sugar. The richest possible root, as it contains 80 per cent. of water, cannot be profitably carried more than two or three miles, and generally not more than one mile. This has led in France to the establishment of “ raperies,” where the root is ground and pressed, and the juice is then conveyed to the sugar factory in iron pipes, under ground. The dis- tance the juice is thus conveyed is often seven miles, the juice being first prepared with lime. In Gallicia, (Europe,) at the great sugar factory of Schuetzenbach, where they employ 3,000 hands, the roots are sliced and dried and the sugar is extracted by diffusion. In this way the root is reduced, weight for weight, to about the value of barley, so that the dried roots can be carried as far as barley; but this plan is destructive to the farm, inasmuch as it leaves only the greens and foliage of the plant as a manure for the soil, and the land is only benefited by the extra cultivation it receives, while all the mineral elements of the root are removed, most certainly to the great detriment of the land. Neither of these plans is adapted for American use in a general system of beet- growing. Here we require the growth of the crop as an amelioration of the soil, and the consumption on the farm of all refuse so as to produce the greatest possible quantity of manure. To attain this end, the roots must be reduced on the farm to pulp, which must be pressed, and the juice so concentrated as to be of easy carriage, and this can only be done in one of two ways: In the first, the juice must be defecated and purified by the usual processes as before described, and then be evaporated into a concentrated shape, so that it will keep for any length of time without injury. In the second, the juice as ex- pressed from the root must be concentrated by evaporation into a coarser product, which contains all the elements ot the root except the water and the pulp, (but in which the sugar is not injured,) and is ready to be refined by the refiner at the great centers of the industry. This second -course is by far the easiest, as it requires no chemical skill or special machinery and is not beyond the most ordinary compre- hension—but there is this difficulty: The defecated juice, having been deprived of all its impurities, evaporates without being liable to burn in the evaporating vessels, and it is as easily reduced as the juice of the sugar- cane or that of the sorghums or maple sap; but the undefecated juice is peculiarly liable to burn on the bottom of the evaporator, and must there- fore be evaporated either by steam-heat or, what is far simpler, by a double pan, the outer pan containing water and the inner pan the jaice. The only objection to this course is that the evaporation does not proceed as rapidly in the double asin the single pan. The produce, however, when obtained and sufficiently concentrated, keeps as well as that of the defecated juice, and also refines equally well. The writer has proved this by actual experiment. Ifcarefully done, the concentrated undefecated juice yields as readily to the means of purification as the defecated juice; it only requires one more operation in the hands of the refiner, and although not worth so much to the producer, ‘‘ weight for weight,” gives as profit- able yields to the refiner (less the expense of one operation) and pro- duces as pure a sugar. In either of these plans, however, “‘ speed and cleanliness are every- thing.” If the juice is once allowed to ferment, even in the slightes degree, the production of crystalized sugar is rendered almost impossible, and the yield of it is so far reduced as to prove ruinous both to the producer and refiner. In either case, therefore, the juice must go directly 370 into the boiler after being expressed, and must be brought to the boiling heat with the least possible delay, more particularly with the undefecated juice, which must never be in any other vessel than the boiler until completed, and must be evaporated with the least possible delay. The necessity of this cannot be too much insisted ‘on. . EDW. L. CULL. TORONTO, CANADA, June 17, 1873. FACTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. INTERNATIONAL CROP-REPORTS.—The secretary of the Iowa State. Agricultural Society, in his annual report for 1872, says, concerning the practicability of international crop reports: Plans to obtain a true report of the condition of crops throughout the world, for the benefit of farmers, have of latereceived wide discussion. It is proposed to utilize the ap- pliances and machinery already in the possession of the Department of Agriculture—the storm-signal service, for the benefit of the War Department ; the meteorological reports of some of the States, together with the observations in all other lands now made under the direction of the several governments—to accomplish this result. To this end it is recommended that a common plan be adopted, through an international con- ference of meteorologists and workers, and it will follow that every farmer in the land will be kept as accurately acquainted with the crops, and their possible effects upon the market, as are the bankers and brokers and merchants in London, New York, and Chicago. By the knowledge thus gained they would receive full price for their produce, and no longer be at the merey of speculators and middle-men. The feasibility of arriving at some plan by which this may be done is argued with great ingenuity by the supporters of a system of international crop reports; and, from the extent and magnitude of the interest involved, it should at once receive careful and candid con- sideration. BREAD-EARNING.—AS going to show the importance of united action among farmers and mechanics, the Rural World (Saint Louis) appropri- ately quotes Commodore Maury, whose interest in agricultural matters has long been acknowledged. The quotation is as follows: According to the census returns of 1870—as far as I can see, and as I can understand— there are in the United States, using round numbers, 12,505,000 bread-earners. These twelve and a half millions subsist nations with the fruits of their labor; they give food, shelter, and raiment to the 39,000,000 of sonis that inhabit this country. Thus, you perceive that every bread-earner has, on the average, to fill a little more than three mouths. Of these bread-earners, 5,922,271 were engaged in agriculture, and 1,765,010 in other rural trades and callings, such as’ blacksmithing, carpentering, and the like, making, with their food dependents, a total of 23,830,000 souls, in round numbers, out of the 39,000,000. The manufacturers, including operatives and servants, earn bread for 1,117,000 souls. Commerce, including merchants, shop-keepers, sailors, clerks, peddlers, bar-keepers, &c., earn bread for 2,256,000. Railroad and express men earn bread for 595,000. Miners - earn bread for 472,000. So it comes to this, according to this census: While agriculture and mechanics fill ten times as many mouths as commerce, twenty times as many as manufacturers, forty times as many as railroads, and fifty times as many as mining, yet the least of these, by combination and management—as one of your orators on a former occasion has told you—exercises three times the influence in the country, and thrice the power with the Government, that you do—all for the lack of the proper spirit araong farmers to work and pull together. In connection with this, The World promptly says that the farmers and producers, who should in reality constitute the governing power, must cease to be governed; they must claim their natural rights, and maintain them by means of prompt and efficient organization. Farmers’ clubs may serve as a basis for a township organization; these to form “ 371 the basis for a county, State, and national one. It is not desirable that such an organization should be political in character. Its whole aim should be to accomplish the greatest good for the greatest number. The time is at hand for the marshaling of the mighty forces that have hith- erto been apparently at rest. The worth and value of the producer must be acknowledged. It is time that equitable and just laws be enacted in the interest of farmers and workingmen. The World recommends united and immediate action among those directly concerned. SILK-CULTURE IN INDIA.—The Agricultural Gazette of India states that of a large number of silk-worms’ eggs distributed in the Mysore district, nearly all have failed to germinate, owing to climatic causes. In the Bangalore and Kolar districts the worms were hatched, but nearly all perished. The symptoms attending this malady were remark- ably uniform. The worms assumed a reddish color ; their heads became enlarged, and a greenish fluid exuded from their mouths. COTTON-CULTURE IN INDIA.—The experimental culture of cotton is, this year, to be greatly extended in the northeastern province of Brit- ish India. This crop has become an important one throughout the - northern and eastern portions of the Chittagong, including the newly acquired Garo territory. In Assane and along the ranges between that province and Sylhet, cotton is cultivated on a large scale. Seed for ex- perimental culture is to be distributed among the government officers along the frontier. Thus the Anglo-Indian authorities are making energetic efforts to secure a large cotton crop. WHEAT-AREAS.—The following interesting statement is quoted from the Prairie Farmer, (Chicago :) Years ago the city of Odessa, situated on a bay of the Euxine, between the Dnieper and the Dniester Rivers, was the greatest shipper of grain in the world. Odessa is the one shipping mart of all Southern Russia, and the growth of its trade represents the growth and development of that large country. But Russia, though large, is slow. She has few railways, no agricultural machinery, and the area of her wheat-fields has not enlarged in anything like the ratio which has marked the growth of farming in the Western States of America. In 1840, when Odessa shipped 170,000 tons of grain, Chicago shipped only 10,000 bushels. In 1850 the shipments of Odessa were 250,000 tons; of Chicago, 3,000,000 bushels. Between 1860 and 1870, Chicago passed the Rus- sian port, and in 1872 the value of grain sold at Chicago for shipment east was $100,000,000, and the transactions of trade larger than those of any other city on the continent but New York. The elevatorsof Chicago now have a capacity for 13,000,000 Dushels at once, and this capacity is rapidly increasing as the wheat area extends to the new lands of Minnesota, Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and the far West. FRUITS IN WASHINGTON TERRITORY.—Mr. Manning, secretary of the Western Washington Industrial Association, states that the chest- nuts received from the Department are thriving finely. One tree in the town of Olympia has already attained a height of 30 feet. Butternut, walnut, and almond trees are all growing well, all perfecting their fruit. Ice has been formed over an inch only once in six years. Prunes, apri- cots, nectarines, quinces, thrive well. The chestnuts above referred to are of the Spanish variety, and were planted in the experimental gardens of this Department in 1867, and the trees subsequently distributed, beginning in 1868. PRODUCTS OF DAVIESS County, KENTUCcKY.—Our correspondent makes a very careful statement concerning the leading products of this county. According to the books of the assessor 10,549,240 pounds of tobacco were raised, of which 1,013,100 pounds are credited to negro proprietorship. Of corn, 1,067,700 bushels were raised by whites; by ne- groes, 63,930 bushels, or a total of 1,131,630 bushels. Of wheat, by whites, 372 57,322 bushels; by negroes, 995 bushels, or a total of 58,317 bushels. Of hay, by whites, 3,158 tons; by negroes, 16, or a total of 3,174 tons. The total business transactions of the county, through its warehouses, during the year amounted to 13,135,000 pounds. The absolute total grown in the county was 11,417,000 pounds, which, sold at an average of 74 cents, yielded for the crop $799,190. The discrepancy between the assessor’s returns and the actual is, of course, explicable. The amount of whiskey, in gallons, actually returned up to June 1, was 399,487 ; estimated by the United States collector, to close of the season, 60,513, Total, 460,000. THE DAIRY.—In one township of De Kalb County, Illinois, Somonauk, there are three large cheese factories whose united product for the sea- son, up to July 15, was 350,000 pounds. ‘Two of these factories made 240,000 pounds last year, the cheese being pronounced most excellent in quality. At this time there are in all ten co-operative factories in the county, one producing butter as well as cheese, and one butter only. Besides, there are in the county several private dairies using, respect- ively, the milk of from fifty to one hundred cows. TREE PLANTING IN KANSAS.—Mr. John Hodgins, of Nemaha County, Kansas, writes: A package of chestnuts, planted in November last, (1872,) are coming up nicely. I have a fine bed of asparagus, raised from seed received from the Department two years ago. I have over 4,000 forest trees, of 30 varieties, and 12 varieties of fruit—all doing well on the high prairie soil. THE ONION AS FOOD.—It is stated that the onion forms one of the common and universal supports of life in Spain and Portugal. Author- ity shows that according to analysis the dried onion contains from 25 to 30 per cent. of gluten, and ranks in this respect with thé nutritious pea and the grains. It is not merely as a relish that the wayfaring Spaniard eats his onion with his hum- ble crust of bread, as he sits by the refreshing spring ; but it is because experience has long proved that, like the cheese of the English laborer, it helps to sustain his strength also, and adds, beyond what its bulk would suggest, to the amount of nourishment which his simple meal supplies. SUGAR IN CALIFORNIA.—The following is taken from a recent num- ber of the Pacific Rural Press, (California :) During the past year 83,000,000 pounds of sugar were imported to the Pacific coast. Of this 65,500,000 pounds fwere consumed. There was only 1,500,000 pounds of beet sugar manufactured in the State, by the factories of Sacramento and Alvarado, so there is still room for eighty-six such factories, giving employment to 8,600 operatives for seven months of the year—from August until March—not to speak of the Chinese, num- bering one hundred, on the Alvarado Company’s farm, where they are employed in weeding, hoeing, &c. These Chinese are the only hands at present employed on the Alvarado farm, and are kept to cultivate the young beets. The San Francisco Bulletin asserts that the prospects of beet culture in the State are exceedingly promising, and with the decline of cane- sugar manufactured in the Southern States, it is not improbable that it will ultimately be the source of supply of a large portion of the sugar consumed in the United States. The venture of the Alvarado Com- pany has proved eminently successful, and the farmers of the locality have discovered that it is possible to raise a very fair crop of beets when wheat from excessive moisture or drought has entirely failed. IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SEED.—AS showing the importance of proper seed selection the experience of a farmer of San Mateo County, Cali- ifornia, may be cited. He sowed large, full-grown wheat and small- 3793 grained shriveled seed side by side on similar soil for hay. In the latter part of June he reports that the large grain is at least three inches taller than the other, and is also rank and green, while the other seems to be withering and dying. STARCH FROM THE BUCKEYE.—A large factory near Paris is making starch exclusively from horse-chestnuts, the yield being fully 16 per cent. With this nut the buckeye is closely allied, the constituents of the fruit being essentially the same. It is proposed, in view of this fact, by progressive Californians, to enter upon the business of rearing buckeye-trees for starch-making purposes. ALFALFA, (Medicago sativa.)—The success of the Department distri- bution of this clover in the milder climates has been invariable. In name it is interchangeably Alfalfa, Lucerne, and Chilian. An additional importation of seed is expected from Chili during the season, and its distribution, for experimental purposes, will be undertaken in the fall of the present year. The Messrs. Vilmorin, Andrieux & Co., of Paris, France, through whom the supply is purchased by the Department, say: Botanically we consider Lucerne and Chilian clover the same variety, but it seems te have a little changed during its cultivation in a more temperate climate and grown less productive, less hardy, and more tender than the old stock—at least with us in France. In this connection may be quoted an article on the value of Alfalfa and the methods of its cultivation in California, from the Kern County Courier : The roots are not of the fibrous and woody nature of the other grasses. Hogs feed upon them with the greatest avidity, and often follow them down to the depth of two feet or more, although this by no means destroys their vitality. It would be an un- profitable grass in any of the Northern or Middle States, and would not be likely, to do well anywhere east of the Rocky Mountains unless in the extreme Southern and Gulf States. Its peculiar home seems to be in a warm, dry climate, where the ground never freezes, and frosts rarely, if ever, occur. It does best in a well-drained and friable al- luvial soil, with a penetrable subsoil of an argillaceous nature. In this climate it may be mown six times, or oftener, each year, and be depastured during the winter, or for a period of three months. When young it is extremely delicate, and Should be sown in connection with barley or wheat. When this is removed it will generally be found to have attained the height of two inches, and thereafter the surface requires to be kept moist by irrigation, as the roots have little penetration, and the young plants would otherwise soon wither on exposure to the sun. The second year it is able to take care of itself, and the fourth it arrives at full bearing. The roots then ramify so widely and reach to such a depth that it is able to bid defiance to drought. It does not begin to fail in productiveness in less than five years. When this occurs it may often be re- stored to its original vitality by plowing and a thorough pulverizing of tho surface ; the portion of the roots remaining below the reach of the plow will put forth fresh shoots and the field be soon again carpeted with verdure. When itis desirable to ex- terminate it altogether, with the view of re-seeding or planting some other crop, it can only be done by flooding the field with water and allowing it to stand for several days. When this grass is generally cultivated in the warmer climates the northern and more temperate regions of this continent will lose their present reputed superiority in stock-raising. They have hitherto retained it because no species of grass known would retain its vitality during the long hot summers of the semi-tropical and tropical cli- mates. Alfalfa has this desirable peculiarity, joined to more than twice the produc- tiveness of any northern grass. BLACK-LEG IN CATTLE.—The disease known as the black-leg is pre. vailing to some extent among the calves in Vernon County, Missouri- A farmer reports that he has lost twenty-six out of eighty head of cattle with a disease in the back or kidneys.. They have good use of fore-legs, but no control over their hips, followed by rigidness in the joints. nay suffering from the disease refuse to eat, and all attacked have ied. , 374° TEXAS CATTLE.—Writing from Ellsworth County, Kansas, a corre- spondent says that 140,000 Texas cattle had arrived in that county, and were being grazed on the rich grasses of the country, the buffalo and the mesquite, of which there seems to be almostan inexhaustible supply. Ellsworth City, on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, is a great shipping point for thesé cattle. No Spanish fever has appeared among the native or Durham stock this season. SUMMER-PASTURE FOR CATTLE AND SWINE.—Our De Kalb County, Illinois, statistical correspondent calls attention to the fact that a new system of summer pasturage for cattle and swine is being adopted in that county. He says that winter-rye sown reasonably thick furnishes excellent pasturage; swine appear to thrive better upon it than upon timothy and clover. It retains remarkable freshness in a very dry season, even when ordinary pasturage is scanty. In connection with it little if any corn is necessary to keep hogs in desirable thrift. RED CLOVER.—Writing from Saint Joseph, Missouri, Messrs. H. M. ‘and A. H. Varies say, concerning red clover seed received from the De- partment, that it was sown upon ground of ordinary fertility in the lat- ter part of March or beginning of April. Every seed seemed to grow. The clover bloomed almost as soon as that grown in fields of several years’ standing It grewlarge enough the first season to have yielded nearly a half crop of hay, and passed through the last severe winter ‘unhurt, and in a luxuriant and healthy manner. Itseems to be hardier than the ordinary red clover of that section, though in appearance very similar. FULTZ WHEAT IN MARYLAND.—The wheat crop of Frederick County, Maryland, promises an abundant yield. The leading wheat grown in the county, Tappahannock, will average three and four grains to the side. The Lancaster (red) promises well, but will not yield as much, per acre, as Tappahannock. It is thought that the average yield in that district will be from eighteen to twenty-five bushels per acre. A corréspondent, to whom was sent a quantity of Fultz wheat for distribution, says that it is beyond doubt the most promising variety in the county, admirably adapted to the climate. At the date of harvesting (June 30) he is satis- fied that he can pick out acres of it that will yield 35 to 45 bushels, and is confident that it will average 30 bushels per acre. Commercial fertilizers are generally resorted to in the wheat-culture of the county.’ SHEEP vs. Docas.— Another plea in behalf of sheep, as against much worse than worthless canines, comes from Knox County, Tennessee. -Out of a flock of thirty-four, a farmer has lost twelve, having left only four ram-lambs for sale. To replace this loss with imported stock, he asserts, would cost him upward of $1,000. His flock was the principal means of making money for the support of bimself and family. His statement in detail is an interesting one, and worth the consideration of legisla-. tors and the tolerators of dogs in the sheep-growing regions: I would here say that I came to Tennessee through the strong recommendation of American emigration agents. I was assured that I should be protected both in person and property, and here I am, with a family of twelve children and my property, four thousand miles away from my native land—the property, which was my chief depend- ence, for a time, for the support of my family, swept away at a stroke by a set of brutes which are of no earthly use to any one. Iam told I have my redress in the courts of justice. I have very little hope of obtaining that justice which the case demands, when, as one gentleman at the recent farmers’ convention said, the members of the State parliament were afraid to offend their constituents by passing a law to prevent the depredations of such brutes—a pitiable state of things, truly, when public 375 men can be seared by a dog. I think, under the circumstances, it is the duty of the State government to see my loss made up; if not, then I hope to see no more in the public press inviting emigration from Great Britain. ; The writer manifests a very excusable warmth in the above utter- ance. RENO County, KANSAS.—Two years ago there was only one settl in Reno County, Kansas. Now Government lands within its limits, wit very rare exceptions, are occupied by actual settlers. The population of the county is between eight and nine thousand. PuTNAM County, MissouRI.—Greater attention is being given than formerly in this county to the judicious use of agricultural machinery. Such a policy will shortly bear its fruits in an increased production of staple crops. SHEEP DISEASE IN NEw MeExico.—Our correspondent in Santa Fé County, New Mexico, sends us the following: I would like to call the attention of the Department to a disease among lambs, reported to me by Mr. E. W. Eaton, one of my assistant correspondents. Mr. Eaton says: “I would like to call your attention to a disease that destroyed about six hundred of my lambs, and in the same proportion, say two-thirds of all the lambs dropped in several other cases, and, if possible, get some information from the Department of its cause and cure. It is in the mouth and on the lips, having the ap- pearance of syphilitic warts in the mouth, and growing to entirely cover the teeth. So far, I could see it did not affect the tongue, the lips growing to three or four times their natural size. I used spirits of turpentine; this’seemed to partially check the disease for a time, but did not entirely cure. PENNSYLVANIA YELLOW CORN.—Our correspondentin Twiggs County, Georgia, reports: ; The Pennsylvania yellow corn received from the Department was planted in March, manured with cotton seed. While my other corn planted a week earlier is just tassel- ing, that is made. I planted Adam’s early sweet corn, three varieties—sugar, flint, and Cooley—the yellow is far superior to either. PRODUCTIVE MILLET. — Our correspondent in Limestone County, Texas, reports that a variety of white millet, known in that locality as ‘“WhiteGerman millet,” has been tried on high loamy land in the northern part of the county, and promises to be a very valuable acquisition. The heads are large and full of seed, and it produces at the,rate of 2 to 24 tons per acre, hay, which is highly relished, and all°consumed by stock. He thinks it a better crop than Hungarian grass. IMPORTED SHEEP.—Mr. William Gilson, our correspondent for Mercer County, Pennsylvania, reports that he has recently imported from Eng- land 26 “ Gladstone’ sheep. The heaviest weighed 4104 pounds, and clipped 154 pounds of wool. The weight of one yearling was 264 pounds, and of its fleece, 154 pounds. The 26 yielded an average of 15 pounds and 54 ounces of clean washed wool per head. AGRICULTURAL PROGRESS IN THE SouUTH.—Our correspondent in Hinds County, Mississippi, reports ; The crops were planted this year under more favorable circumstances than usual. The land was in better condition, the teams in better order, and laborers entered more into the spirit of farming than at any time since the war. This is owing in part to the good price paid for last year’s cotton crop. The freedmen are becoming ambi- tious to own property, and are working well as a general thing. Our correspondent in Beaufort County, North Carolina, writes as follows: Thero has been a decided improvement in the farming interest in this county in the last four or five years. More intelligence and skill are now engazed in the business ; 376 better tools and machinery are used, and a greater variety of crops are grown; in fact, there is a general improvement. The greatest drawback is that cotton still occupies more than its proper share of attention. AGRICULTURAL ADVANCE IN JowA.—A correspondent in Union County reports a growing interest in that county in the culture of flax, fruit, Alsike clover, and hedges. Between 1,000 and 2,000 aeres have been put under flax this spring, and an unusually large number of fruit- trees have been set out—some farmers starting orchards with as many as five hundred. Alsike clover is meeting with success, both because of its adaptation to the climate and because it proves to be a good sub- stitute for buckwheat as a source of honey for bees. For the planting of hedges there is now a general “rage.” This results, in part, from the increasing scarcity of timber. The osage orange is principally planted, but some prefer willow. Last season hedges were started by setting out plants, but this season the prevailing practice has been to sow the seed in the place for the hedge. For osage orange hedges the “¢ double-row system” is gaining in popular favor. DISCOURAGEMENTS TO FARMERS IN ARKANSAS.—A correspondent in Franklin County, Arkansas, under date of May 22, reported that in that section, and he thought throughout the State, the farmers had a somewhat cheerless prospect before them. Food for both man and beast was very scarce; the season had been unusually wet and back- ward, and, as a consequence, both corn and cotton were late and small, and there were strong indications that these crops must be short in quantity and poor in quality. He concludes as follows: More oats have been sown this year than ever before, and,as far as my observation extends, they look promising. Some interest is being manifested in Hungarian grass, but the entire absence of mowers, and hay rakes and forks prevents a great many from raising it. It does finely on our river-bottoms, and three tons to the acre can be easily raised. The hogs have died off so within the last few years that we have to depend upon the counties bordering on Missouri for our main supply of meat. Large quanti- ties of meal are also hauled from there, in wagons, and meet with a ready sale at $1, cash, per bushel, by the load. It is generally conceded that the farmers in this sec- tion are worse off than they were the first year after the war. SUPERIOR VALUE OF THOROUGHBRED STOCK.—Very many farmers who rely in part for their profits on the horned cattle they keep con- tinue to grow only the unimproved, inferior varieties which have de- scended to them from the random stock kept by their forefathers. The following analysis of the reported results of two auction sales in Ili- nois of short-horn stock may suggest to such farmers the wisdom of exchanging their scrubby cattle for improved breeds. The first of the sales referred to was of short-horn cattle owned by J. H. Spears & Sons, of Forest Hill, near Tallula, Menard County. The sixty head sold were all purchased by the Messrs. Spears in Kentucky last au- tumn most of them from the herd of William Warfield, of Lexington. Twenty-six were bulls, and the remainder were cows. ‘The latter sold as follows: 1 calf, $100; 9 yearlings, average $307.83 per head; 9 two-year-olds, average $448.33; 1 three years old, $230; another witha bull-calf beside it, $1,510; 3 four-year-olds, average $256.67; 1 five years old, $340; 1 six years old, $250; 1 seven years old, $795; 2 eight years old, $175 and $225; 1-eleven years old, and calf beside it, $295; 2 twelve years old, one $150, and the other with twin calves, $500; 2, the ages not given, $225 and $260. Total, $11,630.50. The twenty-six bulls sold as follows: 1 calf, $105; 16 yearlings, average $274.06; 7 two-year-olds, $233.57 ; 1 three years old, $330; 1 four years old, $210. Total, $665. Total for the herd, $18,295.50. Average per head, O17 $304.92. The next day, June 12, at Springfield, Edward Iles sold at auction from his herd thirty-seven head. Eight were bulls, and sold as follows: Cherub, three years old, imported from England, $6,000; sired by him, 1 calf, $150; 1 yearling, $525; another, $1,300; 3 yearlings, (not of Cherub’s stock,) average $135 ; and 1 two years old, $185. The twen- ty-nine cows and heifers brought: 1 calf, $525; 5 yearlings, average $771; 10 two-year-olds, average $763.50, the extremes being $185 and $1,125; 4 three-year-olds, average $1,037.50, extremes $625 and $1,650 ; 2 four- year-olds, $755 and $1,700; 4 five-year-olds, average $1,546.25, extremes $650 and $2,500; 2 nine-year-olds, $310 and $500; 1 ten-year-old, $625; average price per head for the 29, $904.82; for the 37, $940.70. The average price per head of the 35 yearlings sold at the two auctions was $378.30; of the 27 two-year-olds, $499.63. FLAX-CULTURE.—This branch of farming is on the increase in the Northwest. About 4,000 acres were this season sown in Marshall County, lowa. In Watonwan County, Minnesota, where last year 1,000 acres were sown, the acreage has been enlarged to 7,000. Flax is also raised in Nicollet County, Minnesota, farmers generally receiving about $12 per ton and realizing a fair profit. It does well upon the highlands overlooking the Clackamas River, Oregon.. Very few lint mills are to be found in these new flax growing regions, where the crop is grown mostly for seed. The lint is therefore only a waste product. It would be well if some manufacturing enterprise should be aroused and a new margin of profit secured to the farmer by utilizing this material. In Washington County, Nebraska, flax culture is also increasing rapidly. The results . last year were very Satisfactory, averaging 144 bushels per acre, worth $1.20 per bushel. RECLAMATION OF SWAMP LANDS.—A company of enterprising farmers in Holt County, Missouri, are constructing a ditch twelve miles long, by which an immense tract of overflowed and swamp land will be effectually reclaimed. PROGRESS IN NEBRASKA.—An Adams County, Nebraska, correspond- ent says: This county, two years ago, was an unbroken prairie; now there are very few por- tions of it not taken up and improved. In all respects it is an excellent agricultural region. PROGRESS IN Eaypt.—As one of the signs of progress in agricul tural industry in Egypt, it may be of interest to our people to know that His Excellency Chérif Pacha, minister of foreign affairs, has recently made an order in behalf of the government on R. Habersham, Son & Co., Savannah, Georgia, through R. Beardsley, esq., consul-general of the United States at Alexandria, Egypt, for fifteen tons of sea-island cot- ton seed, for culture in Egypt, under the express direction of the enter- prising ruler of that country, Ismail Pacha. Hart Country, GEorGc1A.—The statistics of Hart County, Georgia, for the past year, are furnished as follows: Number of acres in cotton ............ Soaicra'd Acc eee aes al eyacie's aa) soar 9; 293 Namie of acres in wheatreme sesso. <2 5 < «. « 5.2 sen eeteerydieeia cia dals, cows) s aidan 4, 283 MERE Of ACTOS 11! TY kas see aa onic 3) «= a oso Sei ceeeheean we S656 a we Soee + oeee 22 Murminomot acres In Darl ya geste ss cals 0 sa aaecteete = ejoae = S= Sen em Seats Niner of ACTES IN OAbSis Nseries ess o- = we no oak ee Me cat a, ac, sl ne ct Salateletrere 4, 202 Namuemon aeres im Indiami conway ss. 5.2.6 won cuales cle SSS sacle reac eee 12, 762 Nima beror acres in Sweet POUAbOCNvaacds 3.2015 -, 4-14 See sicie cis ooo sa\n's wc ojos yeieeeye 229 NM BOe On aeres 11 Trish) PObBUOCS eres (sas aramid aaeese mee wvapae na eae eieemacleh ass 44 Number of aeres in tobacco....- = sess 5 J6c> Beau Besse ee Sabissk sieaaeet Sen acon 3 Number of acres in sorghum ..-.... Pee os). ce eem er eee eee eee eee eae 47 Number of acres in clover and. seeds -.-- 322... 2-262 ene connec eens AS — es - 4 Nim berOl Acres An VANCYALCS:*. - 2 sce co eee eo -inie Sasol ae ele eee tae Ey 2 Number of acres in orchards ..-.-.-- 865) = SERRE eSore ssosacseade Sto Aaaos 584 Number of sheep.--..--- a seng sbsb oc oc 5-- Sean soanees sae 4 © stlafs Sociol 5-14 ae Number of dogs.... ---..----.-=- Soecere +2 BG ess s4ac cosa cageda: EPS ane 922 Number of hogs PSE ea - Bie @ = ©, = -lamineieojenice npaiae » gerep eee Number of horses and mules..........-.22++e--eeeeeee- 5 obs SEO Sc Ashee- se) alleys: Number of cattle....-...---..---------- BAe 2-2 one ane cee caes cone neem 4,495 Number of cotton factories -.....--- Alc: - CRB ORO Seana bree cso. 4- see eee 1 Number of spindles .... ----.-.-.----------- -------- oh he pipe ris Se ieee ee 552 Number of carding-machines .....----- Re ook pase 2 MARKET- PRICES OF FARM-PRODUCTS. JULY, 1873. The following quotations represent the state of the market, as nearly as practicable, at the be- ceili of each month. Articles. | Price. Articles, | Price. NEW YORK. BOSTON. Flour, superfine State-. FOEE: Bu; -| #4 70 to $5 10 |} Flour, western, superfine. perbb].| $5 00 to $5 50 extra State ........-. 605 to 7 00 western extras ...-... do...| 625 to 7 50 superfine western - ite 4 70 to 510 western choice .....- do...| 8 00 to 11 60 extra to choice western, southern extras...... do...| 800 to — — POU DATO! cai cenel=a == 5 70 to 10 50 choice Baltimore -...do...| 11 00 to — — southern shipping, com- Wihesitssesees msec. per bush.| — — to — — mon to choice ..per bbl.| 600 to 7 75 || Rye ...... [...............- dors 85 to 90 southern family, ordinary Barleyie 22eesee eee eon ae do —— to —— to choice .....-- per bbl:| 2 wo to A0Mom Oats) 2-- oo. eee ee em ie do... 42 to 53 Wheat, No. 1spring -..per bush.} 152 to 155 Corn, southern yellow.....-. do... 60 to 62 No. 2 spring .--.-.-.- do..-|. 1 42 to 1 55 western yellow ..---- do. . 60 to 62 winter, red,west’n..do...| 150 to 1 60 || Hay, eastern and northern, per ; winter, amber, western, TON eee eee eee sce eine 18 00 to 29 00 per/bushel -2------- =. 160 to 165 || Beef, western mess......per bbl.| 10 50 to 12 50 winter, white, western, western extra.-.-....-- do...| 12 50 to 13 50 per bushel ........-..- 160) to); Passe bork, prime---.- s-..------ do...| 13 75 to 14 25 eVOne meee oen-ccieece per bash 81 to 85 THES aegne, HeSabcane do...| 16 50 to 17 00 PANO Vier ates s.2scicincicwiaiece ss do. ..| Nominal ardent cenet a ee eseeee per Ib. 8k to gi MGW een = Slr 6.2 ee oe do... 45 to 68 || Butter, N.Y. and Vt.,fair ioe choice, ORS cod 5 Ss Se eee noeeoEeae do:.- 43% to 46 per pound! 22 -2o--taeeeee 22 to 27 Hay, first quality -.-..-.. per ton.} 28 00 to 30 00 |} Butter, western ....-...-.. per lb. 20 to 25 second quality..-.....-. do...| 23 00 to 25 00 Cheese, N. ¥. and Vt. factory, PONG MICNSE- =e ~ 2 per bbl.| 16 20 to — — choice, per pound.....- 123 to 13 @xprayprime -.- =<). do...) 13 50 to 13,75 Western factory, choice, PUES WMeESS)- -- 52-7... do...| 15 624 to 16 12} pee POUHO)- ees s= ae 12 to 12} NGARG) Seaseee oh soca ae ene a per ib 813 to — — || Cotton, ordinary to good ordi- Beef, plain mess. --.-per barrel.| 9 99 to 11 50 DSB essen per lb. 13 to 18 extra MESS .-......... do...| 11 95 to 1250 low middling to mid- Butter, western .......--. per lb. 15 to 23 dling £222 se.-2 per lb. 194 to 20 State dairy .. -...-- dass. 23 to 231|| Sugar, fair to good refining. do... 73 to 15 Cheese, western, factory....do... 9 to 10 || Tobacco, lugs........-.-..- do...| — — to — — State factory meats ot do... 12 to 12} common to medium Cotton, gounary to good ordi- lest eae sss eee per lb.| — — to — — IV a ne scl e =e per lb 141 to 18 Wool, Ohio and Pa .:......: do...}; —— to — — LS igling to Cac Michigani 25-4. ses-s-4 do..-| — — to — — middling ... ... per lb. 20 to 23 other western ......- do...| — — to — — Sugar, soft yellow .-.--..--. do... 81 to 9} pulled: a se eas sceee- do.--| — — to — — sob white....--.---- do. . 9% to 103; combing fleece. - - ---- do..-| — —- to — — Tobacco, Western lugs, all grades, | California .......---- do...| —— to — — MErMONNG <- --\- ....-.-- do.. 22 to 234) mixed combing....-. do.. 29 to 31 SAN FRANCISCO NEW ORLEANS |Flour, superfine -......-. per bbl.; — — to — — | Oxtray—.. . heads eae do..-| — — to — — Flour, superfine .....-...- per bbl.| 500 to — — | higher grades -.--.---- do...) — — to — — MEAS sp oe Pecado. do. 525 to 6 90 || Wheat,State ......... per cental.| —— to — — Hole oes neo eb arcs - a do...| 750 to 9 50 Oregon’. Sos. seer = do...|; — — to — — orataw bite: <5 ..-. =>: per bush. 59 to 60 | BSATIOY o o-oo 5.5555 ocaeeseee do...| — — to — — it do. -- 56 to 7p))|| ene Ree eee et do...} —— to — — CSA eo 6645 ee do 404 to AD Moorn, white - =... -..2-=<.--- 402.) —— a Eisyichoiee:_-2-.---=2--- perton.| 25 00 to 26 00 | WEUOWieres > so aeea eae do —— to —— TG See do...| 22 00 to 24 00 || Hay, State .............. per ton.| — — to — — Marks eas so in-s- 52+. per bbl.| 16 75 to 17 00 || Pork, mess. ............- perbbl.| — — to — — HSBOL WL EKAS, ooo ncie met cme s do...| 11 00 to — — prime mess.....-....- do...| — — to — — northwestern and western, Papel, WEBS. ioc oo 5-' Podeene do...| — — to — — PPM DALLO nase = aaa 14 i00e to) 15 DOM mar oo. ee per lb.| — — to — — AGAR So a8 fon nc Bo aes os. per lb £3 to 10 || Butter, overland ----..---... do...| — — to — — Butter, choice western. ....- do. 23 to — — | California...-.....- do..,; — — to — — choice Goshen...--- do... 32 to — — | Oregon. 2 2c-c.--s2- do...) —— to — — Cheese, choice western factory, || COC a ae do...| — — to — — Per POUNd.<— sone ook on 17 00 to — — || Wool, native .............-- do...| — — to — — Noy cream. — 3. perlb.} 17 00 to —— | Californian .....-...- do...; — — to — — Cotton, ordinary to good ordi- Oreconteenes ase =se do...) — — to — — MALY) sce oe oe Se per lb..| © 124 to 162 LIVE-STOCK MARKETS. : NEW YORK. Boston—Continued. Cattle, extra choice native steers, iigsneep, in Jobs)=-5.---2---\--. do..--.| $3 00 to $4 00° Mercental. ios. 2. osssee $13 00 to$13 50 GxXUae >: speosse nee do..-.| 450 to 6 50 lower grades, dressing 55 | spring lambs..-per cental.| 9 00 to 10 00 to 58 pounds per cwt., | : Western fat swine, per | TEC nt) ee ee 00 to 12 50 cental 2-52.22. 4-2 eee | 3975 to 600 Texans, dressing 55 to 56 | pounds per cwt., per PHILADELPHIA. es Sa ie ere 8 50 to 11 00 milch cows...--- per head.| 35 00 to 70 00 || Cattle, fair to choice beeves, per | calves, fair to prime, milk- | cental 5. 15,0 tae fed Vi eepee a per cental.| 8 00 to 10 00 common | 450 to 550 common to ordinary, per Sheep, fair to good 450 to 5 50 Brielle Soo Se eee 600 to 7 50 common 200 to 300 Sheep, lambs averaging 56 pounds Hogs, corn-fed.--......2... 125; tol sea 220 ae ee er centai.| 9 50 to 11 00 Ohio sheep averaging from | BALTIMORE. 75 to 91 pounds each, per Citiislij. a 450 to 6 00 || Cattle, best beeves....per cental.| 575 io 7 00 Hogs, good corn-fed ...per cental.| 5 25 to — — first quality .....--- do.- 5 25 to 5 75 medium or good fair qual- | BOSTON. ity per cental ......-..-. | 450 to 525 | ordinary thin steers, oxen Cattle, choice beeves.-per cental.| 725 to — — Or COWS...--- per cental.| 400 to 4 50 CXtTas- es ece~e 4 z--do....| 700 to 7 12} general average of market, . first quality ........ do....| 600 to 6 75 per cental....-52.,.: -...2-|yesgeee eee 5 50 second quality..-.--- do.-.., 550 to 6 00 || Sheep, fair to good ....per cental.| 450 to 5 50 third quality .....-- do..-.| 475 tO 5 00 good to extra ....-..- do....| 500 to 5 50 working-oxen... per pair.100 00 to 275 00 lamps) eehed omer oe per head.| 200 to 4 00 milch cows with calves, Hogs, corn-fed, net ....percental.} 6 00 to 6 50 men wea: coe eeeeeeeee a: 35 00 to 60 00 extra......-..... per head.) 65 00 to 90 00 CINCINNATI. farrow COWS .....--- do..-.) 15 00 to 40 00 yearlings... .-s-.- do.-..| 10 00 to 18 00 || Cattle, shipping. .-..-- per cental.. 500 to 5 75 veal calves. ......-- do....! 3.00 to 10 00 prime butchers’. .--. do.... 475 to 5 00 381 4 Live-stock markets—Continued. Articles. Price. | Articles. Price. Cincriynati—Continued. Samnt Louis—Continued. {| Q Cattle, fair to good butchers’, per eaten 22 50 |, Cattle, ee maven stock eens cental.a- 2 52852 ease $3 50 to i\ o 850 pounds, per Sheep, cones to prime, per Sy fo | cet As ed raha $2 75 to $2 25 Gentals.. thes 35.2 3855 2 ° 75 | goo exans an ero- lambs: =. -/--=52 per cental.| 400 to 6 00 | . kees, corn-fattened, per Hogs, extreme range of light and li cental..---...----..---.. 400 to. 450 heavy averages,percental.| 440 to 4 65 | superior to common Tex- NG os eae so per cental.} 150 to 2 50 3 veal calves, common to Eabeseie ge Ona 8 00 to 10 00 : cows with calves.-...do..-.| 25 00 to 50 00 Cattle, ee et mine bes ca || Sheepeeysra. Lae 7. per cental.| 2 623to — — Stal Lye rete 585 to 6 10 Hogs, Bp grates, gross, per aie “a Erte. so oe eng ee ant : \| Gentalte Saar se eae ea ee 2 0) 5) ehoice peng pat ak he fair, gvoss...--. per cental.| 410 to 415 old, 1.250 pamlaand de: Cone Ty ediumy, gToss, es ; ~oe Per Genbale ees. sees = 390 to 395 wore co secRta canta] $6 to 575 | yorses, good driving animals; pe u ” finely formed steers,1,150 ] ee ae eh ee to 1,250 pounds,percental.| 525 to 5 35 || per SS BOOS a ae oar” Gah tenes ig Say oy ie BE common t0 fait analy, OO pounds .-... per cental.| 48 to 5 15 extra...-...-.-per head._[140 00 to— — ig ear eg ie heavy draught-horses, per y to extra cows. 800 to | head 2s “ee Pua ee chats et 120 00 to0175 00 1,100 pounds per cental.| 350 to 4 75 || Mules, Syed TEavy animals, per 125 00 to165 00 common cattle in decent [ °°

~ we }ae| a ae aa|s |ee lo ae | 3 eo | 5 Por }s oD | aS) eS. "li. Se ee eee ee A) 2° 1 Hy iemeane see ae eee 8 6| 38 New Hampshire .............-. Li Sons 1 }) Arkansas 222. 2e-e-2s0c 2+ Sao: 5]? --10:|" eats Wermont.-....... 1 | 2 6 {| Pennesses'’ arses. ose eee 15 10 | 25 Massachusetts 1 6 9 || West: Vanoeniao22- 2 sone ee ra aa 5 Rhode Island .- 0 | 2 1 ||) ‘Rentek ye S55 ae eee 10 5 | is Connecticut. - 0} 1 4 10 E 5 11 | 26 New York .. 4 | 6 25 || Michigan -- : 0 7 23 New Jersey. an es 3 || Indiana. ._.- : 6 10 Pennsylvania . 2 7 | 8 22 |} Illinois.---.- F 1 Sil ae" mplawarc) ssh ee. 0 | 0 1 || Wisconsin -..- | 3 r 16 Wier lands. 23205204220. itt.) 1 3 7 || Minnesota .-.-... x 8 12 8 WRIETIIAN Ps 2 oe ee OE | 23 A) |) 24° |}) Dowmneseeet = cet 1 10 | 38 Worth Carolina, iz... -..-.4-- 7 ES: 18, || Missoumyee <= 2 -<.. seen 1 5 52 Bumnh Oaroling..<.222250. 25.22. ver get nd b dane 11° |] Kearns ce Soe eee ar | 4 34 SLIDE p Es foe be ee | 27 12 15 ||) Nebrankenees)o52 5.0 pee nee i 3 | 12 TPL TLE 8 Se ee eee 11 4 4 |b Calife@ereatee: 5) =; 245 oft oe 3 8 | 8 Tht: Sa eae 19 |g D> 15 || Orezonie ret a2 ee ee 5 3 | 1 LEST 3 | + 18 | - Perret Oe. oho GH 2s 10 || Wopales Ste ~ soe Ae 211} 222) 581 iH MAINE.—Penobscot : Improved during August. JValdo: Suffering for rain. Oxford: Injured by drought and frost. Franklin: Suffered from drought and cold nights in August. VERMONT.—Rutland : Promising. Caledonia: On the river crops are dried up; on the uplands seldom better. Franklin: Full average but backward. Orleans: Not so for- ward as last year. Grand Isle: Greatly improved of late. Chittenden : Ripening finely. MASSACHUSETTS.—Plymouth : Looks well. Norfolk : Good but short. RHODE IsLanp.—Early plantings suffered from drought; yield will be 10 per cent. above average of ten years past. New York.—Delaware: Crops late; a warm fall will make a full crop. Wyo- ming: Greatly improved. Otsego: With a warm September the crop will be large. Livingston : Maturing slowly. Genesee: Late but fair growth of ears. Seneca: Late. Lrie: Spotted ; first planting good; much replanted on account of cut-worms. Sulli- van: Ten days late ; would be much injured by an early frost. NEw JERSEY.— Warren : Stalking finely. Camden: In many places scalded. Glouces- ter: Crop heavy but backward. Hudson: Corn good and nearly out of danger. Bur- lington: Weather too cloudy and rainy for late corn to ripen fast. Essex: Greatly improved by the abundant rains of August. PENNSYLYVANIA.—Northampton : Looks fair. Wyoming: Threatened by frost in fields back from the river. Lehigh: Backward buf growing. Northumberland : Damaged by late rains. Westmoreland: Greatly improved. Clearfield : Kept back by rain. Beaver : Late; in danger from frost. Armstrong : Extra growth of late plantings ; if frosts delay the crop will be large. Juniata: Thin on the ground but thritty. Lycoming : Thin on the ground but good ears ana grains. Indiana: Doing finely. Tioga: Heavy crop in prospect. Franklin : Injured by hail in some places. £lk : Had to be replanted ; stand poor and late. Lawrence: Late corn greatly forwarded by the warm weather. DELAWARE.—Aent : Greatly improved by late rains. MARYLAND.—Frederick : Prospect never better. Baltimore : Improved by late rains. Washington: Improved to average by late rains. Charles: Improved; may reach average. 7 ov4 VirGinis.— Prince George: Poorest crop for many years. Charlotte: Seriously in- jured by drought; late rains too late for its recovery. Warwick: Early-planted corn suffered from drought; late plantings improved by late rains. Rappahannock : Prom- ising. New Kent: Much improved by late rains. Henrico : Greatly injured by drought. Bedford: Damaged by heavy storms. Lunenburg : Good weather and fair prospects. Patrick: Much injured by drought. Caroline: Saved by late rains. Amelia : Dam- aged by drought. Middlesex: Best crop in four years. Shenandoah: Crops increased to an average. Page: Extraordinary crop. King William: Shortened by drought. Rockingham: Largest crop ever grown. Nelson: Wonderfully improved. Campbell: Very fine. Fairfax: Never more promising. Washington: Good in some places, poor in others. Prince William: Growth heavy, but backward. Orange: Needs dry weather to mature. James City: Improved by late rains. Spottsylvania: Greatly improved by laterains. Warren: Looks remarkably well. Surrey: Improved and promising. James City: Improved by late rains. Orange: Best crop since 1865. King George: Greatly improved. Southampton: Acreage decreased ; crop good. Clarke: Backward. Essex: Greatly improved by late rains. King and Queen: Much improved ; better than last year. Chesterfield: Wonderfully improved. Grayson: Great improvement by late rains. Highland: Full and fine crop; fine season. Mecklenburg: Injured by chinch- bug. Loudon: Injured by bud-worms and bore-worms, Norra Carouina.—Lincoln : Promises a fine yield. Robeson: Benefited by late rains; generally good. Sampson: Damaged on low lands. Caswell : Injured by drought in the fore part of the season. Davidson : Greatly improved by late rains. Mecklenburg: Corn would have been a large crop if the rain had not prevented its be- ing worked. Moore : Best crop for several years. Chowan: Rapidly improved. Gas- ton : Destroyed by floods on very low lands; good on other lands. Hertferd: Crop magnificent. Alamance: Upland crops greatly improved by late rains. Edgecombe : Good. Harnett : Looks very fine where well cultivated. Cumberland : Prospect very good. Greenville: Greatly improved. Rowan : Greatly improved by late rains. New- bury : Fodder nearly destroyed by rains. Franklin: Improved by August rains and fine where well cultivated. Camden : Damaged by heavy rains. Madison: Improved. Gadkin : Much improved by late rains. Anson : Sandy lands had too much rain for a good crop. Stanley : Greatly brought out by late rains. /JVilkes : Greatly improved by late rains. SourH CAaRoLina.—Tuirfield : A complete failure on river and creek bottoms. Clar- endon: Shortened by early drought. Bertie: Very good. York : Rapidly improving. Orangeburg : Yield light; fodder inferior. Edgefield: Good average. Union: Will supply two-thirds the home demand. GrorGia.—Lincoln : Corn prospects not so good. Taylor : Not so good as was ex- pected. Richmond: Shortened: one-fourth by drought of June and July. Carroll: Late corn on bottom-lands has done better than was expected. Dooley : Injured by rain. Gwinnett: A goodaverage. Clinch: Cropmade. Calhoun : Crop good. Baldwin : Increased average and yield. Brooks : Good. Wilkes : Upland corn well worked is very fine ; much of the lowland plantings worthless on account of excessive rains. Jackson : Looks well for the work it has received. Heard: Very fine. Whitfield : Ma- tured and fine. Franklin: Reduced by drought. ’ FLorips.— Santa Rosa : Pennsylvania yellow corna success. Orange : Fine weather for potatoes. Madison: Early cornynot so well developed as last year. Jefferson : Crop good. Taylor : Finest prospectever known. Hillsborough : Reported as the finest crop ever gathered here ; this results from improved farming. Wakulla : Crop made: but damaged by late rains ; much sprouted on the stalks. Jackson : Crop larger than last year. Terry: Splendid; better than for years. Suwannee: Yellow field-corn from the Department a success. ALABAMA.—Greene : Corn suffering for work on account of wet. Saint Clair : Crop fine ; Peunsylvania yellow corn doing well. Hale: Very fine. Clarke: Crop light, through excessiverains. Crenshaw: Yellow corn from the Department a success. Pike: A fail- ure in half the county; crops good in the other half. Blount: Excellent on high lands; inferior in low lands; good general average. Geneva: Crop good as could be ex- pected or desired ; the yellow corn from the Department four weeks earlier than the common varieties ; can make two crops of it ina season. Coffee: Crop good. Mont- gomery: Good. Calhoun: Full average im spite of local droughts. Marshall: Finest crop ever raised here. Jefferson: Best crop ineighteen years. Marengo: Very poor ; neither fodder nor ears to any great extent. MississIppi.—Grenada : Crop fine with good culture ; otherwise it is poor. Jasper: Corn crop made, and is light. Cooly corn did well. Wilkinson: Great rot produced by rain. Attala: Short crop. Tishemingo: Full average. Kemper: Shortened by wet spring and summer drought. Lee: Not a heavy crop, but enough to supply home de- mand. Winston; Early corn from the Department ripens earlier than any other kind ; will make two crops per year. Madison: Not so good as was anticipated. LourstaNna.—Last Baton Rouge: Corn almost a dead failure. Rotting considerably. Bell: Fine; large surplus on hand. Cooke: Short. Hill: Good, but not equal to last year’s crop. Lamar: Short; too much rain. Matagorda > Enough for home wants. Marion: Better than for years. Medina: Ripened prema- turely. Anderson: Caterpillars plenty. ; ARKANSAS.—Independence : Short. Sebastian : Shortened by drought. Prairie : Early corn filled well; late doing well. Arkansas: Very good. Union: Neglected for cot- ton, and hence far below average ; excellent where well worked. Marion: Early corn suttered ; late corn good; the whole about average. Baxter: Shortened by drought. TENNESSEE.— Decatur: Half a crop. Coffee: With one more rain our corn crop will be the best for years, Sumner: Late corn suffering for rain. Roane: At least average. Giles: Average. Putnam: Light crop. De Kalb: Magnificent. Hickman: Late corn seriously damaged by drought. Sullivan: Shortened by drought, but good crops were raised by those who cultivated them intelligently. Grainger: Fine season and large crop. Shelby: Worst crop for years; not half enough realized for home consumption the coming year. Lawrence: Injured by dronght. Jackson: Injured by excessive rains. in June and July. Rhea: Prospect good; Pennsylvania Yellow ripened; ripens forty days earlier than the common varieties. Dickson: Good where well cultivated. Ham- ilton: Extratine. Smith: Greatly improved by fine weather. Washington: Very prom- ising in spite of drought. Greene: Splendid. West VirGinia.—Jefferson: Large growth, but backward. Mercer: Badly damaged by grub-worms. Pleasants: Some crops injured by worms. Pocahontas: Fine. Pen- dleton: Increased growth. Monongalia: Quite promising. Monroe: Shortened by drought. Lewis: Too wet for corn. Krentucky.—Taylor: Greatly shortened by drought. Clark: Shortened by drought. Jefferson: Season favorable. Shelby: Best average crop for five years. Mercer: Short- ened by drought. Hdmonson: Shortened by drought. Lewis: Neverbetter. Anderson: Very fine crop; best since 1855. Graves: Worst prospect for eighteen years. Lincoln : Unusually good. Logan: Improved by late rains. Warren: Late plantings damage® by August drought. Fayette: Above average. Owen: Best crop since 1855. OHIO.— Coshocton: Doing well, but ten days late. Jackson: Doing splendidly; out of danger from frost. Logan: Very uneven; where submerged by freshets it is likely to far exceed average crops. Stark: Poor stand on account of damaged seed. Butler: Improved rapidly; needs two weeks of good weather to ripen. Delaware: At least 25. per cent. below last year. Greene: Coming on finely, but late. Marion: What corn there is looks promising ; needs two or three weeks’ exemption from frost. Holmes: Full average, but willripen late. Vinton: Injured by wet; earing imperfectly ; some of it still weedy. Warren: Looks splendidly. Mercer: Shortened by drought. Defiance = Drying up on heavy clay-lands. Athens: Reduced below average by the destruction of some of the best crops by freshets. Micuigan.— Wayne: Late corn suffering from drought; many pieces cut up for fod- der; crop generally good. Macomb: First plantings generally failed. Lapeer: Cut- worms and bad seed caused replantings, and hence the crop is late. Hillsdale: Short on account of worms, bad seed, and June drought. Jackson: Has come forward very rapidly, and is now fit to cut. Oakland: Doing well on moist land, but suffering from drought on dry, sandy soils. Ottawa: Good growth of stalk, but ears not well filled. Oceana: Badly injured by drought. Newaygo: Suffered severely from drought. Mecosté : Nearly destroyed by drought. INDIANA.—Scott : Considerably damaged by chinch-bugs. Decatur: Late corn short ; chinch-bugs injurious. Gibson: Early plantings very good; late, in danger from frost.. Jennings: Good on dry land, but poor on wet. Madison: Average on dry lands. Mor- gan: lmproved; short throughout. Noble: With a good fall season the crop will be tol- erable. Perry: Early plantings good. Jarren: Greatly needs rain. Cass: Suffering through lack of rain. Dubois: Shortened by dry August. Hamilton : Late and liable to frost, but improves as the season advances. Shelby: Injured by drought. Lake: Full average crop in prospect. Orange: Late corn drying up. Boone: Will be short. Brown: Rapidly brought out by dry, warm August; promises an average. Crawford = Will be somewhat injured; early corn mostly made. Newton: Early planted corn on , high lands will yield 40 bushels per acre. Wells: Improved through August. Clay = Shortened by drought. Dearborn: Shortened by drought. Marshall: Short. Steuben: Suffered for rain. Owen: Shortened by heat and drought. ILLiNois.—Pike: Light. Crawford: Late corn short; injured by grasshoppers- ‘ 096 Morgan: Early plantings good; late plantings poor. Moultrie: Shortened one-fourth by drought. Sangamon: ‘Little good corn in the county. Lawrence: Suffering for vain. Pope: Not well worked on “account of wet; in many places ruined by ehinch- bugs. Vermilion: Seriously injured by drought. JVashington: Shortened by drought ; corn being cut for fodder. Champaign: Early corn poorly filled; late, a failure from drought. “Jersey : Assessor reports 30,000 acres in corn which will not average 20 bushels. Kankakee: Early planted corn but little over a half crop; late, will make nothing but fodder. Montgomery : Shortened by drought in the north part of the county. Marshall: Short crop. De Ka : Average. Effingham : Decreased acreage ; three-fourths average. Ford: Less than a half crop probably. Anox: Not half a erop. Ogle: Shortened by August drought; not filling well. Lock Island : Much in- jured by late planting and drought. Boone: Stand deficient. Lee: Seriously dam- aged by drought; ear shrunken. /JVinnebago: Improved rapidly. Jichland: Mostly out of danger. Washington: Did well to the middle ot August, since when it was in- jured by drought. Dunn: Shortened by drought. Piatt: Poor, and getting worse . every week. Cass: Two-thirds ofacrop. Mason: Shortened by drought. Wisconsin.— Waukesha: Suffering from drought. Dane: A fair crop in spite of drought. /Valworth: Corn needs a warm fall. Portage: Dent-corn largely ruined by drought. Crawford: Below average. Clark: Injured by grasshoppers. Milwaukee : Does not promise a large yield ; weeds got the inside track early in the season, and have held their own. Minnesota.—Blue Earth : Corn not earing very well. | Cottonwood: Looks fine ; will be over average. J aribault: Failed to fill on account of drought. Houston: Average, though the season was not favorable. Jackson: Will be average if frosts delay. Ren- ville: Improving. Jackson: Good but not plenty. Wabashaw: Fine corn-weather,y lows.—Adair: Mammoth corn from the Department did well. Crawford: Consid- erably damaged by grasshoppers. Louisa: Late corn a half crop. « Marion: Shortened by drought. Clinton: Seriously injured by drought; late and almost ruined. Jont- gomery : ‘Shortened by drought. Polk: Seriously ‘injured by drought. Pottawattomie: Light crop through late planting and subsequent drought. Buena ‘Vista: Fine growth, but needs three weeks to mature. Harrison: Injured in places by grasshoppers. Cal- houn: Mostly well eared. Chickasaw: Suffered from drought. Black Hawk: Suffered . from drought. fremont: Shortened one-half by drought. Jackson: Shortened by drought. dvdubon : Shortened by drought. Ringgold: Injured by drought. Grundy: Will be safe with two weeks more of good weather ; crop. choice, but jess than last age Adams: Shortened by drought. Jefferson: Badly damaged by drought. Jfahas- : Corn-fields drying up. Mitchell : Where well attended, corn is exeollanis and out a ‘the way of frost. "Madison : Seriously damaged by drought. Missount.—Clinton: Much of the late corn never tasseled « out, some farmers cutting it for. fodder. Greene: In some parts burnt, up; on good round and well eulti- vated it reaches from one-half to three-fourths of a crop. Cass : Greatly shortened by drought. Jackson: Reduced one-half by drought. Miller : Not even a third of a crop, through chinch-bugs and dry weather, some ~ farmers cutting the crop into fodder. Moniteau: Late corn almost nothing. Platte: One-fourth of a crop. Mayne: One- third of acrop. Polk: Many fields will not produce five bushels per acre. Boone: Half a crop. Carroll: Greatly damaged by drought. Jasper: Literally drying up. Adair: Drying up. Barton: Burnt up. Cape Girardeau : Suffering from drought and chinch-bugs. “Crawford : Very good; later crops injured by chinch- bugs. Holt: Be- low average. Lawrence: Sufiered from drought, chinch-bugs, and grasshoppers. Ozark : Injured by drought. Perry: Ruined. Ralls: Shortened two- -thirds by drought. Nodaway: Half crop. Putnam: Much old corn left. Worth: Below average. Mont- gomery: Greatly damaged by grasshoppers. Phelps: Much injured by drought. Pulaski: Very short. Grundy : Fast drying up. Pemiscot: Ruined by July drought. De Kalb: Shortened one-half by drought. Benton: Greatly shortened by drought. Dallas: Damaged by drought. Callaway: Half crop.- Laclede: Shortened by drought and chinch- bugs. KANSAS. —Smith: Would have been extraordinary but for the grasshoppers, which were very destructive. Osage : Ruined by extreme hot weather and drought. Morris: Surplus, though shortened by drought. Greenwood: Shortened by drought. Cherokee: Early crop, average; late, half a crop. Butler: Shortened by drought one-third. Woodson: Early plantings on bottoms largely destroyed by freshets; late planted, in- jured by drought; crop far below average. Shawnee: Almost two-fifths of a crop. Ottawa: Seriously injured by drought. Dickinson : Short crep. Washington: Injured by heat and drought. Lavette : Early plantings, average; late plantings, nearly a failure. Montgomery : Injured by chinches. Jefferson: Half a crop. Neosho: Half a ecrop.. Bourbon: Good on well- tilled, black soil; a failure on light, neglected land; in- jured by chinches. Nemahka : Suffered ereatly from drought. Miami: Suffering for rain. Douglas: Drying up in some parts. Doniphan: In many cases will make noth- ing but fodder. Coffey y: Late corn badly damaged; earlier, lighter than was antici- 397 pated. Jackson: Shortened by drought. Lyon: Mostly a failure; late planted. How- ard: Shortened by drought. . NEBRASKA.— Merrick: Late planted, but will be 90 per cent. of an average if frost keeps off till October 10. Richardson: Light. Boone: Damaged somewhat by grass- hoppers. Washington: Injured by grasshoppers. Antelope: Would have been 100 per cent. above average but for grasshoppers. Burt: Ruined in some places by grass— hoppers. Nemaha: Greatly damaged by drought. Jefferson: Materially injured by — drought. Geren Ooiuinbia : Short, but looks well; three weeks late. Daxota.— Union: Damaged by grasshoppers. Ipano.—Ada: Late, but promising ; will requiresfour weeks to mature. Urau.—Box Elder: Has more than recovered from the cold, wet spell of May an@ June. Weber: Very weedy. Tooele: Will need no more irrigation, but needs warnx weather to mature ; Cooly corn a week or ten days later than Utah corn. COTTON. The present season can scarcely be deemed quite an average one for: cotton ; but when we recall the fact that drought, severe rains, wind- storms, insects, rust—all these or most of them—are recorded of every crop that is made, it will be seen that seasons worse than the present are almost as numerous as those that are better. Should the autumn prove unusually favorable, an average yield might yet be obtained. The only drawbacks are rains and worms, the former no more destrue- tive than severe droughts of some former years, the latter less so than _in some former visitations. While caterpillars have been more abundant. than last year, their ravages have been really disastrous or sweeping in few locations. There is more disposition to combat these enemies. Paris green (mixed with flour) has been used experimentally, with some success. Many people hesitate to use it for fear of poison- ing, and some have used it to little purpose. These experiments, with this and other remedies, should be perseveringly continued, without any fear of infringing on patents, which can only protect an article containing certain ingredients in fixed proportions.: The use of Paris. green and flour, for instance, cannot be patented, as these articles have been used by tons for many years for insect extermination. It is worth while to make early, continuous, and even costly endeavor to avoid the loss of forty millions of dollars in cotton eaten by worms in a single year of insect prevalence. The following statement will show the amount of rain-fall in the sea- son for cultivation, upon which so much depends in cotton-growing : yONE. JULY. a e A = = = | =) States. sa Z $3 States. fat z =d 23 oe 3 3 mre) Se =a) Se See 8 5 fA E S° ‘Ss =, Tains. ALABAMA.—St. Clair: Peaches not good; apples rotting. Blount: Excellent crop of apples; peaches inferior in quantity and quality. Geneva : Fruit-crops poor. Cal- houn: Fruit almost an entire failure. Lovutsiana.—Richland: Pears fine; early varieties destroyed by frosts : some blight; Bartletts unusually fine. Trxas.— Victoria: Heavy crop-of fine peaches; grapes excellent; many vines just coming into bearing. Polk: Fruit anentirefailure. Uvalde: Fruits largely destroyed by frost. Titus: Injured by storms and frost, but of superior quality. Atascosa: Peaches ,destroyed by grasshoppers. Austin: Peaches of larger size than usual, but greatly in- jured by worins and rains. ARKANSAS.— Arkansas: Apples and peaches rotting and falling off; pears excellent. Marion: Apples and peaches winter-killed. Washington : Grapes mildewed. TENNESSEE.— Decatur: Fruits an entire failure. Smith: Apples, peaches, and grapes nearly a failure. Greene: Apples a failure; a few good peach-crops. Coffee: Fruit destroyed by spring frosts. Haywood : Apples destroyed by caterpillars. West VirGrnra.— Mercer : Apples and peaches scarce. Pleasant: Grapes rotting badly. Pocahontas: Peaches almost a failure. Brooke: Apple-trees injtiired by the borer ; grapes by dry-rot. Nicholas: No apples or peaches. Boone: The few peaches that escaped winter frosts have dropped off; apples affected with bitter-rot are falling off. Kentucky.—Jefferson: Apples good } pears small crop, trees much blighted ; peaches few and imperfect; grapes good in some localities and a failure in others. Nicholas: 412 Fruit scarce and defective. Spencer: Peaches and apples inferior and tending to decay. Larue: But litde fruit. Lewis: Apples not so plenty as last year, but better; peaches fair, but not plenty; grape-crop large, but half rotten. Breckinridge: Apples and peaches almost a failure, rotting and dropping before maturity. Logan: Peaches Trotting. Anderson: Fruit abundant. Oxnto.—Hardin: Peaches and grapes failures: a few Clintons in towns doing well. Ross: Apples badly stung and falling off; peaches almost a failure; grapes injured by wet. Meigs: Peaches rotting badly; apples and grapes ditto. Mercer: Fruit-crop light and inferior. Defiance: Many fruit-trees dying, apples, pears, and all the quinces. Gallia: Grapes good, but small-crop. Athens: Appies inferior, rusting and rotting; grapes unusually good. Lucas: Peaches an entire failnre. MIcHIGAN. —Calhoun: Grapes good; pears a fine crop; blight affected the standard varieties, except Seckel, Buerre Diel, Clairgau, White Dozenne, &c. Montcalm: No peaches; very few apples; many fruit-trees dying through injuries from last winter’s cold. Macomb: Peaches an entire failure. Lapeer: Apples and grapes good. Oakland: Apples falling from the trees. Inp1ANA.—Noble: No peaches; apples generally good. Perry: Grapes rotted badly before ripening. Ripley: Apples few and imperfect ; no peaches and few pears. Hamil- ton : Crop short; much bitter-rot. Lake: Apple-crop very small. Orange : Apples and peaches almost failures. Crawford: Apples and peaches almost entire failures. Newton: Very small crop of apples; grape-vines that escaped winter-killing are full of fine fruit. Clay : Few apples and no peaches. Intrno1s.—Cass: Apples almost a failure ; peaches entirely so; few grapes. McLean: Apples poor; grapes fine and sweet; old vineyards badly winter-killed. Pike: Apples a half crop ; cherries almost a failure except Early Richmonds. -Morgan: Most varie- ties of apples failed ; peach-trees mostly winter-killed ; Concord-grapes a light yield ; most other varieties killed. Putnam: Apples almost a failure. Ottawa : Apples scarce; grapes recovering from winter-freezing and nearly average. though late ; peach, pear, and quince trees away from the lake shore mostly winter-killed; one-tenth of the ap- ple-trees killed. Pulaski: Concord grapes rotted badly; other varieties not so bad. Wayne: Few apples and no peaches or grapes, Wisconsin.—Juneau : Cranberries abundant, especially where cultivated. Chippewa: Apple-trees badly killed. Milwaukee: Apple-crop short. MInNESOTA.—Goodhue: Apples and grapes show the sad effects of last winter; trees dying all summer; apples few and poor. Iowa.— Harrison: Apples and grapes greatly reduced by grasshoppers, which killed many of the young trees. Louisa: Apple-crop short.but good. Benton: Apples injured by worms. Blackhawk: Fruit of all kinds short; if frost delays, grapes will be a toler- able crop. Polk: Apples almost ruined by heavy storms. Outagamie: Apples a fail- ure ; fruit of all sorts very light. Green: Fruit first-class in quality, but only a fourth of acrop. Crawford: Apples, grapes, and other fruit almest-a total failure. Ringgold: Fruits shortened by drought. Linn: Grapes nearly a failure; apple-trees dying all summer from the efiects of last winter’s freezing. Missourr.— Cass: Peaches a failure; apples more orless wormy. Harrison: Peaches an entire failure; grapes doing well. Platte: Apples almost a failure as to quality; many young orchards killed by grasshoppers. Newton: Apple-crop light; no peaches of consequence; grapes badly injured by insects. Boone: Apples almost a failure. Daviess: Peaches a failure. Perry: The few apples that remain are rotting and fall- ing off. Shelby: Many apple-trees killed by winter-freezing; grapes almost a total failure from same cause. Taney: Peaches a failure. Pettis: The twigs of nearly all apple-trees have died about eight inches from their ends; Jeanettons suffering most ; Bell-flowers entirely exempt. Pulaski: Apples sutfering from dry or bitter rot ; peaches winter-killed; grapes not a success. _Dallas: Apples inferior; not a-peach. Calaway: No peaches; few apples. Laclede: Peaches killed; apples one-fourth of a crop. Kansas.— Doniphan: Fruit-crops poor. Lincoln: Peaches killed in the bud by cold weather. J¥oodson: Fruit almost a failure; grapes destroyed by rose-bugs. Osage: Very few peaches; apples scarce; grapes falling from the bunches, Douglas: Apples less than halfa crop; no peaches; fruit-trees blighting. Jackson: Apples injured by worms. CaLirorniA.—Napa: Apples and pears failed to bud; peaches and grapes killed by frost. Nevada: Apples abundant, but all other fruits injured; mildew in grapes. Sonoma: Grapes in better condition than was supposed. Amador: Peaches and grapes injured by late frosts. Contra Costa: Grapes fine, but a third short. Zl Do- rado: Peaches very fine; many weigh over a pound each; grapes good. OrnEGON.— Douglas : Peach-crop injured by late frosts; grapes injured by the same. Linn: Apples better than last year; no peaches; plums scarce, the trees becoming unhealthy and the fruit stung by the ecurculio for the first time. Grant: Fruit-trees generally quite young; fruit-culture becoming more successful, especially peach-cul- ture; orchards of 5,000 trees to be found. ‘Clackamas: Apples 50 per cent. above average; peaches good; grapes 25 per cent. below average. Urau.— Beaver: Frost?in May killed all the peach and 80 per cent. of the apple bloom. Salt Lake: Apples‘seriously damaged by worms; fruit small and ill-tasted. 413 SUGAR-CANE Two counties in South Carolina report the condition of this crop 5 and 10 per cent. above average, respectively; 18 counties in Florida average 98; 21 in Georgia average 108; 7 in Alabama, 114; 6 in Missis- sippi, 96; 10 in Louisiana, 95; 15 in Texas, 96. FLorimpa.—Orange: Fine weather for sugar-cane. Jefferson: Crop good. Wakula: Good; ratan-cane winter-killed. Jackson: Doing well. Leon: Doing well. Leon: Good. Gadsden: Sugar-crop large. GrEorGIA.—Glynn: Recent rains very favorable for cane, which is very promising. Brooks: Good. ALABAMA.— Geneva: Good crop. Louistana.—St. Mary: Rainy weather favorable to cane-crop. Terrebonne: Plant- cane good; stubble bad. Iberia: Cane excellent and growing rapidly. Rapides: Fair average ; but little stubble-cane. TEXAs.—Polk : Average decreased one fourth. Gillespie: Red and black seeded: Af- rican cane in good order; the second seed. TOBACCO. The general average for tobacco in September was about 90. This crop was above average in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Texas, and Tennessee, and average in West Virginia. In New England the crop was 82 in Massachusetts and 90 in Connecticut. In the former State it ripened two weeks earlier than usual in some places. In Pennsylvania and - Maryland it was seriously injured by late rains, very greatly reducing - its condition. and yield. The same causes operated in Virginia and North Carolina, though to a less extent. In many counties the planting was very late, but with good fall weather the farmers expected to make a good crop. In Gadsden County, Florida, the cultivation of Cuba tobacco has become quite extensive. In the Gulf States and Tennessee the crop was quite successful, but in the Northwestern and Pacifie States the crop was below average generally. New HampsnHire.— Grafton: The few tobacco-fields look well. MassacuHusrEtTts: Earlier than usual by two weeks ; will probably escape frost; some pieces ruined by a hail-storm August 23. New York.— Wayne: Heavy crop; weather very cessor. PENNSYLVANIA.— York: Crop improving ; may yet reach an average. MaryLanp.—Charles: Seriously injured by late rains. Howard: Greatly benefited by recent rains. Vireinta.—Charlotie: Crop late and cannot come up to an average. Bedford: Much damaged on bottom-lands by high water. Lunenburg: Suffered much from unfavorable weather. Amelia: Seriously affected by hot, wet weather; looks as if sprinkled with boiling water. Nelson: Late and irregular. Campbell: Late, owing to scarcity of plants. Orange: Late, but growing finely ; will reach an average if the fall be fine. Pittsylva- nia: Generally poor; planting season unfayorable. Halifax: Somewhat improved ; crop late; horn-worms destructive. Buckingham: Plants large but injured by excessive wet in low grounds and fired on high grounds; much of the crop will be entirely lost. Mecklenburgk : Much improved by ‘Au gust rains. NORTH CAROLINA.—Caswell : Improved by late rains but needs a favorable fall te mature. Person: Much improved by August rains and will make a full yield; acreage decreased on account of drought and scarcity of plants. Alamance : Unpromising ; poor stand obtained. Yadkin: Much improved by late rains. FrLoripa.— Gadsden: Large crop of Cuba tobacco. Texas.— Austin : Second cut hardly inferior to the first. TENNESSEE.— Obion: Very good. Monroe: Good. West VirGinia.—Mercer: Below average, but improving. Kentucky.—Logan: Bids fair for a superior crop. Edmonson: Materially shortened by drought. 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OOE, sg [BESS see es creials ies OITYSAuv_ ALO Ay Cole SP oes eee rte 2 SF apetan cashes ea See =e OUre YL *S99V1G ‘Tsny ‘fq4 -OTul} FO WOTY -IpMod osvIOAy 3A 418 STATISTICAL MISSION. rs The Statistician of this Department was commissioned, in May last, as its representative at the International Exhibition at Vienna, Austria, and was also instructed to investigate the status of agricultural statistics, and the means and appliances used in official statistical collection in the countries of Western Europe. He also received a commission from the State Department to the same exhibition. An incidental purpose of the mission was to study the possibilities of the inauguration of an international system of crop reports. No offi- cial system of reporting the condition of growing crops was found in operation, and no systematic attempts at such reports are essayed, ex- cept in a few instances, as in the case of London newspapers, which col- lect, somewhat systematically, the opinions of their correspondents rela- tive to the grain yield. Suggestions of a practical nature upon this subject are reserved for future elaboration. The government offices of London, Paris, Berlin, and Vienna, were visited, and every facility was courteously furnished for investigation of their statistical methods and their operations in aid of agriculture. The official representatives of the United States at these seats of gov- ernment promptly rendered all desired aid ‘in procuring facilities for such investigation. There is great diversity in the organization, scope, and action of the agricultural departments of these governments. Some are connected with other branches of administration, and others are in- vested with the dignity of full departments. An increasing importance is of late accorded to them, and they are evidently becoming more effi- cient and useful. They are generally organized upon a foundation of less breadth than that of our own, but pursue investigation with great- er tenacity and thoroughness, and are enabled to do so by more liberal » appropriations of money, thereby rendering their special reports of greater value. Their annual reports are of less interest, and do not appear to have a very extended circulation. An exposition of the main features in the organization will hereafter be given in the monthly or annual reports. A period of ninety days allotted to such a mission was found quite too short for the investigation and travel involved, and but four weeks could be spent in Austria at the Weli Austerlung, the Ackerbaw minis- terium, at field trials of machinery, public and private exhibitions of farm animals, and in rural observation of the methods of practical agri-- culture. A mass of statistical data, a great variety of official and other publications, were collected, and will be utilized in future numbers of these reports. An assignment, by the Scientific and Artisan Commis- sion, of the subject, ‘Wools of the exhibition,” was accepted, and a report will be made to the State Department. A formal report of the agricultural features of the exhibition in detail is not deemed desirable, full publicity having already been achieved in the periodicals of the day, but all that is deemed suggestive and valuable will be presented in connection with technical and statistical data, much of which is yet to be translated and prepared for specific presentation. The American portion of the exhibition, of which so much has been unjustly said, was not so complete as it should have been, nor was it so meager as has been represented. In mowing and reaping machines it was represented fully, and in the experimental trial few competitors were found, and undoubtedly no successful competition could have been a 419 inaugurated by the manufacturers of the world; in other agricultural implements there were comparatively few entries. The intelligent foreigner appeared to realize that American manufacturers generally do not seek a European market, and that the reaper, the sewing- machine, tramway-car, the shoe-manufacturing ‘machinery, and other articles that stood in apparent isolation, were there because foreign markets were opening rapidly forthem. These characteristic American inventions, realizing the labor-saving idea and a marvellous economy and suitability of material, were recognized as a very few forms repre- senting at home a broad series of manufacturing industries. There were not a few European mechanics who were candid enough to say that a large proportion of the new ideas in mechanism brought forth by ex- hibition were to be found in the American department. THE OSIER WILLOW. By THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. THE SALIX oR WiLLOW: in a series of papers, by William Scaling. Practical instructions for planting and culture; with observations on its value and adaptability for “the formation of hedges, &c.”’ Lon- don, 1871. This little work is prepared by one who derives his knowledge from the experience of many years in the propagation of the willow, and treats the subject of the various species of willow, their mode of prop- agation, and the uses to which they may be applied, for the purpose of communicating his knowledge to others and of promoting this interest- ing industry. Little attention or study has been bestowed upon the willow-plant in the United States, although there is scarcely any part of the country in which it may not be successfully raised. It grows readily from cuttings, and in almost any quality of soil, although, like all other plants, its quality will be characterized by the soil in which it grows. The various purposes to which the willow may be applied, its extensive usefulness, and the facility with which it may be raised, command the attention of our farmers whether it may not be made ai most profitable industry. The species of willow best fitted for cultivation involves the considera- tion of the purposes for which they are designed and the quality of soil in which they are to be grown. For wicker-work, such as baskets, car- riage and sleigh bodies, a particular species is most profitable ; whilst for hedges another species is better adapted ; and for coopers’ hoops or poles another is more fit. So that any one about to enter upon the busi- ness of propagating the willow should consult not only the quality of his soil but the market where he was likely to dispose of his product. Doubtless the use of the willow in this country would be greatly multi- plied by the facility for obtaining it, and by the improvement of the quality, which would be a necessary consequence of its careful cultiva- tion. It has been estimated that between six and seven thousand acres in England and Ireland are now appropriated to the cultivation of the willow, and yet there is imported into that country, from France, Bel- gium, and Holland, 4,400 tons, of the Seis value of $218,045, in addition to baskets of the value of $224,200, and the extension of "the trade is gradually increasing. The followin’ table, obtained from the . Bureau of Statistics, is interesting, as showing the progress in the use of the willow in the United States: 420 _ Statements of imports into the United States of willow or willow ware during the ten years ending June 30, 1873. Willow or osier wares, bas- =: - Willow or osier : Willow or wil- 5 ’ kets, and all Fiscal years ended June 30. loweee, prepared for mia eaten ; use. : tures of like material. lustig Ameena eo scet Sane SSORSI6)) |). 3. 22 e See ee eee ee, TUSYR Stal 5 be a A aE ea ae, elt arses 01319) (613 ay el ee seer serie wu ISOs sees BeBe Aen Bec Ieee eseide 65 Slee $88, 803 $28, 028 EG 4d SSSR SSE SBE OoS BoL eRe eh AMR erios = aceHas 225, 660 57, 907 ST eee ee eee cc on)s anche ece| cote te seeeeeee. 202, 408 39, 078 HBOS see aes eee rpenen ee Sh er See | tee ete eee « 202, 957 36, 302 eo a eae ee a Oe ars) erent <5) See 178, 689 Syrian! WSF ARS ee ee gre es Ieee Re 5 co See 204, 409 50,715 Pe ee ee dea ee ete: es ou acs Seeeeeneee 205, 573 39, 935 Te apes GH CE Ee Ae SEE aE Ena e | See SAS cece alae 265, 145 48, 884 It is very certain that there has not been an importance attached to raising the willow in this country, which has induced a systematic and careful cultivation of it; and when it is grown it is without that care which is necessary to improve its quality and quantity. _ The author of the papers whose work we propose to review and from which to quote largely, treats of the mode of cultivation, the varying species, and the uses to which the willow is applied. He says: There is a very widely spread, but erroneous opinion, that the willows will only grow in wet, boggy ground; and that, as an article of produce, they are not worth the attention of the cultivator. With ordinary care a willow-crop will pay the grower as well as any crop on the farm, and with this advantage, that land comparatively valueless for root or grain crops can be used for an osier plantation. To grow willows successfully there must be an adaptation of the variety tothe soil ; if this is not attend- ed to, either the crop will be a failure or the produce will be deficient in the quali- ties most sought after. The following rule may serve to guide intending planters: All the varieties of the soft-wood class, known in the trade as osiers, will grow in a much damper soil than the hard-wooded, generally called fine-tops.. The present market-price of green willows'ranges from two to five pounds, and of peeled willows. from nine to twenty-five pounds per ton. This wide range in value shows the necessity of exercising care in selecting suitable kinds for planting, and of planting each variety in the soil best adapted to its requirements. The following properties must be sought after for willows intended to be used in the green or brown state = toughness, level surface, full top, wood soft, remain a light brown color when dry, and a good cropper. For willows intended to be used in the peeled state, the under-men- tioned qualities are necessary in order to realize the best market-price: toughness, elasticity, level and smooth surface when peeled, peel a good color far either white or buff, split well and make good scains, great length of shoot in proportion to thickness, small quantity of pith, hardy and not liable to diseases, a tendency to grow straight and clear of side-shoots, and a good cropper. As arule willows are tougher when grown on strong loam, inclining to clay, than on any other soil; but some of them, as the Salix helix, or rose willow, a vigorous plant on lighter soil or warp land, becomes a mere scrubby shrub when planted on clay. The varieties of willow are extremely numerous. Dr. Host, of Vienna, is said to have cultivated over 300 sorts; his grace the Duke of Bedford, at Woburn Abbey, about 250 sorts; and the nursery at Basford contains over 300 varieties. In reference to thé preparation of an “ osier plantation,” the writer lays much stress upon “accurate planting,” as conducing to the subse- quent ease with which the plants can be cultivated and kept clear of weeds; and then says: One of the first things to be observed in forming an osier plantation is to drain it of all stagnant or surplus water, as no basket-willow will arrive at perfection in land ' . 421 saturated with moisture. It must also be well pulverized or prepared to a depth of 12 or 13 inches, and thoroughly cleared of weeds; and, if poor, well manured before planting. If it is strong, cold land, lime may be used with advantage; but if lime is applied on light land the crop of osier will be scabbed or cankered. If possible, avoid open drains, and throwing the land into beds; where drains are required use pipes, as open drains would interfere very much with the economical working of the land after- ward. If the land is well cleaned and properly prepared, much after-expense will be spared, and better crops will be obtained. The opposite course would be false economy. Much difference of opinion exists among growers as to the size and age of cuttings; the distance between the plants; how far it is necessary to push them into the soil ; and how far to leave them out or above the ground. I have very carefully examined the yarious methods—have tried and experimented upon them—and find the following plan to be the best, producing the heaviest crops, best quality, more easily and conse- quently more cheaply cleaned, the least exhaustive of the soil, and if it is desirable to change it to ordinary arable land again, it can be done at a very moderate expense. The cuttings may be taken from either the one or two year old shoots; if the one-year - old shoots are well grown they will strike more easily, and throw out quite as strong spray or shoots as two-year olds, and are not quite so expensive; they should be nine, or at most ten, inches long, and cut from the rod with a sharp knife, in a slanting direction. The bottom or root end of the red is first sharpened, then take the first ten inches with one sharp cut, again sharpen the rod and cut off a second, and so on for the third, if the rod is very finely grown. Not more than three cuttings should be taken from one rod, unless it is a two-year old, in which case it may be cut up to the entire length of the first year’s growth. In cutting the sets not more than one cut should be made, however thick the rod may be, as it is necessary to have the ends without any split or shatter. If the rods from which the cuttings are obtained are in good condi- tion the cuttings will sustain no injury by remaining out of the ground for five or six weeks, if not exposed to very dry winds. All the varieties of S. fragilis, or willow proper, will do best planted 18 inches by 12; the varieties of S. viminalis, or osier, 18 inches by 12. 8S. amygdaliana, and its varieties, known in the trade as Spaniards, Ger- _ mans, Italians, &c., will do best and produce the heaviest crops planted 16 inches by ‘8; and this distauce will do for all the finer kinds of willows. The writer then describes a mode of planting by means of a frame, which marks the particular spot at which the plant is to be inserted in the ground: This will be found a munch more expeditious as well as more accurate method than planting by lines, and the cost of such frame is not more than a few shillings. If the ground is in good condition two active boys will plant, with this:frame, 4,000 cuttings per day. To prevent the ends of the cuttings injuring the hands by pushing them into the ground, hand-leathers must be used; the thumb and forefinger of the right hand must also be covered, to enable them to push the cuttings quite into the ground, as no part of the plant must be left uncovered ; this is a very important point to be attended to. The cuttings must be pushed in a little slanting ; they will be more easily got into the soil, and put out side roots better than if pushed in perpendicularly. The advantages to be derived from getting the cuttings quite into the ground are many: Rods so planted send out straight shoots, and when the crop is cut off close to the ground manure can be applied the land plowed between the rows and ‘harrowed over, and kept as clean as aw ordinary arable field. This, by many, will be looked upon very skeptically, but I have practiced it for some years, and have every reason to be satishied with the result. Before this method was adopted I found it next to impossible to keep willow-grounds from being overrun with weeds; strong land, more especially, became sodden and hard, and the weed-roots could not be got out by the hoe. It has often been asked whether the roots of the willows do not get destroyed. In some eases the roots are disturbed slightly, but disturbing a few roots does not injure the plant, and great vigor is im- parted to them by mauuring and pulverizing the ground. After the land has lain some time in ridges and has shown a tendency to break down, I use a harrow with the teeth rounded at the ends so as not to tear or split the plants. A willow-plantation worked in this way presents a very different appearance to the reedy rubbish beds, with a few moss-grown pollards dotted about, and called osier-grounds, met with in many parts of the country. The accompanying illustration shows the difference between willows growing direct from the ground and those planted in the old style. Willows grown straight are more valuable than when bent or crooked at the butt, and they cannot be grown straightif the stools stand above the ground. By cutting close to the ground the stools or roots do not rot or become covered with moss, and by ° turning over the ground and keeping all clean, the larvee of insects destructive to the plants are got rid of; and if it is desirable to stub the ground, so as to use it for other 422 purposes, a strong plow and a good team of horses, taking the rows cross-way on, will easily rid the ground of roots, or so loosen them that they can be got out with a drag, at less than half the cost of stubbing by the spade in the ordinary way. Nearly all the writers on the subject of willow-planting recommend that the first year’s shoots, after planting, remain on the stools, not to be cut until the second year... WW te VW iN) My Osier willow. The reason assigned for which plan is, that the roots may get better and firmer hold of the ground before they are disturbed by cutting. In whatever light this is viewed J hold it to be radically wrong; for, should the first year’s crop (which is usually the case) be short, full of shoots at the sides, and dwindling, they would be of no value whatever if allowed to stand for two-year olds. The value of a two-year-old willow depends entirely upon the shank, or first year’s shoots, being long and straight; the second year’s growth merely adding thickness and solidity. Should the first year’s shoots be allowed to remain—the roots having obtained so little hold of the ground— the wind will act upon the long shoots as a lever, and loosen the roots much more than careful cutting would do. In the majority of cases the first crop will be nearly worthless, but if carefully cut off, the second crop will be of considerable value. He then enforces the necessity of keeping the ground clear of weeds, and proceeds to give the following directions with regard to cutting and preparing the plant: Whether the crop is intended to be used green, or to be peeled, it ought to be eut off in the months of November and December, and the land stirrred up with the plow. If cut off at this time the buds remaining on the stools will swell during the winter, and be much more likely to put forth vigorous shoots than if cut off nearer the spring, and the land will receive the benefit of the winter’s frost by being broken up. The rods must not, in any case, be cut until the leaf has fallen, or a flow of sap will follow the knife, and the plant will be weakened in consequence. For cutting close to the ground a heavy, hooked knife, cranked near the handle, must be used; it must be very sharp, and the cutting stroke must be sharp and decisive; each stool or root must be cleared by one stroke, the rods being held tightly in the left hand. If any plant is found de- fective or dead remove it, and stick into the vacant place a full-grown rod, and let it stand to grow. If a short cutting is put in, the surrounding plants will, in all proba- bility, smother it, and prevent its growing. Cutting is generally paid for by the bundle, the price in the midland counties being 2s. 6d. per score bundles, 3 feet girth when tightly tied up. The tie or band should be about 8 or 9 inches from the butt or root end of the rods, and the measure be taken 4.23 close to the band. These prices vary a little in different districts, and are only men- tioned here to give a general idea of the cost of osier-cutting where the crop is of average size. If the crop runs small, the price will be more per score bundles; if over the average size, a little less. When cut and tied, the rods should be cleared off the ground at once, and, if for peeling white, they must be placed standing on their butts in the water to the depth of 6 or 8 inches, firmly fixed in their position (so as not to be disturbed by the wind) until they begin to grow in the spring, and the bark becomes sufficiently loose to be removed, which may readily be ascertained by trying to strip them with the fingers. If the crop is to be peeled buff, by using boiling water to loosen the bark, or if intended to use green or be dtied as brown, they can be reared on the butts in any dry place until the sap has left them, and they are dry enough to put under cover; or stack and thatch down if more convenient. It may be necessary to explain what is meant by peeling buff, in contradistinction to peeling white. , It is now greatly the fashion to make baskets of willows peeled by steaming or boiling, instead of peeling by the ordinary course, as it has been found that the baskets of the boiled willow are much firmer, and wear considerably longer than when made of white rods; and in the process of boiling, the coloring matter contained in the bark stains the willow a buff color. ‘The extra durability of baskets made of the boiled willow over those made of willows peeled white, only requires to be more generally known to make white baskets things of the past, where wear and tear is required. Many will consider the willows too crowded by planting so closely as I have here recommended. It must, however, be borne in mind that no instructions are given here that have not been practically tested by myself, and compared with the results of other systems, both in weight and quality of crops, and in the ease and economy of working. : : It has been stated before that two essential qualities in a good basket willow were length of shoots, with the least thickness,also freedom from side branches, qualities which can best be obtained by close planting. All varieties of willows, however straight their tendency may be, if allowed toomuch room, will spread, thicken, and throw out side branches; this will easily be seen by examining any well-managed osier ground, where the outside rows will be found crooked, and of less value than the inner rows. Let any one examine a willow-holt, and it will be found that those rods are the best where the growth is the closest. It has been urged by what may be called the old school of planters, that if planted so closely in a few years the stools would touch each other. This would be the case if cut above the ground, and heads three parts rotten and useless, and as large as cab- bages, were allowed to accumulate. But this, to a great extent, is prevented by the method of cutting recommended. The system of close planting and cutting to the ground has been practiced in Bel- gium for many years, and so successful have the Belgium planters been that they now export largely, not only to Great Britain, but toAmerica.. The sorts they cultivate are inferior to many of ours, but the management of their grounds is better. All growers of willows will have observed that the first crop or two after planting always grow crooked and full of side-shoots; this is entirely due to wide planting. The first year the cutting or plant does not put out more than two or three side-shoots, and those, as a rule, rather small; they have thus ample room to follow their natural tendency ; light and air being procurable ail around them, they have not to seek it upwards. Willow-crops, like corn or root crops, are subject to many diseases, and it will ap- pear strange to those who have been accustomed to consider the ‘willow as a thing requiring no attention to be told that it is subject to as many diseases as a crop of turnips, and requires as much care to be grown successfully. The Aphis or smother- fly js a great pest to all the sweet-scented or soft-wooded willows, known to basket- makers under the term of soft sorts or osier, S. holosercia suffering more than any other variety ; hence the great uncertainty of obtaining a good crop from this willow, for as a productive yield seldom occurs above once in three years, it renders it the: most unremunerative sort of basket-willow grown, notwithstanding its good qualities and the great value of a good crop when obtained. Isolated cases of extraordinary crops of this variety have been made public, and the extreme risk being kept out of sight, has caused a sort of “ nine days’ wonder,” at the great profits of willow-growing. In- tending planters must not reckon upon realizing extreme profits. With proper care willow-growing will pay quite as well as any crop usually grown in this country, and land of little value for ordinary culture can be made remunerative by this means. The writer then furnishes an accurate account of the expenses of pre- paring the ground, price of cuttings, planting, weeding, rent, taxes, and cutting an acre of groundin England for three crops; but, as the prices of land, labor, and taxes differ so materially from those of this country, ‘it would not afford much yaluable information to the planters here. 424 The third year’s crop may be taken as an average value of the ten following years, after which, unless great care is bestowed, there will'be a slow but gradual diminution of produce. Taking these, however, as the data to reckon from, the actual profit at the end of twelve or thirteen years would be very considerable. There will, of course, be accidental or special circumstances which will, to some extent, alter the nearest cal- culation that can be made ; for, as willows are liable to certain diseases, and also sub- ject like other crops to the fluctuation of market prices, allowances must be made, With respect to diseases, which consist chiefly in the attacks of insects, much isin the hands of the cultivator. The cutting down to the ground, and leaving no lodgment for the larvze, combined with cleanly cultivation, will do much towards warding off their attacks. Again, as in other crops, the damage done to willows extends over a large area, and when a more than usually bad season occurs an advance of prices takes place, and it not unfrequently happens that a bad crop is not necessarily a loss to the grower. Some varieties of willow are very little subject to the attacks of insects, and the prudent cultivator will carefully avoid the kinds that are so, and leave the more speculative man to grow the more precarious sorts. No one must attempt to grow willows (unless of the bitter sorts) where hares or rab- bits abound. Certain loss of capital will be the result of planting in such places. The rule has been to plant willows in any out-of-the-way corner, where nothing else would grow, and when planted take no further care of them. Such a system can never be made to pay, except for coppice-wood, and I should strongly advise no one to attempt cultivating basket-willows in such a fashion; but so little attention has been paid to— the subject hitherto that there is a comparatively new and wide field open to the man of enterprise and ability. The average weight of a crop of the best and harder kinds of willows would be in the green state about 6 tons per acre, and of the soft sorts or osier 7 or 74 tons. At present prices the respective values would be, if sold green: Gone ateealOsuper tons. .-15-66 sso Se - : 2 OMI Ap ao MOE VeRO See Ber ae eeaiee sao, 6 5 —50 Cea eeoeE Ed OBO mSc yaa sc 17 10 0 If peeled the 6 tons would produce 2 tons’9f white willows, worth 16s. per ewt., and the cost of peeling would not exceed £7 Os. 0d. 2 tons of white willow, at 16s. per ton.---- CR Estilo, ok Ue ae £32.07 0" Deduct expenses for peeling....----.----------++---++ +--+ - 2-2 eee eee eee eee CHO Producelofvanlacres.- sce eos. Heute oer am ane seme oe aa atone temas 25 0 0 7 tons of osiers, if peeled, would yield— 21 tons of white rods, at 11s. per cwt...--.---.------------ e222 - ++ eee eee £27 10 0 Deduct cost of peeling.......---- ---- ---- ---- - 2-2 eee eee eee eee eee eee 5 10 0 Produce Of an acre... . ce oo26 b-a ace sec tiee ee cease cee = antes sem 22 00 0 The quantity here stated as the average produce of an acre is not intended to apply to those weed-beds that are not more than half planted, but to an osier-bed under proper cultivation. It will be seen that the cost of peeling, and also planting osier, is not quite so great as that of the finer kinds, the rods being larger, and fewer cuttings required. The above estimate is for a crop of one year’s growth; for two-year old willows it is absolutely necessary to have osier, as no hard-wooded sorts make good two-year-olds, whilst osiers, as two-year-olds make a better return. By osiers is here meant the soft - wooded sorts, Salix viminalis, aud its varieties, which are always called osier by basket- makers, in contradistinction to the finer varieties. ‘ In cultivating willows.for two-year-olds, if it is intended to allow them to stand upon the stools for the second year, all the small, crooked, or rough rods whieh are ot little value should be pruned or taken away with the knife, and only the long, straight rods allowed to remain, by which means greater vigor is imparted to them ; or, if the object be to extend the area of planted ground, they may be all cut down, the finest rods only being selected and stuck into prepared ground in their entirety, and left in that state to be cut off the following season, by which means an excellent crop of two- year-old osiers will be obtained, and the ground planted at the same time. The chief points to be observed by the cultivator are, to keep his land clean and well worked, and to replace any failing root by sticking long rods in the ground, as be- fore stated, thus keeping his land fully cropped. If any intending planter means to allow weeds and willows to strive for the mastery unmolested, and give no attention to the ground when planted, I should advise him to let willow-growing alone as a source of profit. Another purpose to which the willow may be applied is well worthy , of the attention of farmers in this country, where timber for fencing 1s 425, becoming so scarce and expensive. In England growers of osiers have adopted the bitter willow, in preference to thorn or osage-orange, for hedges. Itis of very rapid growth, and because of its bitterness cattle will not injure it, and vermin will not destroy it. It forms a most per- fect protection, and at the same time produces an annual crop quite as | remunerative as that grown upon any other portion of the ground. The labor and expense of cutting down and keeping in shape the osage- . orange, locust, or thorn-hedge is made an objection to its more general use, whilst the product of the willow will not only meet this objection, but make an additional profit. The writer gives the following instruc- tion how to make a willow-hedge: : To form a good efficient willow-hedge the ground must be dug to a depth of 15 to 18 inches, and effectually cleared of weeds, and, if poor, manured; in fact, it is necessary it should undergo a similar preparation to what would be required if it were intended to plant a thorn-hedge. Should the ground be very low, and charged with stagnant water, it will be necessary to throw out a ridge to plant upon, for no willow will flourish in a swamp. If it be desirable to form a hedge at once, willow stakes, 4 or 5 feet long, may be used, the ends of which must be sharpened and pushed 12 inches into the prepared ground, 6 inches apart, in a standing direction thus //////, and be temporarily wai- tled at the top, to hold them in position, until such time as they shall have fastened themselves by the spray which will grow up perpendicularly, thus www. Or, if it be preferred, they may be pushed in straight, and as the shoots put out at the sides they can be wattled together, and thus form a fence equally effective as the above. Another method is to plant a double row, crossing them in the manner following xxx. These should be secured temporarily by a bast-tie, until by growth they be- come fastened in position. The above methods are the most expensive on account of the extra length of the cuttings required, and would, of course, only be adopted where it was required'to have a hedge in the shortest possible time. The most economical mode is to plant cuttings taken from two or three year old shoots, and not more than 12 inches long; these should be pushed into the ground at the same distance apart, viz, 6 inches, or closer, if the hedge is intended to be game-proof, and at the end of the first year, if the shoots have not grown sufficiently strong, they should be cut to the ground, when the subsequent growth will be found strong enough to train into a per- manent fence in any form that might please the fancy of the grower. As regards the monetary value of a hedge of this description, my own experience leads me to estimate its annual produce, based upon alow calculation, at 53. per chain. ‘The weight of cuttings obtained from a hedge at Toton, 200 yards in length, and of two years’ growth, which was cut February 21, 1871, amounted to 1 ton 15 ewt. 1 qr., and which, at the moderate estimate of 50s. per ton, comes to £4 &s. 1}d. In this case the fence was allowed to grow two years before cutting, as it was desirable to leave it as a sereen for more tender plants; whereas, had it been cut each year, which would oe been the case under ordinary circumstances, the crop would have been more val- uable. It should not be overlooked that, owing to the rapidity of its growth, a willow- fence forms an excellent shelter for plants and cattle in an almost incredible short space of time; whilst as a protection against game it possesses this advantage over every other description of fence, that, by attention, and getting it sufficiently close— which may readily be accomplished by interweaving the shoots—it can be rendered perfectly game-proof, for whereas rabbits would burrow under netting, the roots of the willow would present an insurmountable barrier to their ravages. Ishould recommend a temporary protection of posts and rails, similar to that used for the defence of a thorn-hedge, but which would not be required so substantial, in consequence of the shorter time it would be necessary for it to remain, as, without some such safe-guard, it would, of course, be liable to be trodden down by cattle. A hedge so planted must be kept clear of weeds, and the soil maintained in a friable state, to admit of freedom of growth, until such time as it becomes perfectly formed, when no further attention or protection will be requisite. I should not advise the line of hedge-row to be encumbered with timber-trees, as they must, necessarily, stunt the growth of the hedge. The description of willow I recommend for the above purpose is the Salix kerksii. The substitution of willow for thorn in the formation of hedges is not, by any means, a novel idea, its peculiar properties, in this respect, having been noticed by eminent authorities for years past. The properties of the bitter willow are thus described by Miller, the well-known author of the Gardner’s Dictionary. ‘The extteme bitterness of the leaves and twigs renders it valuable for many purposes; when used as a band or withe it is never eaten by vermin, nor, when formed into a hedge, is it browsed on 426 by cattle; even insects prey upon it much less readily than on the other species. In some parts of Yorkshire its twigs are used for making the finer sorts of basket-work.” “By some observations I have made,” says Mr. Curtis, “I should think it might be advantageously used for such purposes.. Planting cuttings one year, by way of experi- ment, I found that this species gave the longest one year’s shoots, exceeding even those of S. vimnalis.” Linnaeus also recommends it for its toughness, and as a most excellent willow for the formation of hedges, and aiso as one of the best willows for the finer kinds of basket-work. Dr. Anderson advises its use as a fence for dividing any extensive field of rich ground into separate enclosures, and also remarks there is ae fence which would be raised at such asmal\l expense so quickly and continue so ong. Loudon, in his Arboretum and Fructicetum, page 1490, states that the inner bark of most of the kinds included in this group (Purpurea) is extremely bitter, which renders the plants suitable for the banks of rivers and other places, which are infested by rats, as the bitterness prevents these animals from eating it. It is also frequently planted in Norfolk and Suffolk and in some parts of Essex for plaiting into close, low fences, for the exclusion of hares and rabbits, the bark and leaves being so extremely bitter that these animals will touch neither, while the shoots being long, tough, and flexible, may be formed into any shape; and a fence of this kind is reckoned little inferior to that of wire. This species is well adapted for planting in ornamental shrubberies, from the elegant slenderness of its twigs during winter, the redness of its catkins, the anthers of which are of that color before they burst, and the fine pur- plish and glaucous hue of its young shoots and leaves. The male plant, being the most beautiful when in flower, ought to be most propagated by nurserymen. : This variety of willow will produce shoots from 5 to 8 feet long in one season. It will thus be seen from the above quotations that I lay no claim to originality, but, having simply carried out the ideas of these eminent writers to a practical issue, in a district swarming with hares and rabbits, I am in a position to bear ample testi- mony to the value of their remarks. I can, however, scarcely go so far as to say that hares and rabbits will not touch the very young shoots of this description of willow. Occasionally, when hard pressed for food, they may do so, but never to such an extent as to cause any material injury to the plant. The Department of Agriculture deems this subject so worthy of at- tention that it will make an effort to procure, by importation, some of the most valuable willows, for gratuitous distribution, when the proper season arrives. ENTOMOLOGICAL RECORD. Ate la h6 TOWNEND GLOVER. THE COLORADO POTATO-BEETLE IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. —During the last month the much-dreaded western potato-bug, Dory- phora decem-lineata made its appearance in the immediate neighborhood of Washington, D.C., several of the mature insects having been brought alive to the Department of Agriculture for identification. They were taken by Mr. Charles Chapin, of the Marine Corps, in a garden, feeding on the foliage of some potatoes, and had almost ruined the plants. Paris green mixed with flour, and dusted over the foliage, as yet ap- pears to be the best remedy. : PARIS GREEN.—The Department has also received information that the same mixture of Paris green and flour, or plaster, has been used with good effect to poison the cotton-caterpillar, Anomis xylinw, by sprinkling it over the foliage when wet with dew. Some of our southern correspondents, however, complain that the Paris green now sent out 1s a very inferior article, and on that account has proved ineffectual in many cases. As this remedy has been highly recommended by some, and pronounced worthless by others, we shall, therefore, be much obliged to our southern correspondents if they, will write to the Depart- 427 -- ment the results of any experiments they have made with this poison, so as to gather together all the facts, that we may know whether it should be recommended next year, or condemned. Cotton being the great staple of the South, it will be plainly seen that great benefit would arise to the South by knowing the true facts in the case, and the experience of practical planters, before recommending any remedy that wight prove worthless and perhaps injurious. PHYLLOXERA VASTATRIX.—The grape-vine-root gall-louse, so de- structive to the grape-vine in Hurope, and found in the Western States, has been found on the grape-vine roots growing in the gardens of the Department of Agriculture at Washington. Mr. J. 1. Planchon, of Mont- pellier, France, on his late visit to Washington, made a most thorough investigation of the grape-vines, and after examining sixty of the plants most thoroughly he found only from four to six of these insects alive on the roots. It is also to be observed that this year none of the ieaf- gall species, known as the Pemphigus vitifolie, of Fitch, have been found on the foliage of the grape-vines at the Department, but the vines are very much injured by the small insect erroneously known as the grape-leaf thrips, which is a species of frog-hopper, (Hrythroneura,) belonging to the order Homoptera, and which “by sucking out the sap causes the foliage to assume a withered and spotted ADDEATAB ES and, if very numerous, causes the leaves to be shed. INSECT INJURIES.—Reports of extensive depredations upon the grow- ing crops, by noxious insects, have been received from a large number of counties. The Entomologist would here earnestly reiterate the rec- commendation of the July report, and request our regular and casual correspondents to send to the Department specimens of injuricus in- sects that may be operating in their respective localities. It is impossi- ble, from the local names and imperfect description by which these are frequently designated in our correspondence, to identify the offending species. A single specimen would often enable the Entomologist at once to recognize the character and habits of the depredator, and to suggest effective e means for its extirpation. Grasshoppers, (Caloptenus sp.)—These insects have past very destruc- tive, especially in the States and Territories west of the Mississippi River. It is evident that two species C. spretus and C. femur-rubrum, are represented in the accounts received at the Department, but from lack of specimens it is impossible to designate, in most cases, the species infecting asparticular locality. New Hampshire is the only New Eng- land State reporting the presence of grasshoppers. In Carroll County the C. femur-rubrum continued to devour the crops until driven away by coolnights; in Sullivan these pests destroyed some fields of tobacco ; in Grafton they infested some localities. They were also quite destruc- tive in Chautauqua and Jefferson Counties, New York. Both species have been active in the West and Southwest. Grass- hoppers made their appearance in Bossier Parish, Louisiana. They were very injurious in Palo Pinto, Parker, and Atascosa Counties, Texas, to the grain-crops, and, in some cases, to the fruit. In Montgomery, Hancock, and Bradley Counties, Tennessee, they devoured the corn and grass crops. They appeared in immense swarms in Jefierson County, West Virginia. They appeared in Mahoning County, Ohio, and were more numerous than ever in Lorain; in Medina they were very destructive in pastures. They were no less numerous in Dubois and Newton Counties, Indiana, and threatened the grain and grass. crops in Crawford, Lawrence, and Edwards Counties, Illinois. They 428 } were especially mischievous to gardens, oats, and corn in Clarke County, Wisconsin, where they moved southward along a zone five miles wide. Their unwelcome presence was also felt in Murray and Faribault Coun- ties, Minnesota, and they were numerous and voracious in Crawford, Potta- wattomie, and Woodbury Counties. lowa. Severe damages are reported in several counties of Missouri, Platte, Lawrence, Montgomery, Clay, and Saint Genevieve; in the latter the visitation was more disastrous than for twelve years past. They were blown away by the southwest winds in Marshall County, Kansas; they did some damage in Ottawa, immense numbers flying over the county; they were more or less de- structive in Washington, Smith, and Doniphan. Their ravages were serious in Burt, Boone, Antelope, and Washington Counties, Nebraska. In Clay County, Dakota, they made such havoc with the promising field and garden crops that many farmers in that region are entirely discouraged and desire to sell out and move to some other locality. They were also very bad in Union, Lincoln, and Hanson. Montana re- ports destructive visitations of grasshoppers in Lewis and Clarke Coun- ty, and also in Deer Lodge. Colorado potato-beetle, (Doryphora decem-lineata.\—In New York the Colorado beetles made their first appearance in Ontario County, and ef- fected more or less injury in Chautauqua, Erie, Seneca, and Wyoming. They are reported in largenumbers in several counties of Pennsylvania, viz, Beaver, Westmoreland, Armstrong, Indiana, Elk, Huntington, Law- rence, Clinton, Erie, Cambria, Juniata, and Warren; in the last-named county they made their first appearance; in Westmoreland, after destroy- ing the potato-tops, they attacked the tomatoes, and finally satiated their voracious appetites upon the Datura stramonium. They are reported in Austin County, Texas, and in Jefferson, Grant, Barbour,: Tyler, Brooke, Nicholas, and Mineral Counties, West Virginia. In Nicholas it was observed that they left untouched the Early Rose and Peachblow varieties. In Kentucky they infested Jefferson, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, and Lincoln Counties. Sixteen counties in Ohio were subjected to their ravages in a greater or less degree, viz, Noble, Coshocton, Medina, Auglaize, Butler, Columbiana, Franklin, Granger, Licking, . Lorain, Marion, Mahoning, Washington, Crawford, Lucas, and Van Wert. They were troublesome in several counties of Michigan, Lapeer, Calhoun, Jackson, Van Buren, Manistee, and Shiawassee. Indiana re- ports them in Scott, Decatur, Warren, Cass, Harrison, and Dearborn ; Illinois, in Morgan, Sangamon, Pope, Putnam, Carroll, Rock Island, and Lee; Wisconsin, in Chippewa, Pierce, Greene, and Milwaukee; Minnesota, in Sherburne and Stearns; Iowa, in Clinton and Pottawat- tomie; Missouri, in Boone; Kansas, in Ottawa; Nebraska, in» Boone and Thayer Counties. The common black potato-bug (Zpicauta [atrata| pennsylvanica) of Leconte is reported in Indiana and Elk Counties, Pennsylvania; Clarke County, Virginia; Crawford, Medina, Geauga, Lorain, and Lucas Coun- ties, Ohio; Decatur and Dearborn Counties, Indiana. In the last-named county a new insect injurious to the potato appeared, which, from im- perfect description, is supposed to be the Hpicauta (vittata) cinerea. In many of the counties above enumerated very successful efforts were made to exterminate these insects by the use of Paris green and other ~ poisons. In other counties these efforts were but partial, and urged with little resolution; such counties present a discouraging report. In Clinton County, Illinois, the lady-bug (coccinella) was reported as dam- aging the potatoes. It is very probable that this insect was merely hunting the eggs of the Colorado beetle, upon which it feeds voraciously. Farmers often, in this way, mistake their friends for their enemies. 429 Cut-worms, (Agrotis sp.)—A species of this genus injured the corn in Erie County, New York; another injured tobacco in Louisa County, Virginia; another was heard from in Lapeer County, Michigan. Cabbage-worms (Pieris sp.) were destructive in Aroostook County, Maine, and Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. A worm like the common cabbage-worm covered the heads of the sorghum, when in full bloom, in Montgomery County, Tennessee. Chinch-bugs (Micropus |Rhyparochromus| leucopterus) did more or less damage in Pittsylvania, Halifax, and Mecklenburgh Counties, Virginia ; in Burnet County, Texas; in Russell County, Kentucky; in Adams County, Ohio; in Jennings County, Indiana; in Clinton, Pope, White, and Boone Counties, Illinois; in Greene and Dane Counties, Wiscon- sin; in Miller, Benton, Crawford, Lawrence, and Laclede Counties, Missouri; in Neosho, Bourbon, Montgomery, and Labette Counties, Kansas, and in Gage County, Nebraska. In Labette County, Kansas, they devoured the rag-weed. p Grub-worms (Lachnosterna sp.) were active in Atascosa County, Texas, and in Platte County, Missouri. In Monroe County, West Virginia, they honeycombed the meadows and pastures; in Mercer they badly injured the corn. It was probably the same insect that destroyed the growing wheat in Putnam. Hessian-fly, (Cecidomyia destructor.) ‘This insect has been heard from in Russell County, Kentucky, and in Jennings County, Indiana, Wheat-midge, (Diplosis tritici.) This insect troubled small grain farm- ers in Mercer and Putnam Counties, West Virginia. Boll-worms (Heliothis armigera) injured cotton-crops in Edgefield, North Carolina; in Upson, Marion, Twiggs, Stewart, Coweta, and Cal- houn Counties, Georgia; in Jefferson County, Florida; in Saint Clair, Macon, and Perry Counties, Alabama; in Lowndes, Noxubee, and Ran- kin Counties, Mississippi; in Rusk County, Texas; in Columbia County, Arkansas. Cotton-caterpillar, or army-worm, (Anomis xylinw.)—The visitation of this pest has been one of great severity in the more southern cotton States. It appeared without doing much damage in five counties of South Carolina, Richland, Williamsburg, Laurens, Marlborough, and Orangeburgh. It was reported as not very injurious in Brooks, Lee, Muscogee, Macon, Worth, Glynn, Baldwin, and Twiggs Counties, Geor- gia; but its ravages were quite serious in Decatur, Schley, Marion, Karly, Coweta, Calhoun, Jefferson, and Stewart. In Karly County itis stated that those worms which had not webbed up were eating the young bolls. In Macon the caterpillar required a longer period for pro- creation and showed far less of destructive energy than formerly. A few persons in this county denounced the effects of poisons as worse than the injuries of the worms, but no specific facts were presented. In Florida injuries were comparatively light in Jackson, Gadsden, Columbia, Alachua, Hamilton, and Suwannee Counties, but more severe in Jefferson, Liberty, Wakulla, Madison, and Leon. Experience varies in regard to Paris green and other poisons. In Liberty the worms ‘appear to ignore and despise all efforts for their extirpation. In Madi- son few had faith enough to try any remedies. In Jefferson some were successful for the time, but complained that the worms returned after ten or twelve days. In Leon judicious efforts of this kind were quite suc- cessful. In several counties of Alabama the caterpillar was quite active even A430 ~ in July, the injuries being more severe on fresh bottom-lands. In Mont- gomery the pest appeared fifteen days earlier than last year. Severe injuries were experienced in Russell, Marengo, Macon, Dallas, Conecuh, Choctaw, Hale, Barbour, Henry, Clarke, Pike, Butler, Perry, and Au- tauga; the infliction was lighter in Crenshaw, Chambers, Wilcox, Cof- fee, Jefferson, and Green. In Franklin the caterpillar has never been known. In many localities Paris green and other poisons were used with variant success, but many had too little faith in their efficacy and too much apprehension of accidents to use them properly. In such cases the insects were only checked and not destroyed. In Perry and Dallas Counties poisons were used with satisfactory results when judi- ciously applied at an early period after the appearance of the worms. In Mississippi caterpillars were noticed about the last week of July, though in Warren County they put in an appearance on the 6th. They . lightly affected Newton, Rankin, and Wiikinson Counties, but were more numerous and destructive in Warren, Marion, Lowndes, Kemper, Clark, Washington, and Noxubee. Paris green and arsenic were in great de- mand in Marion, but their efficacy had not been decisively tested. ; Caterpillars were reported in several parishes of Louisiana: Avoyelles, Cameron, East and West Feliciana, Tensas, Rapides, Madison, Frank- lin, Concordia, Carroll, Caddo, Bossier, Richland, Iberia, Union, and Tangipahoa. The most serious injuries were felt in Avoyelles, Caddo, Rapides, and Tangipahoa. In Avoyelles Paris green was extensively used, and its efficacy was awaited with special interest. These worms were comparatively innoxious in several counties of Texas: Collin, Wood, Washington, Walker, Victoria, Uvalde, Matagorda, Fayette, De Witt, Burnet, Rush, and Blanco. They were more severe in Leon, Lavaca, Austin, Grimes, Liberty, Smith, Fort Bend, and Mont- gomery. In the last-named county half the crop was saved by the en- ergetic use of poisons. Several specific preparations of Paris green were reported as successful in different counties. In Liberty County the worms were quite destructive upon red land, but seemed to avoid the crops on gray land. In Union, Hempstead, Dorsey, Columbia, Drew, and Clark Counties, Arkansas, these worms were not very formidable, but they made their mischievous power felt in Polk and Ashley. A new cotton insect ap- peared in Jackson County, Georgia, boring into the forms and causing them to drop. Per contra, in Jackson County, Florida, an enemy to the caterpillar was observed in some unknowninsect, which largely destroyed it. Cotton-lice (Aphides) were more numerous than ever in Chowan County, North Carolina, and were quite troublesome in Camden, Pas- quotank, and Perquimans. Grass army-worms (Leucania unipuncta) swept the grass-crops of Ed- wards County, Illinois. Horn-worms (Macrosila Carolina) injured tobacco-crops in Halifax County, Virginia. Apple-worms (Carpocapsa pomonella) injured fruit very seriously in Lunenburg County, Virginia; in Cass County, Missouri; in Benton County, Iowa; in Jackson County, Kansas; and in Salt Lake Count, Utah. Fruit caterpillars (Clisiocampa sp.) injured fruit and forest trees in Haywood and Fayette Counties, Tennessee. Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar ) injured apples and peaches in Mon- roe County, West Virginia. 431 Borers (Saperda candida) were destructive to apple-trees in Grant County, West Virginia. Rose-bugs (Macrodactylus subspinosus) were destructive to grapes in Strafford County, New Hampshire, and Woodson County, Kansas. Currant-worms, of some undescribed species, injured the currants in Aroostook County, Maine. MICROSCOPIC INVESTIGATION. By THOMAS TAYLOR. RG@STELIA LACERATA, TULASNE; ASCIDIUM LACERATUM, GREV.— Greville, in his Scottish Flora, p. 209, vol. iv, describes this fungus as it was known in 1826. He says that it is found on the nerves and petioles of the leaves, on the fruit, and even on the young branches of the hawthorn (Crategus oxyacantha) in summer and autumn everywhere; and M. A. Cooke observes that it is found on the under surface of the leaves and on the petioles and fruit of the hawthorn, and is common from May to June in the United States. My attention was called last year to the prevalence of this fungus on the hawthorn plants on the grounds of the Department during the months of July and August. This year it has also appeared. I first observed its presence in the month of July, although it may have ap- peared in June preceding. At this time, September 20, the fungoid forms are decaying. Nearly every variety of the hawthorn is affected, especially C. punctata and C. tomentosa. The Washington evergreen hawthorn plant C. pyracantha, Pers., seems not to be attacked by any species of fungus of the order Aci- diacet. Judging from my observation I deem it an error to suppose that Restelia lacerata attacks either the branches or fruit of any variety of the hawthorn. We have many varieties of the hawthorn growing on the grounds of the Department, but in no case have I found Restelia lacerata on their fruit or branches. ‘This species is confined to the leaves in every instance, and the petioles thus far are exempt from its attacks. On making my first observations and dissections of the orange-colored fungus, seen so frequently on the branches and fruit of hawthorn-bushes, I was much disappointed on finding that the color, structure, &c., of the peridium and spores did not agree with that given by mycologists; but on making search to ascertain if any other similar genus or species of the order Acidiacet existed on the hawthorn C. oxyacantha, or on any of the numerous varieties of this hedge-plant, with the view of accounting for the discrepancy, I found, on turning up the leaves having orange spots on their upper surface, ‘true peridia (sacks) of Restelia lacerata, Tul.: Heidium oxyacantha, Pers. Under a power of about 90 diameters the general character of the peridia is seen. They are densely aggregated, elongated, submersed, pale-brown, irregularly torn. The sporidia are copious; thus far agreeing with Greville’s description. -The circular spots on the leaves, Nos. 1 and 2, indicate the general points of growth of this fungus. I find it frequently on the leaf-ribs and terminal points of the leaves, and very often dispersed over the smooth parts of the leaf; sometimes, although rarely, the peridia are on the upper surface of the leaves. 3 represents the peculiar formation of their structure, which resembles net-work. At the juncture of the leaf (see 432 4) the cells of the peridia are nearly round ; at 5 oblong. From 3 to 4 the cellular structure is of a light vandyke brown; at 5 a pale yellow. I am aware that the structure of the peridia, as described by me, varies — ——— ‘ in some respects from that by Greville and others, which shows the im- portance of photographing so minute objects. Ihave presented sections of these for future use. 6 represents the appearance of the peridia as seen by the naked eye; 7 their general arrangement and their group- ings on the leaves; 8 three cells, showing the parts of which the peridia are. composed when magnified about 125 diameters ; 9 the spores con- tained in the bottom of the peridia, magnified 125 diameters; 10 repre- sents the openings or meshes; 11a leaf of a variety of OC. oxyacantha. On one of its lobes, at A, is represented a cluster of peridia of a species of Acidium, heretofore undescribed as a parasite on the hawthorn, or it may have been confounded with that on the leaves; 14 represents 433 peridia as they appear to the naked eye; 15, a very giighly magnified view of one of them, the cells of which are magnified 125 diameters ; 16 one of the cells somewhat more highly magnified. They are not always regular in construction, although generally of the form given. They separate easily from one another by slight friction. 17 represents spores* of an orange color, with which the peridia abound, and which consist of at least three parts: first, a transparent outward cell, which contains an orange-coloring matter, within which may be seen germinal matter in the form of dark spots. The spores are magnilied 125 diame- ters. All standard works on mycology represent Restelia lacerata as the only fungus of the order Meidiacei that attacks hawthorn plants; but judging from my investigations, it holds a secondary place. So con- spicuous are the species of the two genera on them, the one on the leaves, the other on the branches and fruit, that the naked eye can dis- tinguish the difference. That on the leaves appears of a brown color. Owing to the transparency of the cells of the peridia, the brown coloring- matter of the protospores being seen through them, while that on the fruit and branches appears of a rich orange, owing to the color of their protospores. Although of the same order they differ in genus and species. : It is of much importance to ascertain as far as possible the conditions of growth favorable or unfavorable to this order. Its presence on plants is highly destructive to them, and has proved one of the most serious obstacles to the cultivation of the hawthorn as a hedge-plant in the United States. Forty-seven species of Weidium and three of Restelia are reported by M. C. Cooke. In relation to the ravages of this order of fungi P. H. Foster, proprietor of Babylon nurseries, Babylon, Long Island, writes to the Commissioner of Agriculture, on the 1st of August last as follows: I send you a specimen of a disease which occurs on some American white-ash trees, which I imported from Flushing, New York. I have noticed the disease on them during the last two seasons. It first makes its appearance early in the season on the leaves, and finally attacks the young wood, as may be seen on the specimens enclosed. It is evi- dently of fungoid origin. I have many thousands of plants of American white-ash, from two to three years old, planted in my nurseries, none of which are affected with this disease. I have also some European ash, which appear to be very susceptible to it. I wish to obtain aremedy. The loss of so valuable a timber-tree would be too great for our country to bear. The Department will at an early day commence a series of experi- ments, having relation to the best mode of treatment of plants affected with this fungoid form of disease. The results of the experiments will be published in the monthly reports. THE LINEN INDUSTRY IN SILESIA. The culture of flax and the manufacture of linen in Silesia are of the ereatest value among the industries of that important section of the German Empire. The linens of Silesia have long been celebrated for their fine and desirable qualities. In bleaching, what is called the ‘ gen- tle process,” in contradistinction to the usual chemical process, is inva- *Protospores they should be called, because, in fact, they germinate, and on the threads thus produced the true spores or fruit are borne. 4A 434 riably used. Byghis process the cloth is generally three or four months in bleaching, and the lyes are very mild and moderately used. To this fact the reputation which Silesian linen enjoys in this country is perhaps largely indebted. The country people are the manufacturers of the linen as well as the cultivators of the flax, the former being still carried on, as it was centuries ago, in the primitive method, with little aid from machinery. The flax is grown by small farmers, spun on the common hand-wheel by their wives and daughters during the winter, and woven in the houses of the peasants, chiefly by farm laborers when not engaged in field work. It affords but a scanty subsistence, but is, nevertheless, the chief occupation of the country people. It is found, however, that the intermixture of agricultural and industrial pursuits is not conducive to good farming, and it is only in the purely agricultural districts that the better and more profitable system of culture prevails. The peas-- antry, such of them as are owners of small farms—and many of the farms are from eight to twelve acres only—are in one respect richer than the large land-holders. They are generally not in debt, while the great estates are most of them mortgaged to about 50 per cent. of their value. The vast consumption of linen by both belligerents of the late war in this country, and also of the late French-Prussian war, stimulated an active demand and very remunerative trade in the flax-producing and linen-manufacturing countries of Europe. A reaction succeeded those wars, and the acreage under the plant has been so much reduced that the production is scarcely equal to the requirements of the trade. Russia is the great flax-producing district of Europe, while Silesia is a leading linen-manufacturing country, especially for the finer fabrics. The production of flax in Silesia is wholly inadequate to the demands of the linen-manufacturers of the. province, who are largely dependent upon Russia for their supplies of the raw material. Although the eul- tivation of flax has been much increased in Russia of late years there is but a slight available surplus for exportation; for there, as in Silesia, the flax manufactures constitute a very important textile industry. The cultivation of flax is increasing in France and Belgium, but not in the ratio of the demand for home consumption. The production in the United States in 1870, according to the ninth census, was 27,133, 000 pounds of flax and 1, 730, 000 bushels of flax-seed. But here flax is cul- tivated almost exclusively for the seed. The following translation from the Paris Annals of Commerce contains some interesting statements respecting the culture of flax and manufacture of linen in Silesia: Of all the industries of Silesia, that of flax, the oldest in date, is at the present day the most important. From time immemorial Silesia has produced famous linens, and not long since she exercised in Germany a kind of monopoly for the fabrication of this tissue. In the province of the Rhine important towns, as Brilefeld, manufacture linen almost exclusively, and their products bear a striking resemblance to those of Silesia. The annual sum total which this employment produces is far from being unimportant, since the last statistics, published in 1871, for the three districts of Reichenbach, Schweidnitz, and Waldembourg alone, that constitute the division called “ L’Eulengebirge,” manufactured about 500,000 pieces of linen. Seven millions fifty-six thousand pounds of flax were employed, five million six hundred thousand pounds of tow, and fifty thousand shocks of linen yarn, a shock being about sixty pounds, were produced. Although “ L’Eulengebirge” is the principal seat of the industry of Silesia, it is. not the only one; the product is also manufactured in the mountainous districts of the Austrian frontiers, which are called the “ Riesengebirge,” and which extend as far as “T/Eulengebirge.” There, in most of the villages, the major part of the population, men and women, and even children, devote themselves exclusively to this industry, In “ L’Eulengebirge,” in 1871, there were 15,326 weavers and 13,164 hand-looms, 3,047 of whieh were used in the linen manufacture, 8,705 in the cotton manufacture, 589 in 435 woolen manufacture, and 773 in the manufacture of various other materials. The mechanical looms numbered 1,388. Yarn was bleached to the amount of 336,000 pounds. The principal establishments of Silesia are— ist. The Royal Factory (Koenigliche Seehandlung) of Erdmansdorf, which devotes 8,450 spindles to flax, and 5,190 spindles to tow, and employs 800 workmen, producing 16,000 shocks of linen yarn, and 11,000 shocks of tow thread. The flax used in this establishment is principally obtained from Russia, Moravia, Saxony, Silesia, and Westphalia. Besides the 800 workmen employed in the factory, work is; given to about 2,000 outside laborers. In 1871 this factory produced 4,500 pieces of linen. 2d. The Royal Factory of Landshut, with 7,400 spindles, employs 460 workmen, consumes 672,000 pounds of flax, 1,232,009 pounds of tow, aud produces 14,000 shocks of yarn. 3d. The factory of the brothers Albert, at Waldembourg, employs 4,000 spindles, 400 workmen, consumes 1,456,000 pounds of flax and tow, and produces 9,000 shocks of arn. i There are also five other factories of minor importance: that of Petzhold and Hof- mann, at Waldembourg, employing 300 workmen and 4,000 spindles; that of Websky, at Tannhausen, 250 workmen; those of Held, at Friedland, Falki, at Lieban, and Vial- ard & Co., also at Lieban. The two latter use steam-machines, and run 20,000 spindles. : fin “ T/Eulengebirge,” therefore, there are eight large linen manufactories, employing 50,000 spindles. We should mention the village of Greiffenberg, which manufactures yearly about 120,000 dozen of handkerchiefs, which are sold not only in the States of the Zollverein but also in Norway and Switzerland. Formerly it carried on an important trade with Russia, which has completely ceased. Besides the workmen employed in the factories, the linen industry gives employment to a great number who work in their own dwellings ; some of these are employed for the year, others only during the dull season. In the district of Reichenbach there are villages, like Langenbielan, Peterswaden, Ernsdorf, and Haberndorf, where the whole population work in. flax, either at home or in the factories. The work pays by the job. In the factories the workmen ordinarily get $24 to $4 per week. The workmen at the Jacquard loom earn more. With this modest salary, these mountaineer families, that are generally numerous, can with difficulty earn a subsistence, even when their labor is uninterrupted ; for this reason all the women, old men, and children above the age of six years are employed in spooling. The most skillful spooler can earn but twelve cents per day. Warping affords an occasional resource. It is generally performed by girls. They can earn from $14 to $2 per week. The average weekly salary of a family, all the members of which labor from morn- ing to evening, is little more than $5, or $260 a year. It is surprising that large families can live on so small an income, and that whole populations manifest a singular attachment to so unremunerative an industry. From time immemorial the trade has been transmitted from father to son, and it is rare that the children ever seek to learn another trade, although the life of these unfortunate beings is only one of deprivation. If we deduct the modest rent of $14 or $20 for a chamber or attic, from the annual income of 9260, there remains to each family only $220 or $230 to expend for food, clothing, fuel, and incidental expenses. The only aid the government allows these working people consists in gratuitous primary instruc- tion. The Silesian manufacturing companies employ one-fourth of the whole number of power-looms used in Germany. The greater portion of the products manufactured in Silesia, the yarn as well as the linen, is consumed in Germany. Large quantities are, however, exported to Austria, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, and even to the United States. The year 1871 was not generally favorable to the linen industry in Silesia. It felt the reaction of a war that had just terminated, and the want of hands, and especially the need of fuel (it being difficult to transport coal by railroad) forced many estab- lishments to stand still. Raw materials also rose in price. Flax increased to $2} per hundred-weight. Fortunately most manufactories had a supply of yarn, which, as workmen could not be procured, had not been woven, and by reason of this cireum- stance they were able to resume work and to support the high price of the raw mate- rial without proportionally increasing the price of their manufactures. The culture of flax is pursued on a great scale in Silesia. About 50,000 acres are de- voted to this cultivation, producing, on the average, 339 pounds to the acre, making a total of 16,950,000 pounds. This culture is carried on principally in Upper Silesia, and on the right bank of the Oder. Of the 16,950,000 pounds of raw flax produced in Si- lesia, about 1,000,000 pounds alone enter into general commerce; about 500,000 pounds are sold at the principal markets; the remainder is either delivered directly to manu- ‘ 436 facturers, or is retailed upon the premises. Generally, producers prefer to sell on the spot, and this custom makes a ready sale for the best qualities, for in 1871 flax sold on the premises was worth from $26 to $27, while that sold at the different markets only reached a price of from $20 to $22 a hundred-weight. The principal flax markets of Silesia are those of Bresiau and Konstadt. * TEA CULTIVATION AND MANIPULATION. — ° The Department of Agriculture has always been interested in the development of this cultivation, and has not abandoned the hope that the tea-plant may ultimately be included with the domestic and economi- cal products of this country. The high price of labor, and the mystery in which the matter was shrouded, until the British government under- took the cultivation in their Indian possessions, made almost any attempt at manipulation on the part of private parties a forlorn hope. The adaptation of various sections of this country to the growth of the plant has been abundantly demonstrated, and plants from seed grown in the Southern States have, from time to time, been raised by the Department for distribution. So far back as 1848 the late Dr. Junius Smith abundantly proved that the mountains of South Carolina would produce and mature tea, although it was there subjected to severe freezing, and heavy falls of snow. Even in the grounds of the Depart- ment at Washington the plant has passed through the late severe winter without having been absolutely killed. It will be the object of this article to give such details and particulars relating to climate, soil, culture, and manipulation, as will tend to induce those who have already received plants, and have them growing, to experiment still further, and, it may be hoped, also encourage others to plant. In the present state of the labor market we cannot expect to proceed on the plan of the British in the East Indies and establish large planta- tions. It would not pay to do so; but the intelligence of the farmers of this country, and the improved agricultural machinery in use, will render completely easy here what proved an insuperable difficulty in India, viz, the growing of tea for family use. The apathy of the Hindoo races, their dislike of anything new, and the fact that tea is not their popular beverage, militated against the production of tea for their own wants in anything like a general system. Isolated points occur where they acquire a taste for tea, and then they grow and manufacture it very well, but they cannot accustom themselves to cultivate it with any care. : The following suggestions are from a communication received from Mr. James McPherson, as the result of his own observations in India: CLIMATE SUITED TO THE TEA-PLANT.—There are two very well marked varieties of the tea-plant, if indeed they are not sufficiently distinct to be ranked asspecies. These are, Thea Assamica, and Thea Chinensis, (syn. viride.) The first of these is the one with which western people became last acquainted, and it occupies a somewhat different position, naturally, to that in which the Chinese plant is usually found, if indeed the Chinese plant has even been seen in other than a state of cultivation. The varied con- ditions in which the two kinds, with their innumerable varieties, are found, may suffi- ciently account for the difference in their appearance. Thea Assamica, the India species, is usually found growing wild (and able to reproduce itself from seed) along the mar- gins of the Assam forests, frequently manifesting a partiality for the banks of streams. The climate of Assam is tropical, and, in parts, very moist, and frost is almost unknown in its tea-gardens, while the average temperature is about 70°, and the rain-fall about 80 inches. The tea, like the wheat-plant or the vine, has, however, a remarkable adap- tation to a very great range of climate, and I have known tea grown with perfect suc- cess where the mean annual temperature was only 58° Fahbr. and the rain-fall from 437 30 to 50 inches. Perhaps it will reach its greatest perfection where the mean annual temperature ranges from 60° to 65° Fahr. and where the rain-fall, or what is quite as important, the humidity of the atmosphere, is considerable during the growing sea- son, which, in northern latitudes, usually begins in March. Considerable heat, and foggy, cloudy weather, constitute what is known as a “ fine growing time” for the tea- plant. Moisture in the air, rather than moisture in the ground, seems to be requisite. Situations which are exposed to severe frost should be avoided, since it will entail too much labor to protect the young plants. Tea cultivation has been introduced, with more or less success, into British India, Ceylon, Cape Colony, Natal, the Australian Colonies, Saint Helena, Java, Réunion, Rio Janeiro, and the West Indies, and although these climates will grow the plant, yet the manipulation of the leaf has hitherto been so little understood that only two of these countries can claim tea as among their leading productions. India and Java export quantities, but the bulk is the produce of vast estates, under managers who very frequently know comparatively little of the industry, and yet make marketable tea. Soris.—Almost any good, free soil, upon which water does not stagnate, will grow the plant. A good garden soil will produce tea in perfection, but it will be best to describe a tea soil as a sandy, chocolate-colored loam, containing an abundance of humus or decaying vegetable matter in a fit state for absorption by the roots. PROPAGATION BY SEEDS AND CUTTINGS.—The first thing for the experimental grower is to understand the best manner of raising his plants. This is simple, the only pre- caution necessary: being to use fresh seed. If tea seed is kept for any length of time out of the ground it turns rancid, as the chestnut and many other oily seeds are apt to do. Ripe seed is known by its dark chestnut color. As soon as procured it should be laid upon a hard surface and covered with 2 or 3 inches of rotten leaves, decayed hops, or almost any convenient vegetable material. In this position the seed will ger- minate, and when the sprouts are 2 or 3 inches high the young seedlings may be trans- ferred to beds much in the same manner as market-gardeners prick ou celery plants. The plants may be set in nursery-beds at 3 or 4inches apart, according to the time they may possibly remain. If they are “pricked out” into beds in the spring, to be finally planted out in the fall, or in the fall to be planted in the spring, 3 inches will be ample; much will depend upon the time when the seed is received; if, however, the plants are likely to remain in the nursery-beds for more than six months, it will be best to allow 4 inches between plant and plant. An easier method is simply to plant the seed in the beds in drills from 1 to 2inches deep and 4 inches apart, in a half shady position; but vacancies from bad seed cannot well be avoided by this plan. By ger- mininating the seed a full nursery is obtained with very little extra labor. The seed may also be planted in hills, as gardeners plant melons, the Inlls being 5 feet apart. But here they must be weeded all the time, and as an acre of ground would have to be gone over for some 1,742 plants, much extra Jabor will be entailed by this method of planting the seed where it is to remain. Better to treat it as cabbage, nurse in beds, and afterward plant out. It may be useful to suggest here that it would be well for the nurserymen to turn their attention to the raising of tea-plants for sale in the locali- ties where they are known to thrive. The only attention a bed of young tea-plants requires is the routine work of weed- ing, occasional watering in dry weather, and possibly light shading with branches of trees in leaf, cut into lengths of about a foot, and stuck among the plants until they become established. If the pricking out or planting out is done in cloudy, showery weather, this labor may be saved. The propagation of tea by cuttings is a tedious and often very unsatisfactory process. The writer has put down many hundreds of thou- sands of cuttings, with the view of perpetuating superior varieties. The returns of rooted plants varied with the season from 10 to 75 per cent. This method of propaga- tion is expensive, tiresome, and unsatisfactory. A much better plan will be to secure a good pure lot of plants and keep them separate as much as possible. I would sug- gest the propriety of the Department of Agriculture, and others who have the distri- bution of plants in their hands, sending one “strain” of plants alone to given Iccali- ties as much as possible: the Assam kinds to hot and moist localities, and the Chinese type to drier and more elevated situations. The system of selection which has been _ practiced with such success in the case of corn, tomatoes, and other plants should be carefully attended to in the propagation of tea. THE PREPARATION OF THE SOIL.—The preparation of the soil for tea should be pre- cisely the same as the preparation for any other farm crop. Secure the best possible tilth, manure well, preferably with vegetable manure. A crop of any cheap seeded legume plowed in would be excellent; but any available manure in which straw is in- corporated would answer. Plow deep and well; even subsoil, where the experiment is intended to be thorough, and the land will bear it. Harrow and cross-harrow. Mark out the land 5 feet by 5 in straight lines, as for corn, and it is ready to receive the tea-plants, which plant at the intersections of the scoring. Or, if it be determined to grow the tea with some other crop, for instance, onions, turnips, tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, peanuts, low-growing peas, celery, or almost any crop which will not shade 438 the plants, then the latter may be planted either as subdividing hedges at any distance apart to suit the taste, or they may be planted within the,fences. This plan is very extensively/practiced by the Chinese, and is a great economy of labor, since then” the tea needs scarcely any special cultivation other than that given to well-kept hedges generally. The plants may be almost any distance apart in the rows, between one foot and four, The hedges may be clipped, but a flat top is the most productive form as regards yield of leaf. I am supposing that from one to five hundred or more plants are to be planted for family use. When fully started the plantation of tea merely requires to be kept moderately well weeded, and in no case must weeds be allowed to overtop and shade the tea; it is a crop requiring the full sun. PLANTING.—No especial directions are necessary further than to say that the plants must, if possible, be planted in the spring, in showery weather, and not too deep; any one who can plant a garden with success, can manage atea-plant. A little shade may be useful if hot, dry, sunny weather ensues; a few small boughs, stuck around the plants, are all that is needed to prevent intense evaporation from the soil and plants. I may mention that in deep soils the tea-plant has a tend- ency to form a long, bare tap-root, somewhat resem- bling aroot of salsify or car- rot. The directions given as to germinating the seed on a hard bottom were in- tended to obviate this tend- ency to form a long tap- root, and start the plant in the way it should go, forming fibrous roots; but if perchance a long tap-root is formed in spite of all precautions, then, in trans- planting, it must be got out as entire as possible, . and more care will be nec- essary until the plant has commenced to make new roots and growth in its new position, The kind of culture required while the tea- plants are reaching utilizable condition may be almost entirely performed by horse- labor, if the tea is grown in with other crops. I am not urging the formation of extensive plantations as yet, and, consequently, I cannot pretend to regard the setting out and tending of an ornamental hedge as any- thing but very pleasant pastime for the intelligent farmer in his leisure hours. The base of the plants should be kept free of weeds, and when 6 inches of growth is made, the extremities of the shoots and the terminal bud and three leaves below should be pinched out; if this pinching is done in the growing season the operator will not only be bringing his tea-bush into a spreading shape by the process, but will also be taking off the very article which goes to make the bulk of the teas of commerce. This pinching of the 6-inch shoots should continue until the plants reach their third year, when a sufficient quantity of leaves will be obtained for manufacturing purposes. The accompanying sketch will fully illustrate the pinching or picking process, to- gether with various qualities of leaf employed in the manufacture of the pure teas of commerce: Fig, —. BLACK TEAS. GREEN TEAS. 1. Flowery Pekoe. Flowery Pekoe. 2. Pekoe. Young Hyson. 3. Pekoe Souchong. Hyson and 4, Souchong. Gunpowder. ; 5. Congou. Twankay. 6. Brick teas, &c. Brick teas, &ce. The shoots marked 0 0 should be left at the base of all current growths for the pro- duction of future crops, and be allowed to grow to at least 6 inches before they are picked. The black lines below the leaves show the point at which the various grades of leaf should be separated. 439 PICKING OF THE CROoP.—When the shrubs are about three years old there will be a sufficient quantity of leaves obtainable to warrant a muster of the women and chil- dren of the farm, each of whom should be instructed to nip off the young and tender growth with the finger and thumb, at the point indicated by Figure 4 of the sketch. The three leaves and terminal bud, together with the tender stalk, make the very finest class of Souchong teas, often ranking, if well made, as Pekoe Souchong, and worth at least $1.50 per pound. If a coarser tea is desired, the young growth may be nipped out at the point indicated by Figure 5 of the sketch. Some may question the propriety of picking the stalk, but it is as tender as the leaves, and is invariably used except in Caper and Gunpowder teas. The leaves may be gathered in the apron or anything else; there is no more mystery about the matter than there is about gathering pease, or any other crop, it being only necessary to select the young growth, for the coarse leaves are not worth gathering; they will not make good tea, but the reverse. Having briefly treated of the picking process, I will give a variety of methods by which both green and black teas are made. It takes on an average four pounds of raw leaf to make one of tea. Buack TEAs.—Process No. 1.—1. Picking the leaf; 2. Spreading two inches thick on mats, &c.; 3. Tossing in the hands, (as hay ;) 4. Tossing on flat trays; 5. Examine for bruised red spots; 6. Place thin on mats, &c.; 7. Cover with cloth until fragrant; 8. Roasting on pan; 9. Rolling under the hands; 10. Drying over charcoal. Process No. 2.—1. Picking the leaf; 2. Spreading out thinly ; 3. Tossing in the hands; 4. Roasting; 5. Rolling; 6. Roasting; 7. Rolling; 8. Roasting; 9. Rolling; 10. Par- tial drying over fire; 11. Exposure to the air; 12. Picking out coarse leaf; 13. Final drying; 14. Packing. Process No. 3.—First day and night: 1. Picking the leaf; 2. Spreading out thinly. Second day and night: 3. Exposure to air and tossing; 4. Roasting at 180° to 200° Fahr.; 5. Rolling out juices; 6. Roasting on pan at 160°; °7. Rolling out more moisture; &. Spreading out thinly. Third day and night: 9. Partial drying in sun .or otherwise; 10. Picking out stalks, &c.; 11. Final drying. Fourth day, if conven- ient: 12. Sifting out dust, &c., 13. Packing. Process No. 4.—First day and night: 1. Picking the leaf; 2. Spreading out thinly. Second day and night: 3. Exposure to sun, turning over, tossing, and picking out of coarse leaves; 4. Panning, at 180° to 200°; 5. Rolling out juices; 6. Fermentation in heaps; 7. Spreading thinly. Thirdday andnight: 8 Partial drying; 9. Picking out stalks; 10. Final drying. Fourth day, if convenient: 11. Sifting; 12. Packing. Process No. 5.—1. Picking the leaves; 2. Wither in sun two hours; 3. Cool in shade one-half hour; 4. Toss and clap in hands ten minutes; 5. Cool one-half hour; 6. Tos¥ ten minutes; 7. Cool one-half hour; 8. Toss ten minutes; 9. Roasting or panning ; 10. Rolling; 11. Roasting; 12. Rolling; 13. Final drying; 14. Packing. Process No. 6.—1. Picking the leaf; 2. Roasting; 3. Rolling; 4. Exposure to the air; 5. Final drying on the pan; 6. Picking out coarse leaf; 7. Sifting; 8. Packing. GREEN TEAS.—Process No. 1.—First day and night: 1. Plucking the leaf; 2. Roasting on pan, at 200°; 3. Rolling thoroughly; 4. Expressing the juice; (give it a squeeze in a cider-press!) Second day and night: 5. Slight evaporation of the juices in the sun or on the pan; 6. Drying on the pan, constantly stirring as the operation proceeds ; the pan should be heated to 180° and allowed to get gradually cooler as the operation proceeds; 7. Picking over; 8. Winnowing or sifting; 9. Packing. Process No. 2.—1. Plucking the leaf; 2. Roasting; 3. Rolling; 4. Expressing the juice; 5. Spreading the leaves thinly; 6. Partial drying on pan; 7. Sifting; 8. Spread- ing out thinly; 9. Final drying on pan. Process No. 3.—1. Plucking the leaf; 2. Cooling, by spreading thin; 3. Roasting, at 150°; 4. Rolling; 5. Exposure to the sun; 6. Expressing the juice; 7. Final drying on pan; 8. Picking out yellow leaf; 9. Sifting and classifying; 10. A hotter pan than the above is usually desirable. Process No, 4.—First day and night: 1. Plucking the leaf; 2. Roasting; 3. Rolling. Second day: 4. Exposure to the sun; 5. Rolling on trays meanwhile ; 6. Drying over charcoal fires if still wet ; 7. Drying on pans heated to 150°, gradually cooling as the process proceeds to 140° and 130°; &. Sifting. Third day: 9. Finally dry on the pan until the desired color is obtained ; 10. Pack while hot. Process No. 5.—First day and night: 1. Plucking the leaf; 2. Spreading out thinly. Second day and night: 3. Panning for four or five minutes; 4. Rolling; 5. Partial dry- ing in the sun or over charcoal fires; 6. Pressing out the juice; 7. Partial drying on pan for some two hours; 8. Press or squeeze the leaves in a bag so as to thoroughly get rid of the juices; 9. Further heating on pan to evaporate moisture. Third day: 10. Final drying on pan for six, eight, or more hours, until the required color is produced ; 11. Sifting ; 12. Packing. The foregoing methods have all been practiced by the writer, and they will all pro- duce first-class tea in certain conditions of the weather. No two days’ work can be precisely alike as to the time the various operations require,no more than the opera- tions of the hay-field occupy vrecise'y the same time from year to year, but this is not 440 | important. The great thing to understand at the outset is the principle of tea-manip- ulation, and this once mastered the practice may be modified to suit every one’s cir- cumstances. The difference between black and green teas is entirely due to manufacture. Black tea is subjected to the oxidizing influence of the atmosphere, often for a considerable time; great chemical changes ensuing. The tannin, volatile oils, extractive matter, and sometimes the thein are very much toned down. Green teas undergo great changes also, from the raw state, but the preservative qual- ities of moderate degrees of heat are brought to bear upon the leaves before they have been acted upon by the atmosphere, and the above chemical constituents, together with the coloring matter, are better preserved than in the black teas. Black teasare bruised, beaten, and tossed before drying; green teasare not. Black teas are like a well-bruised apple, laid over for a day or two and then dried in an oven. Green teas are like a sound one, driedin likemanner. These are the chief differences; but to make the mat- ter more plain it will, perhaps, be best to briefly state the method of procedure and the utensils required. Tea for family use, either black or green, may be made if the farmer or other operator can muster a cook-stove, or even a fire on the floor, and a briek or two, over which to set an iron or block-tin pan, measuring 2 feet 4 inches in diameter and 7 inches deep; this is, perhaps, the most convenient size, but a smaller will answer perfectly well as long as the hemispherical form is maintained. This is the roasting-pan, and in it the raw leaves are heated so as to cause them to exude their moisture. The pores of the leaves open with a series of miniature explosions, causing a sharp crackling sound; this is a tolerable test of the heat; that is, the leaves should crackle, but unfortunately they — do so when the pan is red-hot and liable to burn out all the goodness from the eaf. Whatever heating medium may be employed, whether sun, or fire, or their combina- tions, the leaves should be perfectly soft and pliable before they can be rolled without breakage. They should be moist enough to stick together. When in this state the leaves are thrown on a table on which a bamboo or rattan mat is nailed. The Indian matting used for covering floors will answer, or the table may be shallowly grooved. A board to be worked by the hands may be grooved in the opposite direction, the whole arrangement being somewhat like a pill-making machine on a large scale. Ora machine (of which there are several) may be used, where the operations are sufficiently extensive to warrant its use, for— RoiiinG.—This process has probably attracted more attention than any other part of the manufacture. The object is really to extract and press out the bitter juices, (probably tannic acid, &ce.,) and it accidentally happens that the leaf receives the vari- ous twists seen in commercial teas. The Chinese manage this rolling almost entirely with the hands and feet. A ball of leaves is taken in the hands and rolled backward and forward, on the table, the pressure used being considerable; the leaves should be- come quite saponaceous, and when quite a quantity of juice is pressed out, and the leaves twisted, they may be pronounced properly rolled.. It is a good plan to shake them out thinly after rolling, that the action of the air may evaporate the juices; and, in the case of black tea, oxidize the leaf. Some operators allow the leaves to stand in balls for a time, others warm them on the pan again; some place them in the sun, others in the shade; some place them in heaps to ferment, both before and after roll- ing. In short, the various methods by which good tea may be made are simply innu- merable, but the principles of desiccation and manipulation must not be violated. What those principles are must in nearly every case be determined by practice; for beyond the recapitulation of the process as given, little more is known. I have fre- quently proposed the analysis of the leaves of tea in theirraw state to the government chemists in India, but I believe it has not yet been undertaken ; consequently the effect of exposure, heat, and pressure upon the leaves can only be conjectured. It would probably aid the inquiry very materially if a good manipulator could co-operate with a careful analytical chemist, who, for the sake of science, would be willing to investi- gate the various changes produced by manufacture. t The business of the farmer, after rolling and expressing his tea in various ways, suited to his fancy or convenience, will be finally to dry it over charcoal fires or on the iron pan. The latter will invariably produce a tea of stronger quality, partaking more or less of the characteristics of a green tea, even though black in color. When the tea is thoroughly dry it may be packed in wooden or tin boxes, always taking care they are perfectly dry and air-tight. ; 441 THE BEET-SUGAR INDUSTRY. Mr. Edward L. Cull, of Toronto, Canada, furnishes the Department a second article on the beet-sugar industry. In this he especially urges upon the attention of farmers the advantages arising from the conversion of the beets into crude sirup upon the farms where raised, and, in that shape, transporting to the refiner, rather than the beets themselves in bulk. With the view of facilitating the process, and of bringing it within easy reach as to cost of appliances, he suggests and describes certain desirable machinery. The considerable attention being paid/in some parts of the country to the subject of sugar-beet production will continue to excite still further discussion concerning the cheapest and more available methods of cultivation and conversion into commercial sugars and sirups. Mr. Cull writes: Allow me to suggest to the Department that the best possible method of helping forward the manufacture of beet-root sugar would be the establishment at the various schools of agriculture and of technology in the country of a rough-and-ready set of utensils such as a farmer on a large scale, or the small manufacturer, is accustomed to use. If the sirup is made in accordance with the instructions concerning the use of such utensils, which I have already given in a pamphlet entitled ‘‘ The Whole History and Mystery of Beet-Root Sugar,” it will be fitted for the operations of the refiner, and will, under his treatment, yield without difficulty the maximum of sugar, as also of potash and other salines, all of which are equal in value to the sugar, at least, weight for weight. Sirup can be prepared on farms and in their immediate neighbor- hoods to much greater advantage by the farmer or the small manufacturer than by proprietors of large refining-works, the latter requiring, to do business on a profitable scale, the products of a far larger amount of roots than can be grown within hauling distance of the refinery. The refiner must carry on his business from one year’s end to another—perhaps night and day ; and by so doing will refine many hundred tons of sugar in the course of a year. Ilis business is quite complicated enough without including the growth and reduction of the roots, the feeding of cattle, and the pro- duction of the general crops, which are required on all land devoted to the raising of one principal crop, inasmuch as all land, however good, requires the amelioration afforded by extra tillage and the careful application of the elements which go to the support of cereals. Even if the refinery is fully supplied with the rough beet-sirup, it must embrace several distinct branches of manufacturing: first, the production of refined sugar; secondly, the production of alcohol from the molasses produced, which is too full of saline particles and other impurities to be profitably used without this elimination ; thirdly, the production of salines, such as potash and soda, from the wash, after it has given up its aleohol by the processes of fermentation and distilla- tion. These three processes convert the rough sirup into three separate and distinct articles of great commercial value, and are quite sufficient to engage the attention of the capitalist. On the other hand, the farmer produces the reot as one of his ordinary crops, excellent in carrying out a system of rotation. Conversion by himself of the roots into rough sirup would afford him occupation during the winter, and supply a most valuable auxiliary food for his cattle during the time he is fattening them, as well as a highly nutritive aliment for his milch-cows and young cattle and sheep. If he can produce more of this food than required for these purposes, he stores his cakes of pulp for summer use to help his stock over the droughts of summer and the failure of the pasturage with which our American climate is so often afflicted. The leaves of the beet not only afford him a valuable food for his cattle during the time he is storing his roots, but also an excellent coat of manure for the succeeding crop. The farmer need not be over particular about getting the last drop of juice from his rocts—it is this which requires powerful machinery; if he does not get the last drops his cattle do, and there is no waste ; whereas, in the hands of the great manufacturer who grows his own roots, the whole of the juice must be extracted, even that remaining in the pulp being washed out with water; otherwise the loss becomes ruinous. The farmer would grow more roots than he now does if he could get an immediate and profitable return for them; but, as now too often situated, few only can com- mand sufficient capital to procure the necessary cattle for the food at hand. Could farmers feel sure that the sugar-beets they might grow would not only provide a means of feeding their cattle, but also produce in sirup from $45 to $65 to the acre of roots produced, they would very soon put a different face on their farms, and the increased returns, including the manure increment, would enhance the fertility of the land, and ¢ 442 produce the ‘effects witnessed in all beet-yrowing countries, that “ wherever beets are grown for a sugar-crop there the produce of the land is more than doubled” not only in money-value from the sugar-crop, but also from the quantity of wheat and other grains, and of meat, which also is doubled. This has also been especially shown | in France, in the Departement du Nord, where the amounts of cereals and meat have been more than double since the beet-root sugar industry became established. How can this end be accomplished? All that the farmer will require in addition to his ordinary utensils is as follows: 1. A common wooden cage, such as any carpenter can make, to revolve in a trough, for washing the roots; 2. A rasp to be moved either by steam or horse-power, for reducing the roots to a pulp; 3. A common press, made with either screws or levers—a cider or cheese-press will answer; 4. Cloths of hemp canvas in which to envelop the pulp for pressing; 5. A boiler made of iron and wood, similar to those used in the West for boiling the juices of the maple, and of sor- ghum ; 6. A simple filter for filtration of the juices after defecation; 7. A machine for carbonizing the lime in the juice; this is a very simple affair and not costly; 8. The evaporating-boiler—the same as mentioned in No. 5, above. With these requisites, all that has to be done by the farmer is to evaporate the defe- cated and clear juice down to proper consistency. It may then be run into casks, and will keep any length of time, and can be as easily carried to market as sacks of grain, a barrel of black salts, or a barrel of pork. FACTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. © EXPERIMENTS WITH WHEAT ON THE EASTERN FARM OF PENNSYL- VANIA AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE.—The superintendent of the eastern ex- perimental farm of Pennsylvania Agricultural College, located in the county of Chester, makes the following report of experiments with wheat of several varieties during the season of 1872~’73: The ground used was an oat-stubble, with a coat of barn-yard manure plowed under and surface application of dissolyed-bone and ashes compost, put on at the rate of four hundred pounds of dissolved bone and eight bushels of tan-ashes per acre, harrowed in. The seed was sown broadcast, at the rate of two bushels per acre, on the 20th of September, 1872, dnd the wheat cut from July 9th to 14th, and thrashed July 15th ‘to 20th. The wheat was weighed when run through the fan once, and not entirely clean, but as the rakings of the plots were not included in the weights the results would not be seriously altered by the second cleaning. The plots‘contained one-eighth of an acre, with a space of two feet between them. N Kind | Color of | Smoothor | When | Pounds | Pounds ag te grain. Bearded. ripe. of straw. | of grain. Hal eianGaster Wed. 2.2.20 so scisceak deeeee coe Reds... - Bearded ..| July 10 370 230 2 enone bianad Ready 2.2.0. 12 peeaetseee sasee ee! Bowh 222222 10 521 2711 Br MBUiGnhanye se okt. 2 Sol abet ies eee eee ede. <<< Bearded .. 10 300 220 44) (BS DROT Score pep cee < =< ona pave eee ane nee Amber..| Smooth ... 14 485 261 ap) MNGi Ri lect) a cee ee MERA I s ei. ite ..| Bearded -. 9 3474 216 DR MEOICHE cae sole ooh ol ce Ve ode nase ewes see ite ..| Bearded .- 14 442 213 OO Bh eis Smooth .-- 9 5034 2824 8 | Jenning’s ... -| Bearded -. 9 4542 2232 9 | Shoemaker. - Smooth .-- 12 4612 2284 10 | Tappahannoc -| Smooth ... 9 2Q76F 1473 11 | Arnold's No.9. a -| Smooth -.. 10 4414 2044 2) | UESIGOS) ot ssec gees poe eone sec ecece =A Bearded . 11 399} 2204 13 | Dot or Paducah Bearded -.- 9 437 2264 14 | Lancaster Early | | Bearded -.- 11 426 249 Ts) Ped setts, 42> eee om ee eles | lL Bearded -- 11 430 260 16 | Old White C. M | Bearded ... 11 400 225 EXPERIMENTS WITH FERTILIZERS ON WHEAT.—These experiments were made upon wheat-stubble ground, upon which barnyard manure had been used for previous crop. The fertilizers were applied at the rate of $12.50 worth per acre; put on the surface, and harrowed in on the 14th of September. On the 18th of September one and one- half bushels per acre of Fultz wheat was drilled in. Plots contained one-eighth of an acre, with two-feet of space between the rows. 443 Pounds of | Pounds of ‘ straw per | grain per 4 acre. $ acre. Hae One and ashes COMPOSG aceaee ce aan.» =. -omiae eae as 3454 2284 2) Dissolved South Carolina rock }.-..-.-..-...-----2-4---- 3984 2574 avikainit or German potash saliss..-.2 2-2... 5225 eos ft. 337 223 Aebrotessor Valles whedu-O0Odl pees 2- = 622. ose sumed lene 421 251 Pee NOL DUDS sane tes ore) eee tee amals seiciso0 355s caehemeeiio meer 320 190 6: Ground: bone) on) surtace =4.--- 2 -+ -- .--- -- seetaee ace aee 3032 eee 7. Ground bone, one-half on the surface and one-half drilled Tew nel WHat eee «14-54 > - = scan oe eee 400 238 8. Ground bone, all drilled in with the wheat .......-...-. 448 252 * The bone and ashes compost was made of one ton of ground raw bone, 340 pounds of sulphuric acid, and 50 bushels of unleached tan-ashes. ¢ +The South Carolina rock was treated with 700 pounds of sulphuric acid to one ton of rock, and cost 30 per ton. tVille’s ‘‘ wheat-food ’’ was made as follows for one-eighth of an acre: 20 pounds pure bone phosphate, 10 pounds saltpeter, 124 pounds of sulphate of ammonia, 15 pounds of calcined plaster. The dissolved South Carolina rock spoken of above also did better/on grass this sea- son than any other of twenty fertilizers used. Experiments in manner of seeding wheat.—These experiments were made on plots con- taining one-sixteenth of an acre, all treated alike and put in September 18, except plot No.1. The drilling was done with Brickford and Huffman’s drill. Pounds of es ee grain per 5 qs acre. 1. Drilled 24 inches deep, September 28 -...---...----....- 1062 624 2. Broadcast and harrowed in September 18 .....---...---- 150 904 3. Drilled in 24 inches deep, September 18 ..----.--..-----. 1364 S84 4, Drilled 4 inch deep, covered with roller, September 18 -.- 127% Tit 5. Drilled 4 inches deep, September 18 .-:--.-.-----.------- 118 71 6. Drilled 1 bushel per acre, September 18 -...-...----.---- 124 754 7. Drilled 2 bushels per acre, September 18 -......--...----- 1314 874 From the experiments of the past two seasons I would suggest to farmers to try the Fultz wheat, just enough to show its suitability to their soil and circumstances. With us it has proved a hardy, stiff-strawed, early, and productive wheat; grain small but reasonably plump. The Rogers is also a fine wheat, not so productive or early as the Fultz, but a better quality of wheat, and would probably do finely on strong ground, or with high manuring. . The action of different fertilizers is too uncertain to warrant the recommendation of any particular one, though the general result of their use with us has been favorable. From our experience with fertilizers on various crops this season we have decided to use principally the following preparation, giving the quantity for one acre: 225 pounds dissolved South Carolina rock, at 14 cents per pound.....-...----. $3. 374 44 pounds sulphate of ammonia, at 63 cents per pound...-.....-...--------- 2.97 88 pounds muriate of potash, at 3 cents per pound...--....--..-..-.---.------ 2. 64 COS fic GI BGC era ee es x pe ow 5c NCR ae mio wo ora wticis crm =ta OE These should furnish the three most valuable ingredients in all fertilizers, the phos- phate, ammonia, and potash. This we propose to apply in addition to alight coat of yard- manure, plowing both down as soon as possible, and drilling in the wheat about the middle of September. GARDENING IN SAN -Dominco.—Dr. R. F. Dennis, writing from Puerto Plata, San Domingo, under date of the 18th of August, furnishes the following interesting account of his experiments in the cultivation of a variety of garden-seeds which were forwarded to him during the last year from this Department : a4 Rich in frnits and food products, the tropics seem very deficient in number and va- riety of garden-vegetables, as compared with the temperate regions. Sweet potatoes, yams, manioc, beans, egg-plant, tomatoes, okra, squashes, and peppers are the princi- pal. Of the sweet potato one soon becomes tired, and neither it, nor the yam, nor the manioc, is any substitute for the Irish potato. The native tomatoes and egg-plant, al- though vigorous and productive, are far inferior in size and quality to the improved varieties of northern gardens. The squashes also are small, unproductive, and poor in quality. Hence our desire to introduce and test a number of new vegetables and new varieties, With a true tropical climate—latitude about 20° north, within a mile and a half of the sea, and only a small elevation above it—and a good soil, of a clay loam, very rich in vegetable matter, on a subsoil of coraline clay, we had a good prospect the past year of making a fine trial of many seeds and plants, but, unfortunately, the season was unfavorable, there not being sufficient rain. The usual rainy season here being No- vember, December, and January, there are properly two seasons of planting, and only two: one in the fall, at the beginning of the rains, for some few things; the other, and the best for most, in the early spring or first part of February. The first trouble of the gardener here is in the preservation of seeds. One difficulty being the great heat and moisture of this climate ; the air being always very damp, even in this drought of two years, it being difficult to dry anything except at midday ; and, second, the weevil, which is very numerous and destructive. Fresh seeds from the North, in good paper packages, pasted tightly, will, with care, keep a few months, but spoil quickly after being opened. The natives here have two ways for the preserva- tion of their own seeds. First, after drying them well in the midday sun, shutting them up in tight vessels, putting corn in demijohns, and small seeds in bottles, with some fresh, dry wood-ashes mixed with them. Our own experience with these bottled seeds is not very favorable. Tho second way is, after gathering one crop, to immedi- ately replant and have some always growing, and thus “save the seed.” This is not possible with éverything ; and even when successful is very objectionable, for plant- ing out of season quickly causes degeneracy. And so we find all through this country ; everything that can degenerate has done so; and everything that can mix has done so; nocare being taken to plant any varieties separate. No budding nor grafting being prac- ticed, but all fruits planted from the seed, the same thing has happened with them, and poor varieties are the rule. Next as to planting. The earth here being one vast hot-bed, all good seeds sprout very quickly, provided they have the proper degree of moisture. But a tropical sun soon parches the surface of the ground, and thus frequently destroys the small ones, and generally such must be planted at twice the depth they are at the North. Cover- ing them with boards, &c., a short time at first, will not generally answer here, as the ants often destroy all under such shelter. Contrary to the report of some, insects de- structive to vegetation are wonderfully numerous and active. This is not strange, for, first, they have the whole year to feed and multiply; and second, the people here carry on such a continued hunting against all birds—even the mocking-bird being considered game—that none will come near a house or a cultivated field. Cut- worms, beetles, caterpillars, aphides, ants, &c., &c., of the North, all have their con- geners here. Even of the curculio, there is a variety that stings nearly every guava in the country. If plants escape all these enemies, with this rich soil, it is wonderful how the damp air of this climate, with the dews of night and a very few light showers of rain, will keep all green and growing during the long, hot summer under a torrid sun. Our plantings were made in.both fall and spring, or October to December and in February.. The northern vegetables proper succeeded best in the fall planting ; others, as tomatoes, egg-plant, melons, &c., in spring. Of varieties, the carly kinds seemed to succeed much the best. Irish potatoes planted in November grew well as to top, but failed as to tubers; probably the earth itself is much too hot for their growth. Cabbage (late varieties) was a partial success, but would not be considered to pay for cultivation in a northern garden. Turnips did well as to growth and size, but had a strong rank flavor. Beets were a decided success; both fall and spring plantings growing to a good size and being of a good quality. Radishes also were fine, both plantings, and some seed even was obtained from old ones. Asparagus, carrots, and salsify surprised us by making an apparently vigorous growth, but the roots were small. Onion seed nearly all failed to germinate, and the few growing never acquired any size. Of the parsley (although badly adulterated with grass seed) some came up and made very fine plants. New Zealand spinach flourished in the cool or wet months, but died in summer. Of the melons proper, the Persian, casaba, pine-apple, &c., were almost a total failure; from a few poor fruit, however, some seeds were saved to try another year, and again to see if, according to the theory of some, they will come true and good in the third year after a change of climate. Phiney’s Early watermelon succeeded well; very productive of fruit and this of good quality, much surpassing the mixed native varieties here. Patagonian squash failed ; Hubbard grew well, and 445 bore alarge number, but did not ripen perfectly. Sugar-corn grew only two feet high and produced nothing. Several varieties of northern beans yielded only a small crop. Peas ditto. Northern | ege-plant seed nearly all failed to germinate, and the few growing bore only small, poor fruit. Tomatoes (Trophy) did better, but not equal to those at the Norther Peach- -pits failed to sprout. Generally the change of climate seemed to produce a more diminished growth, a premature ripening, and a short crop, with smaller and more imperfect fruit or seeds. Withsuch as Were saved we intend to re- plant the coming season, to see if they will improve. These trials being near the level of the sea, others, in the interior, at a higher eleva- tion, may show better results. PEANUT OIL-CAKE AS A FOOD FOR ANIMALS.—It has long been known that the greatest value of the ground-nut, (Arachis hypogea,) or peanut, as it is familiarly called, is in the oil which it contains. Analy- ses made in this Department have demonstrated that the nut, under favorable circumstances of cultivation, will yield at least 16 per cent, of oil; and it has been found that for alimentary, mechanical, and illumi- nating purposes, the oil is scarcely inferior to that of the almond, the olive, or the’ linseed. The amount of oil varies according to latitude. The nut is grown in almost all the warm climates of the world, and es- pecially in Al geria, where it is indigenous, and where the plant appears to thrive more vigorously than elsewhere, and to afford much more oil. While in Virginia, for instance, the average yield of oil is 16 per cent., the Algerian growth is said to afford 25 to 27 percent. It has been shown by experience in this country, in different sections of which the nut has been cultivated, that under judicious management it will pro- duce from 50 to 75 bushels to the acre. But although it is susceptible of easy and cheap cultivation, and is grown in this country in very large quantities, the chief value of the production is almost entirely over- looked, and the crop is monopolized by the fruit-stands at the corners of our ‘city streets. In the East Indies, and in the south of France and the countries of Mediterranean Europe and Africa, the nut is grown almost exclusively for the sake of the oil; the seed is pressed to obtain the oil, and the pressed cake, or mare, is used as a food for cattle, and in some instances is exported to Great Britain to be employed as a manure. A series of experiments in feeding cattle with peanut oil-cake has recently been made upon the government experimental farm in Madras, British India. The official report of these experiments is both interest- ing and instructive. The experiments were peculiarly satisfactory in respect to draught cattle, which were found to thrive much better upon the peanut oil-cake than upon the ordinary food, and at a reduction of one-half in the cost of feeding. The cake is steeped before being fed to the cattle, and four pounds per head are allowed daily. The following analysis of the peanut oil-cake will show its properties: Per cent. WEGIS HENS Ss eeee eats eet ct eS cs So wad eta reese elon cccrocce as ocee 10. 80 CU eS). SEE Se ae eet ei: ono Jel Le SPIES 2 os 282 Es 8. 12 * Albuminous or flesh- forming Compounds: .....)-seaeeee ase anes ss aa see Meee oe lan 28. 62 JMOL Rares ralph aniaces(t, O80 oa oo Gece Saad CER BEBO BOs Fas 0260 OAD en gneoGaess aoObe 18. 86 Clin at) HPL: 2 ca 2 yee ee eens. 2 tis Sane arate ee oe et oe eee E 29. 09 Tee ent. 5k ee ne nae ei oS oS Ue Rea cele icc ote cack aes 4.51 1 2) Re Sete LS hd LO eo 1 A a eae 100. 00 For the sake of comparison the following analysis of the linseed oil- cake is given: * Containing nitrogen, 4.50. + Containing sand, 1.40. 446 Per cent. Moisture {22 sse56 Seen e asap ols ateieeiee eee oi BSE oe *Albuminous or flesh-forming compounds..--....:-.-.-.-.-----------.-----. ~98.12 Mucilage; Cunt, t0cG. elo. oa =e = ene er me oe ae a Cellalartibertier: oeesee- noc oe - a= 6 ee See een Se 22 nce ses pee eee eee 14.11 PAG Se ec ete teehee toc e Lede SL cee peas - oe Renee ies er 7. 22 eiaeatae a Scot.) Ah no cs beer 100.00 It will thus be seen that the peanut oil-cake is very little inferior to the linseed oil-cake, the cost of which is five-fold that of the peanut. As a food for horses the peanut oil-cake was found by these experiments extremely valuable, the feeding during two years being attended with the most gratifying results. Experiments were also made to ascertain the relative values of peanut oil-cake and Indian corn as foods for fat- tening pigs, and to ascertain the cost of producing a pound of pork. Four pigs of equal age and size were selected for an experiment, two being fed upon 4 pounds of peanut oil-cake daily in addition to the ordinary food, and two upon 4 pounds of corn instead of the oil-cake. In eight weeks the former had increased in weight 99 pounds and the latter 89 pounds; from which it appeared that the peanut oil-cake is more valuable than Indian corn for producing pork. The cost of the corn was about double that of the oil-cake; that is to say, the corn averaged about one cent a pound, and the oil-cake half a cent. EXPERIMENTS IN FRUIT-CULTURE IN NoRTH CAROLINA.—Mr. J. L. Labiaux, of Ridgeway, North Carolina, writes to the Department as fol- lows, concerning the culture of the French grape and other fruits in that State: | My enterprise, viz, the introduction of the French grape here fer table use, and principally for wine-making, is a success, as I had good reason to anticipate. We planted last April and May 70,000 cuttings, a few of which are already bearing perfect bunches of fruit, (which, however, I do not think will attain perfect maturity.) This proves that in this climate and soil French plants and French experience in vine-cul- ture well agree. Next winter and spring we intend planting 100,000 or 125,000 addi- tional cuttings. Permanent success, however desirable, is scarcely to be expected on the Atlantic slope in vineyard-culture of foreign grapes. It has been sought for more than a century, without anything more than a very short-lived success. Climatic conditions render it impossible, in ordi- nary open-air culture of the principal European varieties. It would be important to know that a single variety, with any mode of treatment, had yielded abundant fruit even for a few successive years. In regard to other experiments being made, Mr. Labiaux says that an attempt to cultivate madder, from very doubtful seed, however, met with no success. Almond, fig, and olive plants—the latter cuttings, the first and second three-year trees—are doing very well. KEEPING GREEN CORN.—The following inexpensive mode of preserv- ing corn for table use after its season has passed is suggested by an experimenter: Dip the ears into boiling water and Jet them remain about two minutes; take them out, and when cool cut the corn from the cob and dry it, just as you would dry fruit, and when dry put it away in clean paper-sacks. By this means one may enjoy the luxury of green corn at any time. HUMUS AND FERTILIZERS.—The Southern Cultivator publishes a communication calling the attention of planters who have used commer- *Containing nitrogen, 4.30. t Containing sand, 1.18. 447 cial fertilizers to the condition of their crops, with especial reference to any difference observable in the size and growth of the cotton-plant in the same field, manured, cultivated, and in all respects treated alike, or on land which, to superficial observation, appears to be the same in dif- ferent fields. It is desirable to know why the same amount of fertiliz- ing produces a much better effect on one field than on another, both seeming, to casual observation, to be the same in quality. Giving his own experience in the matter, the writer says: I rented to a freedman an old field which has not been cultivated in fifteen years. It was utterly exhausted before it was turned out, and was as poor as it could be. It grew broomsedge until the pinessprang up, and then the grass and pines grew together. My cattle ran on it. The freedman cut down the pines, plowed the land twice with a scooter, and with a small plow made what he called beds, and in shallow furrows, made with a scoater, scattered about 150 pounds fertilizer to the acre, and upon it dropped his cotton-seed, and covered with a board. On an adjacent field of the same quality of land originally, but which had been kept in cultivation, and more or less manured every year, I planted cotton, plowing deep with a two-horse Dodge plow, and applied 200 pounds of ammoniated phosphate, with ten bushels rotten cotton-seed to the acre, and cultivated well. The freedman’s cotton is better than mine. Why? Because his ground had vegetable matter derived from the broomsedge and fine straw, of which my field had been deprived by continued cultivation. I conclude, therefore, that fertilizers put on land, no matter how liberally, without a due supply of humus, that is, vegetable matter, is thrown away. And the complaints we often hear of the worthlessness of the fertilizer is due to this cause. As further illustrating the opinions obtaining in the South on this sub- ject, the result of experiments made under the direction of the Han- cock, Georgia, Agricultural Club may be referred to. The object was to contrast the effects of commercial and home manures. Two home composts were used, one in which 500 pounds of concentrated soluble phosphate was composted with 1,300 pounds of stable manure, and 200 pounds of ashes added just before using ; a second, 1,400 pounds stable manure, 300 pounds superphosphate, 200 pound green cotton seed, 60 pounds sulphate of ammonia, and 40 pounds nitrate of soda. The com- mercial fertilizers employed in the experiments were five in number, of those more commonly used in the South. The following results were reported from experiments made with cotton: Pounds |Cost per Yield peracre Name. Liga prantas of seed-cot- ton. Pounds. ihoran| (home) commercials ses sscee sas ~ = 22 sede eeee 230} $1.38 675 Home commercial ..... eee ee eS 2... ee eee £200 2.00 720 TCG Cal 2 Pe ber ee ete caer sc er S| 200 0. 00 490 Ag OOM O Tet ee ae AR OP a Oe ee On re eee 0 7.00 600 Wbers superphosphabe-ss- so see sets s<)- = - 6 ~ oo. = some seis dosesess 500 to 6 7 CHOMGO- see scse ss oss5 cle cece ne GOeneeer 7 00 to 10 00 Carn WHE Sek oe ee pee s-<~'sne see per bushel.. pF 1 ATE: MUR OGNS scat e arses « vase eee ore doceeete 58 to 60 Dates) coer ero ache coat per bushel..| $0 42 to $0 43 Hay wChOleeresocsresecisas = n/- 2 ee per ton....{ 25 00 to PRIMO! se sae ns oon eee ce eases 22 00 to POrk} Mess seo. So ceases = ane wee per barrel..| 16 874 to 17 00 September. $6 75 to $9 50 650 to 7 50 575 to 6 50 250 to 4 50 6 00 to 7-75 118} to 1 20 1 14° to. sia 110 to 1 104 68 to 684 112 “tos ada 402 to 4l 272 to 281 10 00 to 15 00 8 00 to 11 00 15°75. ‘to 15785 875 to 9 00 975 to 10 00 7 624 to 7 874 22 to 25 17 to 20 124 to 134 11 to 124 8 to gL 82 to 91 40 to 48 35 to 42 25 to 30 35 «to 33 4-75" to Seo 600 to 6 75 700 to 9 25 145 to 1 60 1/33 tot, 140 100 to 110 62 to 80 3 to, 1°09 44 to 5d4 33 «to 37 17 50 to 19 50 16 75 to 17 00 14 00 to 7k to 92 24 to " 19 to 22 13. to 14 18 to 50 to 51 to 35 «to 38 —_. £9 ————= 5710, 8150 875 to Y 7 68 to 68i 65 to 67 $0 43 to $0 43 27 00 = to 28 00 22 00 to 26 00 17 00 to 18 50 459 Market prices of farm products—Continued. Articles. August. September. New OrLEANS—Continued. Bea a Pexds 22207 js eee mcmece ges cce davicees 11 00 to 11 00 to ——— northwestern and western -.-.. Gascs2e 14 00 to 15 00 14 00 to 15 00 Fulton Market.-.....--.--.. half barrel..| 10 50 to 10 75 10 25 to Paka ect = oa cae geese se per pound.. 84 to 104 83 to 11+ Butter, choice western. .----.-.--.---- doweenes 20 to 22 24 to 25 thoice Goshen. - .---~--\--4-)---- dozuccne 34 to 35 to 30 Cheese, choice western factory .--.---do.-.---- 124 to 13 13 to 14 Now York cream: ----\--4-----d0.-:=.- 16 to 16 to Cotton, ordinary to good ordinary....do...... 114 to 17 124 to 164 low middling to good middling .do-.....- 17% to 20 174 to 193 ERRACEO USS) (22. 2 oceae sees aan ae dois ocas 64 to 84 64 to + LOWel Gain pepe eed. =e a @ dotscsss 9 to 10 9 to 10 medinum-leats.- 3202-ss 2 dowsscce 104 to fib 104 to iat Wool clear bales Glee jcecasSactecee dou. es 26 to 27 25 to 26 Howisiana, Cleanse als seee2- = doc tens 18 to 20 18 to 22 fs) els 1a ee A do.2s25- 82 to gL 94 to 102 WM Gtas <== aye sees chee aos ~ ed Weuece 10 to 102 to 11} “yellow, clarified:s. - 3.2242 $2---. dovsse23 ' 104 to ——— » 102 to 11 SAN FRANCISCO. BeBET ROperING <- 25 cc on om cap = per barrel..| 400 to 4 75 5 00 to 5 2 Exp ae ea abe e ee ee ss A0'cn see 5 00 to 5 25 550 to 5 75 higher prades--..---.---- eee OOcaeas Reo. tO 5) 1D 6 25 to 6 50 WHE AL Shale. 5. os soo tess cee per cental..| 165 to 1 80 200 to 215 TUSTIN eS AS = ee ee do.2eaes 65 tol, B75 205 to 210 EAT SUS CEN ae ae = ea do. 252s. 110 to 1 30 125 to 1 40 CHS: (Sc eSCGe SS Bee aes een dO: s2ace 1 65 to’ 1°70 160 to 1 7% MGPteVGntiGen Polen cn oc oe asis 20-002 55-25 1 30 to 130 to 1 35 Wellowesses cesta ss 1c sseecee ses dO.cs255 125 to 1 274 1 324 -to 1 35 LEW SUES) Ce oe ae per ton -. to 15 50 12 50 to 15 50 PERS MOSS. Seis ois 2 acim sa aces’ 15 5 per barrel..| 18 C0 to 18 50 18 00 to 18 50 prime mess ...... RRR Neer do sse2% 17 00 to 17 50 17 00 to 17 50 JE VRSLE ATES She eee She, ee a ortesese 11 50) ‘to 10 00 to 10 50 PARR eee tee se oS ee Nae 2o5. per pound. 104 to 12 104 to 12 tie NOVEILANG.. Jose eee ceersas SS ce 5-0. nus 15 to 25 15 to 25 Galitormia)s.-saseeade 2s 326. dQ:ie2es 25 to 80 25 to 35 SATOROI aa cus sarc spaae ata ok Ce me ee 16 hao te Byes 15 deg camel Ce WHGERO) Sa. ashe teres oases seases « doe! sce 12 to 15 12) tol os WHBOM MLV on. - sot ones ot oS eS Mae 5056 13 to 16 13 to 16 Californias: s-. ssc sao ae ees data 18 to 25 18 to 25 Orevont sss saeco teee es doses. s. 18 to 25 24 to 27 LIVE-STOCK MARKETS. NEW YORK. Cattle, extra beeves....-..-.....-per cental-.| $12 25 to $12 50 | $12 50 to$12 75 lower erades 222/322 5-.>- do. 2ssst 900 to 12 00 950 to 12 25 AVGVACC <2 — 15 )e nea eee ol dOzs2s5% 10 25 to 1100] 1050 to 11 00 MORANS: <: 2. Sts eee ene - GO. 2 Sate 750 to 950 6 50 to 10 00 milch-cows, common to choice. perhead.| 25 00 to 65 00} 3000 to 65 00 calves, fair to prime, milk-fed-percental.| 700 to 850} 10 00 to common to ordinary ....do.-.---- 500 to 650 8 22 average. Shecwelmps 222. 25.5 fe See eee Cote 550 to 8 50 525 to 8 00 NOG W eee r on 22st) ot. Sabie ee oan OO waa a. 400 to 6 2 450 to 6 50 Lt ee ese ee oeeeeeeee- dossiasies ' 500 to- 5 2 4 874 to 5 374 460 Live-siock markets—Continued. Articles. August. | September. BOSTON. Cattle, choice beeves.........---. per cental.. $7 00 to $7 124 Gmplaeemeias seere o-¢ efeeeienae dozase=r 600 to 650 ArSstiqualitiy -a-\=-\.=> 525 eases GD) 55555- 525 to 5 75 Second "quality =... . Weather remarkably tine for corn. Westmoreland: Severe frost September 22; there will be much soft corn. Warren: Late plantings in- jured by frost September 15. Indiana: One-third of the crop will be soft. Lawrence: Hill crops injured by frost; first heavy frost September 15. Armstrong: Heavy frosts, _ September 28, set farmers to cutting corn not yet ripe. In some places corn was frost- killed. Butler: Early frosts September 14 to 22 injured the crop. Crawford: Frosts of September not severe, yet they damaged corn somewhat. rie: Bad start, and never recovered ; one-fourth short. Washingion: Fodder damaged by frosts; there will be much soft corn. Bucks: Yield very disappointing; high winds of September broke down the stalks. MaRYLAND.—Saint Mary's: Greatly improved by late rains, but’ injured by cut- worms. Baltimore: Good season and good cultivation made a good crop. Howard: Greatly improved by late rains and fair weather. VirGinisa.—Powhattan: Splendid‘condition. Washington: Rather light. Spottsylva- nia: Very fine; late plantings about ripe. Pulaski: Short, but better than was ex- pected. Matthews: Shorter than for many years; not near enough for home con- sumption. King George: Excellent, except in the southeastern part of the county, where it was shortened by drought. Rappahannock : Good, but late; would be greatly injured by frost within two weeks. itisylvania: Rain came four weeks too late for corn. Page: Early Darling sugar-corn from the Department has done well; excellent for early table use. Lunenburgh: September very favorable for corn. Alexandria: j — 469 Sowed corn' becoming a favorite crop and very profitable, taking the place of hay, which commands $30 per ton. King Hilliam: Shortened by drought more than other crops. Nelson: Wonderfully brought out by the rains of August; crop fine where it has been well] cultivated. Halifax: Rains too late to save corn. James City: Largely above average in the lower parts of the county, where there were heavy rains; else- where it is inferior. Prince George: Very poor; did not recover from the July drought. Orange: Best corn-crop since 1865. Chesterfield: Frost September 16. Montgomery: Suffered from drought in half the county, making about half a crop; in the other half the weather was seasonable and the yield good. King and Queen: Late plantings greatly benefited by rains. Highland: Injured by grub-worms. Northampton: Short- ened by drought. Southampton: Materially injured by rains. Princess Anne: Corn- , fodder below average. Nortu CaroLina.—Gaston: A large yield, except in overflowed bottoms. Sampson: Partial failure through excessive rains. Vadison: Better than was expected, but not so good as last year; acreage increased 10 per cent. Currituck: Cut off by rains. Alamance: Average in quantity and quality. Martin: Fair average where well tended. Person: Very much injured by drought. Perquimans: Twenty to twenty-five per cent. short of last year’s crop. Bladen: Looks well. Yadkin: Not so good as was expected, but nearly average. Caldwell: Summer too wet for corn. Cumberland: Rains have interfered with the saving of fodder. Anson: Fair. Greene: Only three-fourths average ; very discouraging to farmers. Sour CARoLina.—Chester : On bottoms 50 per cent. less than last year; late upland *plantings good. Greenville: Upland corn bears two ears to the stalk; usual crop from , nothing to a nubbin, or one good ear per stalk. Clarendon: Partial failure in some localities; good in others. Newberry: Light -.crop. Orangeburgh: Pennsylvania Yel- low ripens early, but the ears are small. Lexington: Both late and early corn injured by rains. Union: Fair. GEORGIA.— Hart: Fine crop; good season. Gwinnett : Good ; Cooley White from the Department asuccess. Jefferson: Cropaverage. Calhoun: Good. Heard: Extra good. Wilkinson: Turning out well. Brooks: Great injury from storm, September 19. FLoRIDA.—Suwannee: White Cooley excellent ; corn crop the best in ten years. Jack- son: Size and weight of grain above average. Orange: Fair. ALABAMA.—Greene: Poor; below expectation. Clarke: Better than last year, but shortened by excessive rains and grass. Tuscaloosa: Good. Geneva: Exceedingly good. Winston: Better than was expected. Sanford: A failure on bottom-land ; too much rain. Randolph: Generally good. Crenshaw: Equal to last year. Mississippi.—Tishemingo: Better thanusual, except on bottoms. Lee: Three-fourths ofacrop. Grenada: Short crop. Pike: Generally good. Altala: Short crop. Holmes: Crop fair, but not so heavy as usual. LourstaNna.— Terre Bonne: Aemiserable failure. Rapides: Will not suffice for bread till January. Bossier: An unusual amount of rotten corn. i Trexas.—Navarro: Weather favorable for gathering the crop. Cooke: Almost a fail- ure; no rain worth mentioning since June9. Dallas: Below average. Fayette: Light, but in good condition. Titus: Over average, but not so good as was expected.. Red River: Poor. Upshur: Shortest erop in thirteen years. Medina: Damaged by floods. San Saba: Light and inferior. Uvalde: Damaged 25 per cent. by bud-worms. ARKANSAS.—Sebastian : Shortened a third by drought. Perry: Corn-crop supple- meuted by a large mast-crop. Baxter: Shortened by drought. Arkansas: Good crop. Scott : Injured by dry-rot and worms. Ashley: Short. TENNESSEE.— Lawrence: Greatly shortened by drought; corn 80 cents and corn-meal $1 per bushel. Grundy: Suffered from cut-worms. Fayette: Half a crop. Ihea: Not filling out very well. Jackson: White, Cooley, and Yellow Field-corn are good varie- ties for this region. Trousdale: Greatly injured by drought. Bradley: Injured by grasshoppers. Dyer: Damaged by drought; no rain for two months. Monroe: Full average. Smith: Fully matured and in good condition in half the county; indifferent in the other half. Carter: Too wet forcorn. Jefferson : Condition, full average, quan- tity, above. Blount: Moderately good; injured by drought. Obion: Spring too wet for corn. Macon: Brought out finely by late rains. Haywood: Shortened by drought. WEsr VIRGINIA.— Fayette: Not as good as expected; good rains all summer. Mer- cer: Great failure on account of grub-worms. Grant: Vast quantities of corn frost- bitten. Braxton: Mostly cut, and of good quality; supplemented for hog-feed by a largeacorn-crop. Berkeley: Much soft corn, resulting from worms whose ravages required frequent replantings. : Kentucky.—/Jefferson: Season fine; crop unusually good. Shelby: Condition equal to last year; yield, 15 per cent. greater. Daviess: Will yield a. million bushels. Metcalfe : Not so good as last year; unfavorable season and storms have injuriously affected it. Spencer: Disappointing the promise of August. Russell: Sound, but not over a half crop. Laurel: Beyond expectation ; short, but good. McLean: Shortened 10 per cent. by drought. Ouni0.—Stark: Later than usual and already damaged by frosts materially. Coshoc- 470 ton: Slightly injured by frost September 20. Crawford: Late, and already frost-bit- ten. Medina: Below average; frosted in low grounds. frie: "Frost did considerable damage at points six or eight miles from Lake Erie, but along the lake there has been none. Huron: Hurt by frost considerably September 20 and 21; ; fodder will be scarce. Auglaize: Early frost injured corn and fodder. Geauga: Large growth of stall but light ears. Mahoning: Injured by frost September 20. Adams : Weather seasonable for gorn since June; good crops in gate of chinch-bugs in some places. Delaware: Early plantings a good average crop; late plantings intercepted by frost and will be about half a crop. ~ Defiance : : First killing frosts September 20 and 21; some damage. Athens: Average; would have been oreater but for the July iiood. MicuiGan.—Lenawee: First frost ‘eptember 20. Wayne: Upland crops shortened by drought. Branch: Not over two-thirds of an average. Ottawa; Heavy growth of fodder, but not well eared or grained; frosts nearly every night for two weeks; too dry for corn. Shiawassee: Heav y frost September 21; grain less injured than forlder. InDIANA.— Huntington: Considerable corn frosted ; ‘first frost September 9, ten days earlier than last vear. Madison: Injured by heavy frost September 19 and 20. Ohio: Injured by frost September 15, 22, and 23. ‘Steuben: A little over a half crop. Floyd: Crops made before the drought; never better. Brown: Early plantings very good; late a little frosted September 14 and 15, Dearborn: Matured rapidly ; out of danger. Hamilton: A great deal of corn will be frosted. Cass: Poorest crop for many years; three-fourths more or less injured by frost. Howard: Damaged by frost September 14 ; a large portion will be unmerchantable. Johnson: Frost causing corn to shrink and become loose on the cob. Marion: Seriously injured by frost. Martin: Late corn damaged by drought. Montgomery: Sharp frosts; heavy mast inthe woods. Noble: Con- siderable soft corn. Shelby: Badly damaged by frost. Warren; Hurt by white frost September 13. Fulton: Frosted. ‘Decatur; Well matured and sound on ditched lands; on others a failure through wet season. Scott; Injured by chinches. Hancock: In- jured by wet and early frost. Franklin: Ripening well. ILLiwois.—De Kalb: Corn frost-killed in some localities. Jersey: Late corn injured by frost. Franklin: Early planted never bétter; the whole crop in August promised to excel any former crop. but dry weather and chinch- bugs have ruined ‘late plantings. Macon: Mostly out of danger though some late. plantings have been frosted. Winne- bago: Late corn killed by severe frost during the first week in September. Bureaw: Many pieces poor and soft; others very good. Clinton: Much injured by drought and chinch-bugs. Edwards: Fine in spite of chinch- bugs. Vermilion: Light, and badly injured by frost; but little more than half of last year’s yield, and half of that unmer- chantable. Sangamon : Late oan injured by frost. Washington: Late corn in- jured by drought and chinch-bugs. Carroll: Killing frost September 14. Champaign: Late plantings entirely failed ; “earlier plantings sate. Cumberland : Largely injured by frost September 25. Kankakee: Half spoiled by late planting. Massac: Injured by drought. Moultrie: Reduced to a fourth of a crop by drought and early frost. Pope: Injured by chinches. Putnam: Blades extensively killed by frost September 14, 19, and 20. Ogle: Injured by frost September 14. Piatt: Late corn frosted. McHenry: First severe frost September 13; fodder destroyed and grain injured. Mason: Late corn badly frosted. McLean: Late corn injured by frost on the 13th September and killed on the 20. Knox: Late plantings mostly a failure. Montgomery: Fall very favorable to corn, which is late. Wisconsix.—Muarathon: Much damage by heavy frosts. Dunn: Heavy frosts Sep- tember 13and 14. Clark: Crop saved before frost ; raised only for home consumption. Waukesha: Generally ripe and in the shock before frost. Douglas: Injured by frost. Green Lake :, Suffered from August drought. Richland: Heavy frost September 14. Green: Late plantings badly frosted. Vernon: Injured by drought. MINNESOTA.—Ramsey : Good where well cultivated. Mower: Ripened before the September frosts; good condition. Wicollet: Small crop; wet spring and poor seed. Red Wood: Considerably frosted. Blue Larth: Heavy frosts, but corn out of their way. Iowa.—Montgomery : Unripe corn killed by frost September 19. Marion: Injured by drought. Sioux: Damaged by grasshoppers. Yama: Heavy frosts. Cass : Short- ened by « drought nearly 40 per cent. Clinton: Heavy frost September 19.. Allamakee: Frost-bitten September 13and 14. Calhoun: Good, though somewhat late. Chickasaw: Injured by drought on sandy soils, especially along river-bottoms. Harrison: Late planted and injured by drought and grasshoppers. Mahaska: Hardening finely, but will be short. Union: Shortened by drought from June. Johnson: Shortened by drought; almost a failure on clay land; fair crops in some localities. Muscatine: Early plantings g good; late plantings poor. Pocahontas : Nearly as good as common. Jefferson : Damaged by drought. Carroll: Pennsylvania corn did well. Grundy: Light crop, but ripened well; September frosts did little damage. Hardin: Consider- ably frosted. Scott: Shortened by drought. Plymouth: Heayy frost September 10. Aills; First heavy frost September 19, Mitchell: Excellent. Monona: Probably not over a half crop. 471 / MissouriI.—Benton : Shortened by drought continuing from July 15; on prairie lands the crop will be of inferior quality. Adair: Better than was expected. Polk: Dam- aged by chinch-bugs and drought. Clinton : Shortened by drought ; unripe corn frosted September 18. Cole: Reduced by drought to a half crop in manyplaces. De Kalb: Half crop. Mercer: Good. Pulaski: Injured by drought and chinch-bugs. Stone: Not over a fourth of a crop. Newton: A little injured by drought and chinch-bugs. Grundy : Short 50 per cent. Pettis: Shortened by drought to a half crop. Shelby: Light, and poor through drought. Linn: Shortened by frost. Kansas.—Labetie: Early plantings, which escaped the chinch-bugs, are fine; late plantings worthless. JVoodson: Injured by heavy storms and much of it killed on the high lands by frost September 22. Clay : Greatly damaged by drought. Montgomery: Damaged by bugs. Coffey: About two-thirds of a crop. Douglas: Late plantings a failure. Nemaha: Half crop; a fourth of last year’s crop on hand. Smith: Damaged by grasshoppers. Jteno: Averaging from 50 to 60 bushels peracre. /JVilson: Almost destroyed by chinches on the uplands; bottom crops escaped. Wabunsee: Cut down éue-half by drought; only two or three showerssince July 1. Shawnee : Frost Septem- ber 12. Aitchison: Frosts a month earlier than usual. ; NEBRASKA.— Madison : Better than was expected. Nemaha: Decreased corn-crop has prevented many from fattening cattle. Cass : Not over a half crop. OREGON.—Clackamas : Slightly injured by recent frosts. CoLtorapo.— Weld: Killing frost September 28. Utan—Iron: Corn green and growing; no frost yet. Kane: Large crops; season propitious. Tooele: Improved by late rains. Ipano.—Ada : Pennsylvania corn the best variety here ; that planted May 10 is well matured and a heavy crop. New Mexico.—Taos: Will be average if frost delays a month longer; ‘otherwise it will be as light as wheat. WHEAT. The returns of September, averaged with reference to the production ot each county, indicated nearly a full normal crop, the average depreci- ation being only 5 per,.cent. The returns of October are made in di- rect comparison with the crop oflast year, involving, of course, the ele- ment of area as wellas condition. The aggregate is an increase of about 4 per cent., which is equivalent to ten millions of bushels, making the promise of the crop about 260,000,000. This may be considered a good crop, as large as any harvested since 1869, but about 10 per cent. less than that unusual yield. The great difference between the rates of yield in the several States in 1872 necessarily makes a wide range in the percentages in comparison with each State product. Minnesota is credited with an increase of 20 per cent.; Wisconsin with 18; Iowa, 12; Illinois, 6; Missouri, which had less than two-thirds of a crop last year, has made an increase of nearly 50 per cent., and Kansas has almost as large an increase over the poor crop of last year. Ohio’s crop is placed at 2 per cent. above that of last year. Kentucky has 8 per cent. less than last year, and Indiana 12 per cent., and California 16 per cent. Of the other States which make considerable contributions to the aggregate, Pennsylvania has an increase of 34 per cent., which barely makes an average crop, and New York, with 5 per cent. increase, has still little more than two- thirds of a good crop. The crop of the South is less than that of last year. Among the large wheat-producing counties of the western wheat bglt, such as produce not less than half a million bushels in a good Season, the following will serve to indicate the sections iu which the present season has been propitious, or otherwise: In Ohio, Miami, Montgomery, Champaign, Highland, Franklin, Fairfield, Shelby, and Wayne show an increase; and Stark, Richland, Sandusky, Wyandot, and Holmes a decrease. In Michigan, Livingston, and Barry make an increase, and Cass, Clinton, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Hillsdale, Jack- 472 son, Lenawee, Saint Joseph, and Washtenaw, a decrease; in Indiana, Randolph is reported at 130, while the range is from 75 to 90 in Car- roll, Hamilton, Johnson, Madison, Montgomery, Shelby, and War- ren; in Illinois, several of the heavily producing counties of the southwest, as Jersey, Macoupin, Montgomery and Adams, range from 75 to 95 in comparison with the previous crop, and in the northwest a marked appreciation is seen in Ogle, Carroll, Winnebago, and Ste- phenson. Several other prominent counties, among them Pike, Wash- ington, and Clinton, show an increase. Sheboygan is the only half-mil- lion county in Wisconsin which reports a depreciation, while among those making gains ranging from 5 per. cent. to 100 are Green Lake, Jefterson, Walworth, Dodge, La Crosse, lowa, Green, Buffalo, La Fay- ette, Saint Croix, and Waukesha. A single one of these, Dodge, pro- duces between two and three millions of bushels. All prominent coun- ties reporting from Minnesota return 100 or more. Olmstead, which produced more than two millions of bushels in 1869, 105; Blue Earth, 100; Freeborn, Wabashaw, Fillmore, 110; Washington, 115; Mower, 125. In Iowa, the counties of Tama,4Grundy, Marshall, and Scott re- turn less than 100; Iowa, Clinton, Johnson, and Linn report the same as last year; Black Hawk, 125; Benton, 110, (these two counties pro- ducing between one and two miliions each ;) Chickasaw, 130; Delaware, 125; Floyd, 115; Allamakee, Hardin, and Jones, 105. Among the prominent counties in Missouri making a favorable comparison with last year are Cass, Gasconade, Lincoln, Perry, and Saline. Moniteau returns 75. Bourbon, Marshall, and Nemaha, in Kansas, and Cass, Otoe, and Gage, in Nebraska, make favorable comparison. In most of the wheat-producing counties of California a depreciation is indicated, as in Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and Stanislaus. The following extracts from correspondence will further illustrate local conditions : ; MaAInE.— Ozford: Pinched by drought; quality poor. New HaMPSHIKE.—Carroll: Does not thrash out as well as was expected; grains _ shrunk through drought. MAssacHuseEetts.—Berkshire : Winter-grain good ; protected by snow in winter. CoNNECTICUT.—New London : Superior quality. NEw YorKk.—Livingston: Winter-wheat of first-rate quality. Greene: Less than 40 per cent. of a full crop. Seneca: About 70; quality good. New JERSEY.—Sussex : Wheat-crop larger and of better quality than last year. Cum- berland : Good. Burlington : Thrashing out satisfactorily ; Fultz wheat hag fulfilled the most sanguine anticipations. Morris: Very good; better than for many years. War- ren: Good quality and unusual weight per bushel. PENNSYLVANIA.— Northampton : Large crop of excellent quality ; large increase over last year. Chester: Crop not sufficient for home consumption. Mifflin: Nearly double last year’s crop. Lebanon: A quart of Tappahannock from the Department yielded 264 quarts, perfectly clean and of the best quality. , MArRYLAND.—Baltimore : Better than last year in quantity and quality ; a good aver- age. Howard: Better than last year’s crop, which was good. Cecil: Wheat sown - about October 1 did well; earlier sowed, injured by the fly, and later by freezing. VirGiIniA.— Pulaski ; Short crop; poor seed and unpropitious season ; season fine for sowing, but uufavorable to breaking up fallow. King George: Injured by rain in shock and stack; more than usual fallow ground put in wheat. Sotetourt: Falling short on thrashing ; weather fine for seeding. Stafford: Much injured by rain; some of it coming to market in bad condition. Orange: Yielded badly and was injured in stack and shock. Montgomery: A signal failure; many farmers will not get back their seed. Highland: Largely frozen in winter. Bath: Fultz the best variety here. NortH CaARroLina.—McDowell: Lowland crops largely injured by high waters. Forsyth: Short, but good., Perquimans: Will soon cease to be grown. Yield, 4 bushels per acre. SouTH CaRroLina.—Greenville: Wheat from 24 to 9 bushels per acre. Union; Poor; very little attention to it when cotton brings 18 cents per pound. GrorGia.— Barbour: Tappahannock a success. Cobb : Tappahannock has taken the first premium at all the State and county fairs. iy a Texas.—Fannin: A half bushel of Tappahannock produced 39 bushels weighing 64 pounds each. Tilus: Great improvement, both in quantity and quality. ‘Upshur = : Did well. Zilis: Twice as much wheat gathered as last year, but will be light in weight on account of rains during harvest. Uvalde: Damaged by grasshoppers. ARKANSAS. —Montgomery : Injured by wet in the shock. TENNESSEE.—Jackson: Half gallon of Tappahannock, broadcast, thrashed out 2 bushels of nice full grain; the same quantity of Fultz produced 34 bushels. Bedford > But little over a half crop; quality inferior; affected by sweat and scab. Sullivan: Tappahannock taken by the fly ; Fultz comparatively free from the ravages of the fly, and appears to be otherwise hardy and prolific. Dickson: Almost ruined by scab; some ‘“ sick wheat ;” none of as good quality as last year. Knox: Black weevil has eaten up many lots of wheat; F ultz a success and very popular. Monroe: Poor; qual- ity under par. Lincoln: Tappahannock did well; 4 quarts produced 2} bushels. Car- ter: Much of the white wheat is of good quality, but red is considerably damaged by seab. Montgomery: Some ‘sick wheat” reported. Blount: Forty per cent. short, and inferior in quality. West VirnGinii.—Tyler: Quality generally good. Brooke: Injured by wet in the stack; otherwise it would have been above average. Fayette: Plump and heavy. Jefferson: Did not thrash out as well as was expected; quality good. Mercer: Half crop; quality inferior; injured by midge. Braxton: Yield generally satisfactory. Har- rison: A half bushel of Fultz yield 34 bushels in spite of winter-freezing; it stands winter better than Tappahannock wheat. Kentucky.—Russell: Not over a half crop; injured by spot; some “sick wheat ;” difficult to get good seed. OxnI0.— Vinton: Fultz promises to supersede all other wheat. Montgomery: Fultz very successful; from 3 quarts sown in 1871 were produced 3 bushels in 1872, and 99 bushels in 1873. Medina: Thrashes out of good quality and abundantly. Geauga: Average yield of excellent quality. Licking: From 4 quarts of Tappahannock badly winter-killed -was harvested a bushel of very good wheat. Morgan: Fultz from the Department very satisfactory ; Tappahannock also did well, except on low grounds, where it rusted. Delaware: Season poor for wheat; yield reduced 25 per cent. Athens: Average; would have been above but for the July flood. i MicuiGan.—Branch: Not over 60 per cent.of an average. Calhoun: Full average. Lenawee: Turned out better than was anticipated ; quality first rate. Clinton: Sound and good, but less white than last year. Cass: Foul from winter-killing, but when cleaned it is equal to last year. Iypiana.— Steuben : Harvested in prime condition. Floyd: Light and poor; fiour dark. Brown: Thrashed out below expectation. Hamilton: Three bushels of Fultz. yielded 60. Noble: Good yield. Decatur: Short, and damaged by rain in the shock. Scott: Injured by chinches. Hancock: Damaged in the shock by wet. ILLrNors.— Macon: Some kinds badly shriveled ; Genesee the plumpest berry. JVin- nebago: Good. Bureau: Will average 16 bushels per acre of No. 1 quality; some fields reach 20 or 25. Clinton: Somewhat injured by wet before stacking. Massac: Injured by rain. Pope: Injured by chinches. Ogle: Average about 18 bushels per acre ; quality good. Lee: Averages 20 bushels per acre of good quality. Boone: Yield light. a : Quality good; deticiency of fall-wheat compensated by increase of spring- wheat. WISCONSIN.— Crawford : Largest area of fall-wheat ever sown. Walworth: Small amount grown. Portage: Red Osauka, thickly sown, yielded-20 bushels per acre. Waukesha: Fine; a little heavier per bushel than last year. Juneau: Heavy failures in New York cut wheat down from $1 to 70 cents per bushel. Green Lake: Thrashes ’ out well; better than was expected. Saint Croix: Never better. Vernon: Winter-wheat better than it appeared. MINNESOTA.— blue Earth: Fair crop, of exceilent quality. Ze Sueur: Fine harvest weather. Ramsey: Fine crop; average 17 to 18 bushels per acre. Mower: Prices fell from 90 to 65 cents per bushel. Mar tin: Late sowings ruined by black rust; earlier of good quality, averaging from 10 to 16 bushels peracre. Nicollet : Red Osauka rust- ed badly ; Scotch Fife “did best. Iows.—Sioux: Damaged by grasshoppers. Calhoun: Damaged 10 per cent. by blight. Chickasaw : Splendid condition; best yield ever known here. Harrison: Will yield more per acre than last year; inereased total yield and improved quality. Lowa : Increased acreage, but reduced yield per acre. Muscatine: Good in quantity and qual- ity. Pocahontas : Injured by grasshoppers. Carroll: Provence wheat scabbed badly. Shelby : Provence and White Australian wheats failures; nocase of Provence wheat. Tipening ; Oran wheat is promising; Fultz has not done well. Marshall: Averages about 10 bushels per acre. Mitchell: Spring-wheat a large crop. Missouri.— Gasconade : Tappahannock has excelled all other varieties both in quan- tity and in quality. Montgomery: Early-sown wheat damaged by grasshoppers, which have been driven off by frosts. Carter: Tappahannock our best wheat. Mercer: 474 7 Good. Pulaski: Light, but better than last year; injured by chinch-bugs. Newton: Good quality ; 60 to 64 pounds per bushel. Kansas.—Labette: Wheat yield increased from 200,000 bushels last year to 500,000 this year; would have been a quarter million more but for the chinch-bugs. Montgom- ery: Damaged by chinch-bugs. Cherokee: Prime where not affected by chinch-bugs. Cowley: Very good quality; average between 15 and 20 bushels per acre, some fields reaching 35. Washington: Good and of good quality. Alchison; Thrashes out 15 per cent. better than was anticipated. Nepeasks.— Madison : Shortened by grasshoppers. Cass: Damaged considerably by blight. Nuckolls: Severely injured by frost September 18. CALIFORNIA.—Sonoma: In spite of the lack of usual spring rains the wheat-crop thrashes out a third above last year’s yield; quality of grain unusually good. Contra — Costa: Yield generally beyond expectations; kernel bright and plump. Alameda: Price from $2.20 to $2.40 per cental. OrEGON.—Lane: From 30 to 50 per cent. above last year; price has risen from 60 to - 85 cents per bushel. Benton: Spring-wheat the best. Grant: Unusually fine growing season for cereals. Clackamas: Crop larger and better than last year. Uran.—Sevier: Rust in wheat. New Merxico.—Taos: Almost a failure on uplands. WASHINGTON.—Lewis: Never better. Thurston: White Dial weighs 66 pounds per bushel. Cook’s white winter, Canada winter, and Australian spring are our best vari- eties. OATS. The oats crop averages 92. The product is equal to last year, or above, in Vermont, 102; Delaware, 117; Maryland, 109; Virginia, 120; North Carolina, 100; South Carolina, 112; Georgia, 117; Alaba- ma, 117; Mississippi, 107; Texas, 120; Arkansas, 112; Tennessee, 110; West Virginia, 118; Kentucky, 104; Wisconsin, 104; Minnesota, 100; Kansas, 105; Oregon, 123; in all the other States the yield is de- ereased. An improved quality of grain is noted in Vermont, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kansas, California, and Oregon. The Potato oats appear to have succeeded better in the more southern cotton States. In Clarendon County, South Carolina, they grew finely, but ripened two weeks later than other varieties. In Saint Clair County, Alabama, they grew nearly 7 feet high, and did well in Barbour. The Schonen oats maintained their reputation in Sullivan County, Tennes- see, and Mercer and Harrison Counties, West Virginia. The Hopetown oats are well spoken of in Sullivan County, Tennessee, and the white Probestier in Isanti County, Minnesota. Matnet.— Oxford: Injured by drought. New HampsHire.—Carroll: Shortened by drought. Vermont.—Rutland: Shortened by drought; grain light in weight. ConNECTICUT.—New London: Fair in spite of drought. New York.—Genesce: Crop 60 per cent. of a full crop. Sullivan: Season too dry for oats. Seneca: Damaged by wet. New Jersey.—Cumberland: Injured by drought in June.’ Morris: Poor; straw very short. Warren: Quantity the same as last year, quality better. PENNSYLVANIA.—Cambria: Short-strawed but well headed. Washington: Yield in bushels large, but light in weight. ‘ MaryLanp.—Baltimore : Shortened by drought, but of fair quality. Howard: Short- ened by drought. Cecil: Below average but heavy-grained. ; VirGiInta.—Page: A quart of Scotch potato-oats produced 16 quarts of inferior quality. Pittsylvania : Late sowings poor. Prince George: Schonen oats from the De- partment have yielded heavily, and are becoming very popular. Highland: Never better. Nortu Carortrna.—Above average, 20 per cent. SourH CAROLINA.—Clarendon : Potato oats grow finely but ripen two weeks later than the black oats. Orangeburgh: Schonen did finely. Union: Best oats year we ever had. ALABAMA.—Barbour: Excelsior and Potato oats did well. Saint Clair: Potato oats from the Department grew 6 feet 10 inches high. Randolph: Full crop. 475 Lovistana.—Caddo: By mistake in the last monthly report our crop was reported at an average of 80 bushels per acre instead of 80 per cent. of an average crop. Trexas.—Titus: Never better; free from rust and smut. Red River: Very fine. Up- shur: Too short-strawed for cutting to advantage. Uvalde: Damaged by grasshop- ers. | 4 TENNESSEE.— Sullivan : Potato oats not suited to the climate; Schonen maintain their high reputation ; Hopetown oats fine, bright-strawed, grain abundant, large, and bright. Monroe: Excellent. Blount: Crop larger amd of better quality than usual. WEst VirGrmia.— Brooke : Injured in shock and stack by wet weather. Mercer: Above average. Schonen did well ; superior to most other kinds ; yield heavy. Har- rison : White Schonen and Yellow Scotland oats both excellent. Kentucky.—Russell : Very fine. Spencer: Shortened by rust. Daviess ; The most promising crop ever known till spoiled, just at ripening, by heavy rains. On10.— Geauga ; Almost destroyed by grasshoppers. Mahoning : Badly injured by grasshoppers. Vinton: Injured by wet weather. Athens : Acreage reduced by wet spring, but yield and quality are good. Micuican.— Lenawee : Shortened by drought and rust. Branch : Twenty per cent. below average. E INDIANA.—Sieuben : Harvested in prime condition. Ripley: Injured by chinch-bugs. Noble : Injured by drought. Decatw: Good, but saved with ditficulty on account of rains. Scott: Injured by chinches. Inirmois.— Franklin : Ten days before harvest the crop was remarkably promising, but heavy storms beat down the grain, rendering it very difficult to gather, and equally difficult to thrash. Macon: Late sowings badly blown down and imperfectly filled. Bureau : Crop short but of good quality. Clinton : Shortened by drought and chinches. Washington: Would have been above average but for rains just before harvest which beat down the grain. Champaign: Nearly destroyed by storms and worms. Pope: Injured by chinehes. Rock Island: Half of last year’s yield. Ogle : Reduced acreage ; average yield 38 bushels peracre. Lee; Short and light in weight ; straw better than last year for feeding stock. Boone: Deficient in quantity and quality ; generally rusted. Mason: Yield less than last year, but quality 20 per cent. better. McLean : Inferior, but harvested without rain. nox: Light in consequence of drought. Wisconsin.—Green Lake: Failed in some places. Brown: Very light. Minnesota.—Blue Earth : Crop large and of good quality ; acreage small. IJsanti: White Probestier oats from the Department yielded heavily ; they suit the climate well. Nicollet : Turn out reasonably well; good quality. lowa.—Harvison: Decreased acreage, but yield and quality good. Muscatine: In- jured by drought. Pocahontas: Injured by grasshoppers. Mitchell: Fair. Kansas.—Labette: Shortened by drought and chinches. Cowley: Crop moderate. Nemaha: Half crop. NEBRASKA.— Madison : Largely destroyed by grasshoppers, even in the shock. OREGON.—Grant: Excellent; yield in some cases 60 bushels per acre. . Ipano.—Nez Percés: Oats sown early on sod ground are yielding 50 and 60 bushels per acre. WASHINGTON.— Thursten : Enormous crop, in some cases reaching nearly 90 bushels per acre; grain eight and a half feet high. Lewis: Never better; harvest delayed by wet. RYE. The general average of this crop is 98. An increased product, com- pared with last year, is shown in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, Arkansas,“ Missouri, Kan- sas, Nebraska, and Oregon; in all the other States the yield is less than that of 1872. The average quality shows improvement in Ver- mont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minne- sota, Iowa, Kansas, and Oregon. Maine, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Florida, Ohio, and California report a quality of grain fully equal to last year; the other States are all below. ; ConneEctTicuTt.—New London: Fair in spite of drought. New Jersey.— Burlington : Both grain and straw excellent. PENNSYLVANIA.—Cambria: Fair. Northampton: Crops large and good. MARYLAND.— Baltimore : Increased attention to rye culture. GrorGIA.— Marion: Rye from the Department tailed, while native grain beside it grew 6 feet high. Missouri.— Mercer : White Scotch rye from the Department did well; 4 quarts of seed yielded 3 bushels. 476 BARLEY. A general average of 88 per cent. of last year’s crop is indicated. An increase is secured of 5 per cent. in Missouri, of 6 per cent. in West Virginia and Kansas, and of 19 per cent. in Oregon. The yield is equal to last year’s in Connecticut. In all the other States it has declined, the greatest loss—28 per cent.—being in Minnesota. The quality is equal to last year’s, or better in West Virginia, Ken- tucky, Missouri, California, and Oregon. No returns were received from Rhode Island, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Ar- kansas, and Tennessee, where it is scarcely known as a crop. BUCKWHEAT. Buckwheat was of average condition, or above, in New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Arkan- sas, and West Virginia. In all the other States the crop declined below average, reaching its lowest point (64) in Iowa. Little is grown in Rhode Island, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, and California. In several of the Northern States the crop was injured by early frosts. 1 POTATOES. This crop is above average in condition in eleven States, as follows: Vermont, 108; Massachusetts, California, and Oregon, 105 ; Connecti- cut and South Carolina, 104; New York, 107; New Jersey and Virginia, 101; Alabama, 110; Texas, 109. Rhode Island and Pennsylvania are average, and all‘the other States below; Iowa,51; Nebraska, 56; Kan- sas, 58; Illinois, 59; Missouri, 61; Indiana, 77; the remaining States range between 68 in Delaware, and 98 in Maine, New Hampshire, and Georgia. For all the States, the average condition is 89. Some depredations by the Colorado beetle and other insects are noted in the Mississippi Valley and as far east as Pennsylvania, and the rot has prevailed to a limited extent in a few localities; but in the States in which the potato-crop is an important one, and which report a low condition, drought has been the chief cause. Our reports generally concur in representing the quality as unusually good. MAInE.—Piscataquis : Drought severe on potatoes. Waldo: Excellent in quality. York: Heavy crops. NEw Hampsntre.—Cheshire: Very nice. VERMONT.—Rutland : Excellent. MassacHUsETTs.—Bristol : Early potatoes affected by drought. Norfoli: Crop larger and better than usual. CoNNECTICUT.—Hariford: Better in quality than for forty years. New York.—Genesee: Fine. Franklin : Worth 40 cents per bushel for food and 30 cents for starch-making. Columbia: Crop extra, but rotting. Allegany: Shortest crop in thirty years; some will not get back their seed and others not over half a crop. New JERSEY.— Sussex : Early varieties shortened by drought; later plantings turn- ing out very well. : PENNSYLVANIA.— Cambria: Potato-bugs very destructive and hard to exterminate ; some rot. Indiana: Crop light; injured by bugs. Westmoreland: Potato-bugs do not appear to have done much damage, Northumberland: Uneommonly abundant and fine. Armstrong: Late potatoes not worth digging ; destroyed by bugs. Butler: Late plantings diminished one-half by bugs. Early Rose a full yield. Manrybanp.— Baltimore: Early erop light; later never better. Howard: Early plant- ings shortened by drought. Cecil: Early potatoes injured by drought; late ones very fine. VirGinia.— Highland: Good. ATT GrEORGIA.— McDuffie: Never better. Trexas.— Wood: Crop made before the drought set in, and hence good. TENNESSEE.—WVadison: Very poor crop. Lawrence: Much damaged by drought. Dickson: Late plantings shortened by drought and bugs. Jonroe: Better than for several years. Blount: Probably a failure, Fentress: Good. West Vircinra.—Zyler: Not much injured by bugs. Brooke: Poor crop; injured by Colorado-beetle. Fayette: About average. Jefferson: Late plantings did not fill well. Marion: Dug early to escape grub-worms. Braxton: Good. Pleasants: Much injured by bugs. Kentucky.—Jefferson: A fair crop—say two-thirds average—will be gathered in spite of the bug. Shelby: Not over 40 per cent. of an average. Russell: Good. Oun10.—Warren: Half crop, but good quality. Crawford: Saved from Colorado- beetles by Paris-green and systematic picking. rie: Injured some by bugs but more by blight. Geauga: Bugs destructive; crop fine where these did not appear. MJahon- ing: Materially damaged by bugs. Medina: Late potatoes poor; decreased acreage. Adams: Acreage larger than ever before; yield per acre greater than usual. Delaware: Below average ; season unfavorable. MIcHIGAN.—Ottawa: Injured by bugs. Martin: Late potatoes shortened by drought. Cass: Injured by drought and frost. Mecosta: Late potatoes frosted. InpIANAa.—Steuben: Small, but of excellent quality. Hamilion: Light crop. Decatur: Damaged by Colorado beetle and common bugs. : InirNo1s.—Jersey : Potatoes scarce; late plantings almost a failure. Macon: Nearly eaten up by bugs; shortened also by drought. Bureaw: Small and few. Carroll: Killing frost, September 14. Massac: Injured by drought. Moultrie: Reduced to a fourth of a crop by drought. Pope: Injured by drought. Lee: Nearly a total failure. Boone: Shortened by drought and bugs. McLean: Almost a failure. Knox: Late potatoes nearly a failure. Montgomery: Wilted by hot sunshine when setting the vines. Wisconsin.—Crawford: Late plantings injured by frost. Walworth: Unexpectedly large yield and good quality. _ Ozaukee: Late potatoes a failure through drought; early plantings a success, especially Early Rose. Clarke: Late plantings destroyed by cold, wet weather. Dunn: Partial failure through drought and chinch-bugs. Douglass: Injured by frost both in quantity and in quality. Richland: Half a crop. Vernon: Injured by drought. MINNESOTA.—Ramsey: Neglected crops used up by bugs. Blue Earth: Badly in- jured by diought. Nicollet: Crop light ; bugs more numerous than ever before. Led- wood: Late potatoes a failure through drought and early frost. Blue Earth: Ruined by drought. Iowa.—Cass: Shortened by drought nearly 40 per cent. Calhoun: Small and few. Harrison: Reduced plantings; shortened by grasshoppers and drought ; crop nothing to compare with last year’s fine yield. Marion: Failed through drought. Union: Shortened by extreme drought. Jowa: Injured by frost. Muscatine: Drought and bugs have greatly reduced the crop; most of those gathered are very small, except Early Rose. Jefferson: Ruined by drought. Scott: Shortened by drought. Marshall: Short but good. Taylor: Almosta failure through drought. Mitchell: Excellent. Monona: Many fields entirely failed ; having planted 700 acres Iam buying my potatoes. Missovuri.—Adair: Late plantings not half a crop ; shortened by drought. Worth: Reduced by drought to a half crop; quality good. Daviess: Alllate plantings injured by drought. Pulaski: Injured by drought. Grundy: Scarce. Shelby: Early plantings fair ; late ones scarcely any yield. Kansas.—Labette: Shortened by drought. Bourbon: May behalf acrop. Clay: Dam- aged by drought. Kansas: Very scarce through drought. Montgomery: Light, unless the autumn be favorable. Coffey: Shortened by drought. Cherokee: Improved by late rains. Cowley: Moderate. Douglas: Early Rose did well; later varieties short. Reno: — Early potatoes good; late ones scarcely worth digging. Washington: Reduced by drought and bugs‘to a fifth of a crop. Shawnee: Drought left but few potatoes. Nesraska.—Madison : Colorado-beetles have been very destructive; cut down the crop one-half. Nemaha: Nearer a failure than ever before. Gage: Late potatoes will not return much more than their seed. Nrvaps.—Esmeralda: No frost yet to kill potato-vines ; season favorable. SWEET POTATOES. The average condition of this crop isin, Virginia, 101 ; South Carolina, 102; Georgia and Alabama,104; Florida, 110; Texas, 117; West Vir- ginia, 100; in the remaining States which grow the crop (éxcept Penn- sylvania, 105, in which it is grown on a limited scale) the condition is below average, the range being between 99 in Mississippi and Arkan- sas and 79 in Illinois. 478 BEANS. This crop was in average condition or above in Vermont, Massachu- setts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia, and Oregon. In all the other States it was below aver- age; the minimum, 81, is reported in Iowa. PEASE. The acreage of this crop, compared with last year, was increased 1 per cent. in Indiana and Wisconsin, 2 per cent. in California, 3 per cent. in Virginia and Oregon, 4 per cent. in Georgia and Arkansas, 5 per cent. in South Carolina, 6 per cent. in Louisiana, 9 percent. in Alabama, 10 per cent.in Delaware, and 14 per cent. in Texas. In West Virginia and Iowa the acreage was equal to last year. All the other States show a decrease, the greatest ratio,15 per cent., being shown in Florida and Kansas. The condition of the crop was average or above in Vermont, Pennsylva- ~ nia, Delaware, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Michigan, Indiana, and Wisconsin. All the other States were below average, the lowest being Missouri, 88. SORGHUM. Sorghum was 3 per cent. above average in Texas, and 5 per cent. in Georgia. In all the otherStates it was below, ranging down to 81 in Missouri. No returns of this crop were received from the New England States, New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, Wis- consin, California, and Oregon. At several points in the Northwest its culture and manufacture were reported as declining. In some of the northwestern counties the crop was injured by frost. COTTON. The average condition of cotton in the first week of October, as com- pared with October reports of 1871 and 1872, stands as much higher than that of the former year asit falls below the records of the latter. The standard crop being a good normal growth, the yearly losses from worms or other casualties almost always reduce the record below 100, and the greatest reduction usually occurs in September. Theaverage this year has fallen off from 89 to 784 since the first week of September; a larger reduction than usually occurs. The general average in October of 1871 was 76; it was 82 in October of last year. The area was one-eighth greater in 1872, and the autumn more favorable for development and picking, and the result an inerease of about one million bales. The area of the present year was increased about 10 per cent., but a portion of this enlargement was abandoned, and the October status of the crop is materially reduced. The season must be of average length, and comparatively favorable for picking, to insure a crop equal to that of last year. . The following figures represent the condition of cotton, as reported in October of the last three seasons: 1871 1872. 1873. Eoin GE) eolboak: hee 2 See ee Meme Et ee se 80 90 88 South Camo May Se ee As esas stale) a ee ee aN | nM 4 86 80 4a Geonela sat cce fecqe See REE e os Ae eee eC eens cee emer 72 : 83 82 TEM Yo 7 oat OR LORE Sag ta Ee ae te Reed ee el eee eee 73 1871 1872. 1873. Ju Ere Se ih olin aed oo i abet Be a ie ik Bll A 75 82 78 LTT ay Ua ti ciph peteee ele esate s a 28 Le eR RG im, ee 76 7 75 MCRD U ve Sele neato a etek OE ees a hier S o 73 72 72 ESRC cy. FS sete oe eyes eae EO ea ee ne eee 2 70 85 80 RAEN SER 4 ot Ste i ne ate eee eg eee A Sst eR he oe 82 75 83 SHEMNGSHOO. ST oie cece eee Seetas oes So unease ee G4 90 90 The month of September witnessed several storms of rain in the South Atlantic States, which injured the plants, beat out and stained the fiber, and retarded the picking. A storm on the 19th of September proved particularly disastrous in Florida and in parts of adjacent States. Worms have continued their ravages and made advances upon new ter- ritory in Arkansas and North Carolina. Several counties in the latter State report the presence of caterpillars for the first time. There is a general complaint that the plants are already bare of leaves, and that picking will be completed at an early date. In some counties of the Gulf States it is claimed that there will be an average crop, notwith- standing the caterpillar and boll-worm, while in other counties a loss of one-third of the crop from worms is expected. VIRGINIA.—Prince George : Late planted and injured by caterpillars; cotton-culture is superseding pea-nut culture. Souihampton: Excessive rains have caused a large growth of weeds, with but few bolls; leaves stripped by caterpillars. Princess Ann: Worms in the crop. Norti CAROLINA.—Gaston : Fairaverage if frost delays till October 20. Chowan: Heavy rains have greatly injured the crop; army-worms in many fields have destroyed the leaves and later bolls; never had cotton-worms here before. Sampson: A partial failure through excessive rains and caterpillars ; very few leaves left, and young bolls now in process of destruction. Lenoir: Three-fourths of a crop; worms appeared August 15, and have been destructive. Beaufort: Seriously injured by excessive rains; caterpil- lar appeared for the first time, and was very destructive. Pitt: Considerably dam- aged by worms. Currituck: Ruined by army-worms; fields stripped bare, and the promised yield cut down at least one-third. Wake: Financial panic interferes with the picking. Carteret: Worse injured by army-worms than ever before ; late plantings but halfacrop. Martin: Late crop taken by caterpillars, which stripped the leaves and ate many bolls. This is entirely new here. Perquimons: Reduced to a half-crop by rain and army-worms. Sladen: Injured by rust and army-worms; some estimate the crop at one-half average. Cumberland: Damaged 33 per cent. by excessive rains : rainy picking-season. Jones: Shortened by heavy rains in August, aud worms in Sep- tember. Anson: A failure through excessive wet. Greene: Smaller crop than ever known; leaves stripped by worms. Stanley: Worms in cotton in parts of the county where it was never before known, but too late to do damage. SoutH CaRoLina.—Chester: Twenty-five per cent. below last year; injured by frequent rains. Greenville: Peeler has grown from 3 to 6 feet high; as many as 90 blooms on one stalk ; probably 12 bolls per stalk will mature before frost; 5 is consid- ered a good average here. Richland: Young cotton largely destroyed by caterpillars, and old cotton very much injured; excessive rains have filled the field with grass. There was no August crop, only July fruit maturing. Clarendon: Rains in August and September rusted the crop disastrously, in some localities, considerably reducing the general average. Newberry: Injured by rust and caterpillars. Chesterfield: The crop has fallen off 10 per cent. through rains, caterpillars, and boll-worms; some whole crops ruined by the latter. Williamsburgh: Ruined by rust, caterpillars, and boll- rot; being open, it has been largely stained by rains. Orangeburgh : Worms swept the crop as effectually as a frost; appeared September 15. Lexington: Suftered from long heavy rains, and from army-worms. Union: September favorable to cotton; crop average, but about one-sixth under last year’s. Lawrens: One-third below average, through rain, rust, and worms; leaves stripped. Fairfield: Damaged by heavy rains and caterpillars; no clean cotton yet saved. Edgefield: Growth stopped by caterpil- lars, rust, &c.; bolls opening fast; fine picking-season. GEORGIA.—Gordon: Opening well; yield large; lint fine; season dry. Upson: Boll-worms injurious, especially on low lands, where the growth was rank and heavy; caterpillars appeared later, and scarcely a field has escaped their ravages. McDuffie: Shortened 20 per cent. by rain, rust, bcll-worms, and caterpillars. Worth: Shortened a third by caterpillars. Muscogee: Caterpillars have stripped the leaves and destroyed the top crop as well as a portion of the middle crop. Madison: Top crop badly shed owing to wet, rust, and army-worms. Lincoln: Greatly damaged by rain-storms and 2A 480 ravages of caterpillars; yield one-third below last year. Dooly: Badly damaged by caterpillars and rust. Columbia: Very short; little or no August crop; injured by heavy rains. Hart: Possibly one-half short. Carroll: Badly damaged by drought and caterpillars. Sumter: Cut short by caterpillars. Marion: Cotton will not mature in its present condition as the leaves are all off and worms are now eating the bolls. Liberty : Scarcely a green cotton-leaf remains. The crop was also injured by the great storm, September 19. Zee: Since last report the crop has been injured at least 20 per cent. by worms; it has also suffered from recent heavy rains. Clinch: Caterpillars cut down the crop one-half. Walton: Materially injured by drought. Butts : Promises a full average in spite of boll-worms and caterpillars. Douglass: Bolls prematurely opened and spoiled by rains; the stalks being low and the bolls near the ground, the cotton is depreciated 1 to i4 cents per pound. Derangement in money matters will bring low prices, which will greatly embarrass farmers. Gwinnett: Leaves stripped by army-worms; late bolls injured somewhat. Peeler cotton good though a little late ; finer texture than common varieties, and worth a cent and a quarter more to the pound, Richmond: Caterpillars have destroyed the August cotton in most of the county. Schley; Swept by caterpillars. Twiggs: Swept by boll-worms and caterpillars. Baldwin: All the fruit from the blossoms of the last week of August and the first two weeks of Sep- tember destroyed by caterpillars and boll-worms. Calhoun: Cut down 30 per cent. by caterpillars and wet weather; the remnant will be greater than last year’s yield. Heard: Unprecedented destruction by caterpillars and boll-worms. /Vilkinson: Ruined by rust and caterpillars. Wilkes: Caterpillars very destructive; have stripped the leaves. Jackson: Not over two-thirds of a crop in spite of enormous quautities of guano; caterpillars destructive. Merriwether: Picking-season favorable. Whitfield: Good. Spalding: Excessive weed; poorly fruited ; injured by worms. Macon: Injured by the heavy storm of September 19; picking-season very favorable; crop probably 25 per cent. below average. Coweta: Stripped by caterpillars; opening slowly. Decatur: Injured by heavy storm, September 19; crops scattered and cotton-gins demolished. Brooks: Great injury from the storm of September 19. Franklin: Considerably short- ened by worms. FLoripa.— Taylor : Late cotton cleaned out by the caterpillar. Leon: A fourth of the crop destroyed by the great storm of September 19. Wakulla: Shortened possibly one-half by the equinoctial gale. Swwannee: Injured by caterpillars ; Peeler upland the poorest ever tried here. Columbia : Much injured by rust and caterpillars. Gads- den: Immense destruction of cotton by the storm of September 19; cotton all open, and especially liable to injury. Hamilton: Seriously injured by storm and caterpil- lars. Orange: Excessive rains prevented a good truitage; crop small. Levy: Pros- pect much improved ; good picking-season; staple better than usual. The great storm did not reach east of township 17, range 17. ALABAMA.—Greene : No top crop; small middle and bottom crops; eaten by boll- worms and caterpillars. Chambers: Would have been average but for caterpillars. Montgomery : Weed late, and worms early; crop figures greatly depressed in conse- quence. Jackson: First crop good; later pickings not 80 good; opening too rapidly through drought. Bibb: At least a third destroyed by caterpillars. Clarke: Full ay- erage in spite of worms. Saint Clair : Peeler cotton promises 500 pounds per acre. Hale: Poorest crop for thirty-five years; destroyed by boll-worm and caterpillars, mainly the lat- ter. Geneva: All that could be reasonably desired, though both boll and leaf worms did some little damage. Calhoun: Badly damaged by worms; worse than last year. Franklin: Picking-season opened well; many say they are getting two-thirds of the yield at the first picking; light frost September 15, but no damage; top crop out of danger, but the picking is interrupted by rains; last year’s crop all of low grade. Winston: Opening freely, with fine picking weather; crop better than was expected. Conecuh : Twenty-five per cent.short of last year’s crop. Randolph: July crop good, but that of August and September almost a failure; worms destroyed squares and half-grown bolls. Morgan: Fine picking-weather; quality good. Crenshaw: Equal to last year. MIssIssipPl.—Tishemingo : Not so good as usual; good picking-season. Lee: Boll and leaf worms on low, rich lands reduced the general average to 60. Grenada: Most of the crop will be picked by November 10—a very unusual fact; yield 20 or 25 per cent. less than last year. Warren: Damaged 20 per cent. since September 1, by worms and boll-rot. Pike: Curtailed by boll-worm, rust, and caterpillar. Wilkinson: Great de- struction by boll-worms and other insects, as well as by rot from constant wet weather. Rankin: Nearly all open and the cotton falling out ; deterioration of 20 per ¢ent. in the last month, through drought and caterpillars. Attala: Short crop. Claiborne: Late cotton ruined by worms. Clarke: September favorable for picking ; worms, in many places, destroyed the top crop. Jasper: Worms injured the crop in the last week of August, causing it to open prematurely; picking late; quality poor. Leflore: Fallen off 20 per cent., from worms and shedding of forms and blooms. Madison : Depreci- ated greatly in two months, from worms, shedding, &e. Noxubee: Spotted; tolerable crop in some places; in others almost a failure. JVinston: Lately injured by worms. ’ ck Holmes : Tnjured by worms and wet weather. Washington: Leaves stripped by worms, and hence cotton opens faster than it can be picked. Yalabusha: Top crop shed, through drought, to a considerable extent; bottom and middle crop will mature be- fore frost. Lowndes: Failure of this crop will put it out of the power of many to raise another; what will be saved from the wreck will cost 30 cents a pound. LOUISIANA.— Claiborne: Crops swept by worms, especially late ones. Washington: Average in spite of worms; picking will be finished before November; crop equal to last year’s. Franklin: Promising up to September 1; stripped by worms, since, of everything except full-grown bolls. Morehouse: Opening very fast in the dry weather; boll-worms very bad. ast Baton Rouge: The dreaded cotton worm has come, and has reduced the prospective yield 10 per cent. since last report: nothing left for the frost; remains of the crop will be gathered within a month. Rapides: Weather not favorable for opening green bolis; cotton necessarily poor. Jest eliciana: Stripped by caterpillars; crop but one-third of last year’s. Tuscaloosa: From half to two-thirds of a crop; an early and persistent use of Paris green and arsenic secured good crops. Madison: Entirely stripped of leaves and small bolls; fine picking season. Caddo: Opening fast; half picked already. Bossier: Greatly injured by boll-worms and cater- pillars. Concordia: Injured by rot and worms. TYensas: Stripped by worms in the first week of September; this injured later cotton, while the earlier suffered from rot. Texas.—Navarro : Weather favorable for picking. Henderson : Shortened one-fourth by worms. Collin: No worms; picking progressing rapidly in the fine weather. Liber- ty: Better than was expected; worms unaccountably disappeared; crop quite grassy. Austin : Latest crops within memory of the oldest inhabitants; about half average. Nacogdoches : Almost entirely destroyed by caterpillars. Colwmbia : Since September 1 caterpillars have stripped cotton foliage, and eaten a large number of young bolls. Cooke : Cotton stood the drought very well. Dallas : Prospect good for a yield above average; 300 pounds of lint per acre; the most of the crop will class as good middling. Fayette: River lands a half crop ; uplands a quarter crop. Fannin: Crop light ; staple good. Matagorda: Almost a failure; one-tenth of a bale peracre. Titus: Cut down 20 per cent. by boll-worms. Washington: Weather fine for picking what was left by the worms. Marion : Materially injured by worms. Ked River : Crop light ; worms in- jurious. Rusk: Stripped of leaves by worms: boll-worms ate all the young bolls of August; Peelerseed good. Wood: Favorable for picking. JVilliamson : Will be 150 if frosts delay ; freedmen picking better than since the war; commands 13 and 14 cents, specie. Waller: Devastated by worms; yield a bale to 10 acres. Upshur : Shortened by late season, boll-worms, and caterpillars. Shelby: Shortened one-half by boll-worms and caterpillars. Medina: Damaged by floods. Lavacea: Crops injured by worms have come out wonderfully in the late fine weather. Cherokee : Injured by boll-worms, caterpillars, and different kinds of spear-worms. Zllis: Late, but will be average, if good weather continues. Fort Bend: Last year we shipped 7,000 bales; this year we will ship but 400. ARKANSAS.— Union : Not over 150 pounds of seed cotton per acre for laté crops; re- duced by worms and drought within thirty days. Sebastian: Shortened by drought fully a third. Independence: Something over half a crop; average quality. Yell: Opening well; first picking injured by rain. Crittenden: Top crop shedding; yield reduced below average. FATTENING CATTLE. The number of fattening cattle is equal to or greater than last year’s report in Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oregon. All the other States show a decrease. Average number, 91 per cent.; average condition, 97 per cent. 4 The following notes show the condition of fall pastures in different tates: Maine.— York: Pastures unusually good ; extra growth of live stock will balance the loss in grain. New Hampsuire.—Cheshire: Continuous rains have brought out a heavy second growth of grass; grazing facilities extra. Connecticut.—New London; Fall feed better than for many years. New Yor«.— Yates: Pasture better than usual. Warren: Pastures and meadows seldom better; hay cropshort. Genesee: Fall feed abundant. Schoharie: Second crop of clover hay better than the first; pastures fresh and good. Rockland: Aftermath heavy, helping out the short hay crop. Columbia: Fall pastures good. Ontario: Fall feed good. NEw JERSEY.—Sussex : Excellent fall pastures. PENNSYLVANIA.— Cambria: Hay good; second crop very good, York: Weather fine for a large second hay-crop and for abundant pasture. Crawford: Drought injured hay and pastures, but the latter is reviving under the late rains. MARYLAND.—Baltimore: Fall pastures never better. Cecil: Fall pastures greatly mproved. VIRGINIA.—Spottsylvania: Large hay-crop; pastures very fine. Nelson: Pastures greatly enriched by August rains. Halifax: Fall pastures fine. SoutH Carorina.—Greenville: We have cut three crops of hay from fields manured with barn-yard. Richland: Pasturage good. Orangeburg: Kentucky blue-grass a failure. Lexington: Italian rye-grass and Kentucky blue-grass experiments failed. GEORGIA.—Jefferson: Rains have impeded hay harvest; crab-grass exceedingly abundant; it is the cheapest crop that can be raised, yet it is much neglected. FiLoriwsa.—Santa Rosa: Last cutting of hay large and valuable, owing to the moist- ure of the growing season. Texas.—dusiin: Prairie pasture better than for many years, and hence cattle are in unusually fine condition. Harris: Rains have brought out grass-crops finely; hay in great abundance, and cattle are in better order than for years. ARKANSAS.—Arkansas: Pasture drying up. Fulton: Prairie-grass remarkably good, remaining green longer than usual. TENNESSEE.—Jackson: Italian rye-grass probably a failure on account of late sow- ing. Bradley: Young clover injured by grasshoppers. Grainger: Pastures very good. Montgomery : Pastures given out. Medina: Pastures splendid, and cattle consequently in excellent condition. Wesr VirGINIA.—Grant: Fallfeed plenty. Marion: Fall pastures good. Pendleton: Pastures injured by drought. Monongahela: Fine growth of grass during the latter part of summer, which will make up, in part, for the short hay-crop. KentTucky.—Jefferson: Fall pastures greatly improved by late rains. Shelby: Grass- _ crops shortened by drought. Metcalf: Pastures shorter than ever known. Spencer: Pastures dried up. Miner: Pastures injured by drought. Out0.—Craeford : Grasshoppers nearly ruined clover. MicnicaNn.—Hillsdale: Fall feed good; fine fall rains. Newaygo; Fall pasture grow- ing finely. Mecosta: Fall feed good. Ixprana.—Brown: Fall pastures dried up. Orange: Pastures reviving. Marion: Fall pastures very poor. Martin: Pastures dried up; cattle falling in flesh. Warren: Fall pasture good. Shelby: Pastures failing from drought. Jennings: Pastures nearly dried up. Inuinors.— Winnebago: Pastures bare; little or no grass in the meadows; many are feeding stock already. Bureau: Pastures short; cattle are already being fed on soft corn. Carroll: Late rains have partially restored the dry pastures. Kankakee: After- feed scarce; cattle thin. Piatt: Fall pasture getting good. Knox: Pastures short. Wisconsin.—Jackson : Grass very short and poor, but improving. Green Lake: Pas- 484 tures improved by recent showers. Green: Pastures shortened by drought; wells lower than for twenty years. MinneEsota.—Le Sueur: Hay secured in fine order. Iows.—Tama; Pastures poor and cattle in poorer condition than last fall. Clinton: Grass started by late rains. Union: Grass-crops shortened by extreme drought. Floyd: Fall pasture pocr. Carroll: Prairie-grass did well. Missourr.—Plaite: No rain since July 9, hence pastures are dried up and stock poor. Greene: Late fine rains have made pasturage good. Clay: Fall pastures reviving with late rains. Harrison: Fall pastures good and stock doing well. Cole: Rains have started blue-grass again. Grundy: Pastures poor. Pettis: Fall range ruined by grass- hoppers. Kansas.— Wabaunsee: Range pasture good. CaLirornia.—Del Norte: Pasturage in better condition than for three years. Uran.—Kane: Rains have started winter-grass finely. 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LABOR AND COTTON PRODUCTION. Dooly, Georgia.—There is a great deficiency in the labor system here. Most of the planters rent their lands to the freedmen, or take them in as “ croppers,” and in mosi cases the freednten are too anxious to “lay by” the cotton-crop entirely too soon. It has been proved that late light plowing is of great advantage to cotton ; it hasa tend- ency to keep the plant healthy and in a growing condition; it is also held by some | farmers that it is a preventive against rust ; but my experience has taught me that it depends upon the condition of the weather and the manner in which the plowing is done. When the land isnot too wet, late light plowing is certainly of great advantage to cotton. There are two kinds of rust, the yellow and the black; the yellow is the most inju- rious, as it spreads all over the farm, while the black only makes its appearance in spots. Iam of the opinion that there is no remedy for either. Liberty County, Georgia.—The agricultural prospects of Liberty County are improv- ing. The small farmers, who owned but few slaves and were inured to labor before the war, are now getting rich under the improved prices of all produce. The freedmen are also purchasing land and all kinds of stock. The better class of them prefer farm- ing “on their own hook.” The refuse can generally only be hired by the day or week. They must be paid on Saturday, and their earnings go for groceries and liquor. Labor is scarce and exacts high wages. The prospect is that common schools among the whites, with separate schools for the negroes, are about to be successfully inaugurated. FAILURE IN GRASS-SEED. Oldham, Kentucky.—Our orchard grass-seed crop is not over 40 per cent. of the usual yield. This county makes an average of some 30,000 to 40,000 bushels anaually for sale, for which we have been getting from $1.50 to $2 per bushel. This year the crop will not exceed 15,000 bushels ; cause of the failure, hard freezing and no snow to cover the ground in January last. TOBACCO PRODUCT OF DAVIESS COUNTY. Daviess, Kentucky, August 1, 1873.—The number of pounds of tobacco reported by me, (of the product of 1872,) June 26, 1873, was 11,417,000. The amount since reported as sold in McLean County is 350,000 pounds; reported by purchasers previously over- looked, 360,000 pounds; total raised in Daviess County in 1872, 12,027,000 pounds. I feel confident that the above number is not over the mark, as I have the reports of each purchaser, and may have overlooked some small purchasers. Does any county in the United States beat Daviess County, Kentucky, in the quantity of tobacco raised? Average price, leaf, lugs, and trash, 71 cents per pound, or $902,025 for the crop. COAL-ASHES AS A FERTILIZER. Franklin, Pennsylvania.—I have always believed that coal-ashes had a value for agri- cultural purposes, and have advocated the free use of them, particularly on limestone soil. This season I determined to get closer to the root of the matter, and test their value fully. I had a plot of ground on which I had been unsuccessful for several years in raising good Early Rose potatoes. The soil was in the best condition always. The tops did well. This spring I had the ground scored about six inches deep, placed the _ eut potatoes in the bottom, and filled up with coal ashes. The plants grew finely, not- withstanding the dry weather. The tops did not fall over even after the weather changed, and I secured a crop of the very best potatoes for the table I ever raised. ~The second experiment was with onion-seed and coal-ashes. I put out five good- sized beds in seed. In four the seed was covered with soil; the fifth I covered with sifted coal-ashes. The result surprised every person that knew of the experiment and watched its progress. 488 A third experiment was started on seed which promised utter failure to those who looked on; the end has not yet been reached, but Iam more than satisfied with the result thus far, and fully satisfied that my experiment will bring me at least $100 more than if left untried. I have abiding faith in coal-ashes and am ready to use all I can purchase. BUSH CLOVER. Calhoun, Alabama.—We have in this and adjoining counties a species of wild or bush clover which grows wild on the road-sides, in old waste fields, and even in the woods where there is not much timber. I have just returned from an extensive trip in this county, and find that this season it is very luxuriant everywhere. Stock of all kinds are very fond of it. In uncultivated fields it grows from 10 to 12 inches high; not so high outside where it is exposed to stock all the time, but it becomes almost a ‘perfect mat on the ground. It will eventually, I think, eat out or supersede the native wild erasses. In my opinion it is likely to really prove a great blessing to the country. Sheep and goats, as well as colts, quit the mountains about July, come down into the valleys, old “fields, and road-sides, and keep fat on it until late in the fall. Asa locality for sheep- -husbandr y, Calhoun County could not be excelled in the State, if it were not for wolves and dogs. INCREASED PRODUCTION OF BRITISH FARMS. ‘¢ Worn-out soils,” and “ exhausted lands,” are phrases that have no place in the vocabulary of an advanced agriculture. Deteriorationis not the legitimate result of culture. When retrograde is the rule in the rate of yield, either a declining agriculture, or aprimitive and unorganized one, may be assumed. In all the new States of this country, it has often been stated, the yield of the principal products tends rather to decline than to advance. The assumption is correct. Should this fact be deemed an industrial disgrace, and an indication of the inefficiency and unskill- fulness of our farmers? . Not necessarily. If we regard pioneer agri- culture as only an incident to land speculation—the means by which a poor and farmless man may obtain a title, at a nominal cost, to land that will make either himself or his children rich, as settlement and society perfect the advance from nominal to intrinsic value—it is seen to have a basis of sound sense. If, on the other hand, wasteful and depleting methods are continued, and temporary want of system becomes habitual chaos, a stigma is assuredly placed on such practice, and the result is a disgraceful “retrograde, disreputable and ultimately unprofitable. The tendency to a settled habit of shabbiness and wastefulness is so strong that the pioneer is naturally expected to sell out, remove, and open more wild land before the advancing wave of even a somewhat more methodical and scientific agriculture. If our yield of wheat, for instance, is decreasing slightly, it is not because of the absence of all progressive elements i in our agriculture, but from the fact that most of itis grown on new lands, by pioneer farmers, for the temporary purpose of money-making, without regard to a slight deterioration. Nor is the decline in yield wholly or mainly the result of depletion; it is often caused by careless culture, which fails to check the growth of weeds that ultimately overshadow and strangle the crops. It is well known that Great Britain obtains larger average yields than any other country. A small area and a large resident population have made necessary a high state of culture and - increased production. Sci- ence has been invoked, English, German, and French experiments have 489 been tested, capital without stint and business acumen have aided in the effort to obtain larger supplies of bread and meat from a given area. Where this necessity has not existed, even in the British Colonies, the yield of wheat scarcely exceeds our own average. ‘This is the case in Canada, in the Australian Colonies, and in New Zealand. In Europe the only close competitor with Great Britain in productiveness of the wheatareais Holland, a densely peopled country in which high culture has become the rule. According to the latest official statistics the following are the average rates of yield for the products named in the countries specified : ope Date of | | b 2 Countries. returns, | Wheat. Barley.| Oats. | Rye. | Maize. Bushels.| Bushels.| Bushels.'| Bushels.| Bushels. DOREY are See ac hee RoR eae em oR kao alaaials 1870s |Poe e eee ae een esos as eae ener PRES Ss ade ae See ee MS EEC EE ah cinta ees 1870 22.1 30.3 Spar OU ena ers se ETSI aoe a 2 ayy Se cline cele Siete eile Oat cemsaca. eee S ee 1867 aig fa! Doak 32.9 WOO ae eecs ERT TNS fac sei st Se eal Lae en ae ae eho beens 1863 16.3 20.1 22.5 16.3 24.9 ARV ULIE FED) OLR BBE ne Sees 5 de CDE UE GaOcr DD EE eee 1871 19.3 25.7 28. 4 19.4 18. 4 TERNS S10 | Ee SS Se SO a See ene ae 1870 2.1 43.8 a PASE al eaters TRG NT ETel Gang ae Slee A Se Oe eee ee 1866 20.3 34. 9 41.2 CAG ERE Ace PRT eres cece te Sian ck mimes Sasi. Cascee ses 1869 acca 20.9 25. 6 55 Pik pie te Ue Bes eee Ae SS Sees ee a ee oe eae ae 1865 &9 ial 18.6 | 6.7 20. 0 Spain. Sy eee see SEE gone nae fae: See boo A 1857 | 23.3 oF al Be See Bg44| esse PARTIR en oP ese = oe aoe Sout cedar enon daseeien = - 2 ae 1871 15.2 17.0 19.2 14.7 15: 1 GORGE eases oc sess lee gress ascnue seems eee nd 1867 1352 18.8 49:04) 222 bee 17.4 What is the present British average yield of wheat? It is a matter of estimate. A government census of acreage is taken annually, but not of quantity of product. Some estimates make the average 32 bush- els. Mr. James Caird, who is probably as good authority as can be cited, makes it 28 bushels. In 1850 he placed it at 264 bushels. In 1770, Arthur Young, as the result of careful investigation, made the average 23 bushels. Assuming these figures to be correct, as they are deemed to be substantially by men of the best information and judg- ment, the increase has been is bushels since 1850, and 5 bushels in the last century. This estimate is for Great Britain; the average for Ire- land is placed at 24 bushels. The United Kingdom, therefore, makes an average of about 27 bushels. This is, of course, the average of a series of years, as the influence of the seasons causes fluctuations which pro- bably cannot be measured by less than a range of 15 bushels, or from 20 to 35, bushels. What are the means by which this pre-eminence is attained? Great Britain has a moist climate, less subject to drought than ours, yet the best yield in ten years was in 1868, a season remarkable for its high temperature and continued drought. Much of the area of that country is not adapted to wheat, which is mainly produced along the eastern and southern sea-board, a belt less humid than the northern and west- ern counties, and scarcely extending through three degrees of latitude, in which little more than three millions of acres are cultivated—about the same area as that in wheat the present year in Iowa and Minnesota. The soil is not naturally so superior as to account for the high rate of production, which is mainly due to thorough comminution, manuring, and cultivation of the soil. Ail heavy soils are first underdrained, deep plowing follows, and then the sub-soil is broken; crops of clover collect ammonia from the atmosphere and form nitrates in the soil; crops of turnips, made plethoric by the use of commercial fertilizers, are eaten from the ground by fattening sheep to furnish the richest immediate manuring for the wheat-crop: and then the wheat is drilled in rows as 490 straight as an arrow; the horse-hoe, cultivating a breadth wide as that stirred by acommon harrow, passes once, sometimes twice, with care and celerity between the drills, gently stirring the soil and uprooting weeds, while gangs of hands subsequently pass through the fields to extirpate the larger remaining weeds, which would otherwise go to seed and re- duce future productiveness. Judicious rotation usually comes in to economize in the highest degree and utilize most beneficially the expens- ive stores of plant-food assimilated by the various crops. Almost universally commercial fertilizers are used, not as a main de- pendence in fertilization, but as an adjunct of and complement to the home manures obtained by the feeding of cattle and sheep, and to the | various resources of clovering and green-manuring. It is a confidently received opinion that paying productiveness cannot be permanently maintained without the consumption of a considerable proportion of the farm products of domestic animals. This opinion is accredited with a common-sense basis, and has the sanction of long and successful expe- rience; in the case of the farmer of average skill and of traditional practice it is assuredly the ouly safe rule to follow, as a matter of econo- my in fertilization; except in peculiar circumstances of soiland situation, where suitable artificial aids are abundant and cheap, it is a theory which should be closely adhered to in practice. EXCLUSIVE ARTIFICIAL MANURING.—There are examples of bold and, for the time at least, successful practice in depending almost exclusively upon commercial fertilizers to keep up the fertility of the soil, from which all its products are sold and carried off year after year. While in England, the present summer, the writer visited the scene of a remark- able example of this kind, a brief history of which may be profitably un- folded for suggestion and inquiry, if not for imitation. Mr. John Prout, a London merchant, who had been bred a farmer in England, and had for years of his early life cultivated a farm in Canada, bought in 1861 two old and somewhat dilapidated farms in Hertford- shire, near Sawbridgeworth, about thirty miles northeast from the me- tropolis. They comprised 460 acres, the soil of which was a eclay-loam, which had been worked only three or four inches in depth, was “ clover- sick,” and so unproductive that it was sold at the low price of £35 per acre. The neighbors were inclined to regard with derision the expec- tations of the city farmer, and freely prophesied a loss of patience or money, or both, and the abandonment of the effort. His first move- ment was the destruction of most of the hedge-rows, which divided the land into fifty-one irregular, small, and inconvenient parcels, thus saving, in the space oceupied by hedges and ditches, 16 acres, at a cost of £311 for the improvement. A further yain of 2} acres was made by filling a moat and ponds. This area was divided into twelve fields. Exchanges of land were effected and lines straightened to economize the work of culture by the use of steam. A thorough system of tile-draining was then constructed, and an open ditch cut at one point to facilitate surface-drainage. These im- provements brought the cost of the investment to £59, or $250, per acre. Being now ready for soil preparation, he bought a set of John Fowler & Co.’s steam-plowing tackle, at $6,000, and kept it at work much of the time, in 1862 and 1863, plowing 1,401 acres, sub-soiling 277, and scari- fying 480; in all, 2,158 acres in those seasons. Mr. Prout says: ‘ Plow often, plow deep, keep constantly plowing, was my motto for the first few years.” The cost of this plowing, in comparison with horse-power, is deemed less than the same depth of pulverization by the old method, though more per acre than the shallow culture formerly practiced. Some 491 neighbors who doubted the economy of steam were offered a round price, $5 per acre, for similar work, but, after making experiments with an acre or two, declined to proceed even at that price. After the first four years little subsoiling was deemed necessary. The follow- ing statement shows the amount and kind of steam-plowing done in eleven years: ; Sub-soiling. | Plowing. Searifying. AS} ag as Acres. Acres. Acres. Tetal anaes 208) Se se ees Ain 277 1, 401 480 2,158 SG A eee eee See 191 | - 409 264 | 864 WSO see ssa slsacss (cements 98 496 317 911 HEIs tetas ets oo Sane Meas lenges leases SUD ee aes = oe =| 310 ies tigers AS acts ork le Se wee ete [nie oid 6 ee ise 637 174 | Sil Mise 2.5 dares irates Stet atone sie [Paeaiere slag Maw S22 vel | 257 | 573 Lisle Sere) Sy Sea AES Ne, Son Oh 2 ee ee ee 386 116 | 502 es (Oma ars sans Sotemeie(facsee « [ace esatee ols 231 277 | 558 cies Oars Ae ee | 296 130 426 Mei ee Doe eek hs Pose 57 304 5d 416 SUN hae, ot oN ed a. [a Ce ogy | gee eae | . 7,584 Wishing to avail himself of any possible aid from chemistry, Mr. Prout .obtained from Dr. Voelcker analyses of three samples, repre- senting fairly the peculiar constitution of the varieties of soil found on his property. They show no remarkable degree of fertility, although they possess abundance of aluminum and lime, important though com- mon and inexpensive constituents of a good clay soil. An apparent excess of oxide of iron has not materially depressed the rate of yield. The following is the record of the chemist: : NG: Tel No: 22 “Noma Rmiaanicnmaglelss setae woe eae ooo ao Wu o.oo cdlde Soe epee eee ALS 4. 46 5. 49 ORIG CCL EN ee eR i oo Sns5 Sina ens « oe Sees Pepe 4. 80 4,29 aon PUM ae eee esse dacs Bees matoan aa dle See eee 5. 29 4. 90 2. 06 SeUUOMa LOO NMG saan e see inc eisk nn os cone ee eo eee 2. 45 4,74 1.80 PRIS LIEU Gr CLO ve rene ee ee oof de Sea eee . 08 .O1 . 09 [EROS THONG SACO ss lowe t eee Se ee 5. poche een deen oe ONL O s12 OT. Mirage SUT e t= eas Meee Me oo. aaa nae aa ee ele 1. 84 1.59 . 80 THOUS AiO aie eas ee | a a AS A ss ent Sn Sy | ate aii BVOC ote ters ee eo tee Oe te ok Jo ee eae ae eae ee USO raGens .16 insolablevmatters)........ 22528020. Ba fins So Soke eee aS (95S £95175) SOSOL PRO tals ose = a aerate se cece ce . « Nacmeemasaeeioe 100.00 100.00 100.09 Semen WARIO. 2-025 cademete. --~--- on 02 «eee OeUL: AQ GE cana The accompanying plans represent the property as it was originally and as it appears at present. The proprietor furnishes the following explanations: The parts shaded show the fields that were either exchanged or bought. It may be seen that some were most inconveniently situated. There are still, according to new plan, several pieces that it would be advisable to buy, but they are so tied up that they cannot be sold. It may be noticed that the course of the public road from Sweet Dews to corner of private gravel-road has been changed and made straight by agreement with the Lord of the Manor, and undertaking to incur a great part of the expense of, making the same myself. I gained half an acre of land by the improvement. The thick dotted line running from Blount’s farm-house to southwestern extremity of farm is a wide open ditch receiving the drainage of all fields on that side of farm. In field No. 5, two wells of large size have been made. The one near the public road takes the water from a natural spring. There isa pump in the road to take this water for engines. The other well receives the drains from the surrounding fields. ‘ENANTAONANE TWO SWUVA TO NVTd eo =| ~ =| =) ua i) 42 & AS bo] [=| ce mM i] Leo] RY, fe x) ry (>) a ios} 4 D ot Le= j E 5 DQ 5 a] D Ciel q ~ Chet >} oO nc n & d on the margin. m bd > gine, marked as indicate ards in length alon Dn a Z N G AS > Pad 2) oe s 698 WHV4SLNINOTE, wo { S Goo WYHAVH \ \ a 290 aoe V2 Slo 2 od cig CES ala 3 i Oo w ond 2s haces rae gag plas: Son ogs iS 2% 9 ~ B.A 5 A oR Aes AW PLAN OF ESTATE AS IMPROVED, De 4 ay + SE la uw = = w Meee ou ee tl i i al i the Pee ny aie El 2 este Qa a | = ai i ceva! ‘ A ke ae ev cs Z gfe ee oS) Ome | iit uy | ES Blin Sis ey ao oF This soil not only needed annual supplies of fertilizers, but this inno- vating system of farming to be inaugurated made requisite an unusual quantity and nice discriminations in kind. He proposed to sell his crops 494 “«by auction as they stood upon the land, the purchaser reaping, cart- ing, and thrashing, and taking away both corn and straw.” This prac- tice appears to have been accepted cautiously, and obviously with some doubt as to results. In the first year, 1862, he fattened 68 oxen, but deciding upon making a radical departure, he kept but one cow in 1863 ; in 1864 all crops were sold from the farm; in 1865 he so far relapsed as to fatten 14 bullocks, but has since utterly discarded horned-stock, as well as sheep and pigs, and reducing his stock of working horses.from 10 to 6. The horse-hoeing, both for cultivation and ~ destruction of weeds, “which is always done once, sometimes twice, is performed by horse-power. During the era of deepening the soil, from three or four to eight or nine inches, with sub-soiling to fifteen, fertilizers were not applied very liberally. Since that time their annual cost has been 50 shillings, or $12.50 gold per acre for the entire farm area. The varieties used are super-phosphates, ground bone, guano, and nitrates, the two former mainly. The bone is ground very fine and mixed with super- phosphates, the whole mass moistened with water and allowed to re- main for several months before using. The cost in detail has been as follows, (discarding fractions:) Purchased from 1861 to 1865 to the value of £640; in 1866, £434; 1867, £529; 1868, £1,473; 1869, £1,282 ; 1870, £1,551; 1871, £1, 030. As home-fertilizers were discarded, so also, finding wheat the most profitable crop, he ventured to disregard rotation more and more, until now the wheat area is more than 300 acres. He regards less than 40 bushels per acre a poor crop, and claims to have once obtained 65 bushels per acre. That whatever of system or want of system may be shown plainly, the alternation of crops actually practiced is here given in some of the larger fields: CROSSFIELDS, (1.) Acres Acres b862. Spring-beans..-.-.-i---..'.-..-:.8l) Tares and. oats....... -..... -oe-= eee Bebo. wy heats sort enee er eee kl oe SOW) OBtS. 2b ac cleccc eves cehcs eee ee eee 25 Peb4-UPlallow telcos. olka Sole 57 SGV Gaib kere cee ohn oat Sal ae AQ Swedes... .<..2— gees een hee eee 8 MBOGMIDATIOY | Lott cstcecwece ee eee 57 PSOE AMLOW Go ow owe cone ole bene eee 310) QU er a ee ee 18 MSO MVM OAL. s ccvece acicecele ticeeeiee coe 57 MSO OsR SAMO) Oi ccin oe dace ee ee cme AQ Wucerne, (2... .-oicce cece eee eee eee 8 PSVO MS ATTOIN: Sele ocice pose eee ee ee AQ) Tmcerme 232.2 <2 32.356 see eee 3 PSS AMON LS cs Seo e wee ee ADS. TUCCING sevice ccceds coe eee 8 EF OMNVIN GAINES cock oie le a oe crete cee B47) Oats) p20... .cace obec oe Heeeoe ae 23 EV Oo mV Nea bE eee = oes Ge oes ae eee HOMEFIELD, (6.) ° Acres. Acres. Acres. T8622 Wallowen 62 oe aclc< 43. Pobatoespeeeee =<... Beams:..2 220s. = eee 16 LS7OseWineaib y= e.setci ee AY ~ (Barley seteoss. ss 8 Sid, Barley ce eee. oe 60 Sev Gait, once enters eee 60 Levou Wheat J. se ee 45 495 WuitrEt Moor, (7.) Acres _ Acres A Acres Rene: Oates vee is ese BUS SEAUS ene woe las Soc ee AMID ATCRI sci2 ce) on see eee 10 ees) Fail lOWewcie sevens eros AMC OES ages Ne 17 Peode Wiheab) i 2sGees aces 66 BESO ONGS cee ewes Loe eRe OW! 220%. cases SB ICMAT OSU tersic ce Jase ace 6 eobse Wheat’. 22h. See 66 18672) Cares and) fallow: 32 (Barley -.-.-.-.2. 2-25.33 LSbS sy Banley. sas! The average receipts per acre, without any expense for harvesting, during the past six years, after the seed-bed had been deepened and put in proper condition, have ranged from $50 to $60 per acre. The largest yields were in 1863 and 187, seasons very favorable to wheat production, especially the former. The average annual expenses are thus summed up by the proprietor : IMAM DOnse Sse coco Se dee otto SOL. cienis Soe So Ge ia Cie eee Wselotesix HORSOS 0) 25.nc0 25. Goss Sees ote 7: SE eee ee eee 180 Coalttor’twolmonth’s plowing so) 2 See onal. Se eee 42 ee tae ee ec tain) ais a ea ON Cera" Doh Ae es ee 5 Wrearand teariot ‘machinery: = j2.- 22s seme ee ote aeons se ereeecre cee a Wepreciation o percent. on! L1;065!, Ce See ees ses. LC eee ae Interestzronpericent.on) 6 06002. eccrine Sas os ee ee Sees 53 SEeus (MALE OIOSUITOALE) ‘52 Vosicd oc cee SEER one atae alee e ee 250 ATCA smanures, at 503. per aeres. sseee ses sae a. Jo ke oe ee £2, 330 GMa UE OHPOL ACTO << 2b cctit c/s lace See ee eles wk. ble Se 900 Rates. axes; anduincidentale22! Jute semen es getuel. <2 o[Sa se aa ea ee 220 =, 120 2 Motaleyearly outlay it 22 22s ewer te ees cs be a baer ee £3, 450 The total proceeds of 1870 were equivalent to $26,000 in gold, and for a series of years have averaged $23,000, while the net profit, after laying aside $4,500 in lieu of rent, is about $6,000. This is 45 per cent. of the gross returns. ‘The soil is in excellent tilth ; its burden of wheat this summer, as seen in June, was uniform and of vigorous growth, and it is quite evident that with judicious cultivation more than average crops may yet be expected in the future. The ultimate result is a sub- ject of conjecture with farmers, but the proprietor has no fears while he continues to obtain, from so little labor, not less than $50 per acre. This example is given, not to commend the exclusive use of fertilizers, hut to show the extraordinary results of deep cultivation, ample fertil- ization, and clean and thorough culture. There are in this country abundant resources for improvement of the soil without any extensive use of commercial fertilizers. There is required the constant exercise of a discriminating judgment in adapting means to ends. There are soils in so complete comminution and naturally possessing so fine drain- age that deep cultivation is unnecessary, upon which frequent and light surface-manuring is indicated. Let our farmers first know intimately the characteristics of their soils, and then apply liberally, though eco- nomically, the means of securing large returus from them. ENTOMOLOGICAL RECORD. By TOWNEND GLOVER, ENTOMOLOGIST. GRAPE-VINE BorErs.—Mr. Fred. J. Kron, of Albemarle, North Car- olina, in a letter to the Department, complains bitterly of the injury done to all varieties of grape-vines by the grape-vine borer, dgeria polistiformis, described and figured in former reports of the Department, (1854, p. 80, and 1867, p. 72.) Mr. Kron states the insect has destroyed for him one hundred and seven varieties of grapes, derived from the Luxembourg, in Paris, including some five thousand vines; and adds, that there is but one variety that has, so far, defied its ravages, and that is the seuppernong, which flourishes in the midst of the devastation caused by the borer, all around it. Mr. Kron likewise states that he 497 found a phylloxera on Clinton root, and adds: “The insect has been noticed here for more than thirty years,” but he does not complain of its doing much injury. / In connection with this last-named insect, so destructive to the grape- vines of France, Mr. Gaston Bazille, vice-president of the Agricultural Society of Hérault, publishes a remedy for the Phylloxera, which is translated and republished ey Mr. Charles V. Riley, in the New York Tribune, as follows: Three holes are made arouud the injured or infested vine, varying the depth accord- ing to the nature of the soil, but generally 24 feet. These Loles were made in the ex- periments reported, by means of a pointed iron bar and a heavy maul. A tube, with a funnel attached, is placed in the hole, two ounces of sulphuret of carbon are poured into the tube, which is then closed with a cork. The vapor of the sulphuret of carbon permeates the soil and impregnates all the roots of the vine. The gas engendered (though not the case with the liquid) is not fatal to the vine, but is sure death to the insects. Four ounces of the liquid has been found sufficient for an ordinary vine; but sprinkling on the surface must be carefully avoided, as it is in such a case very injuri- ous to the vine, whereas a pound may be used,in the soil without injury to the roots. INSECT INJURIES.—The regular statistical correspondence of the De- partment shows very great injuries, especially to the cotton-crop. The potato-crop was considerably affected in the Middle and Northwestern States, and the grain-crops in the West. Cotton-caterpillar, or army-worm, (Anomis xyline.)—This insect during the month of September extendedits ravages into the more northern of the cotton-raising States. In Virginia it is noticed in two counties, Southampton and Princess Anne. In North Carolina it appeared for the first time in Beaufort, Stanly, and Chowan counties, where its ravages were quite serious. In Pitt it was very injurious to bottom- crops. It appeared ag early as August 15 in Lenoir, and a month later in Sampson and Jones. It stripped the plants in Currituck, Perquimans, Bladen, and Stanly. In the last-named it was questioned whether it did any real damage; the stripping of the leaves, it is suggested, only expedited the opening of the bolls. In South Carolina greater or less injuries are reported in Richland. New- berry, Chesterfield, Williamsburgh, Lexington, Orangeburgh, Laurens, and Edgefield counties. In Georgia they appeared in Upson, McDuffie, Lincoln, Dooly, Carroll, Liberty, Marion, Sampson, Butts, Richmond, Gwinnett, Twiggs, Baldwin, Calhoun, Madison, Wilkinson, Wilkes, Jackson, Coweta, and Whitfield. In Worth it took a third of the crop ; in Muscogee the foliage, the top crop, and part of the middle crop were destroyed; in Clinch half the crop was ruined, and in Lee 20 per cent. ; in Heard the ravages were worse than was ever before known. Florida reports very severe injuries in Taylor, Columbia, Suwannee, and Ham- ilton counties. In Alabama slight damage was inflicted in Geneva County, but more severe in Greene, Clarke, Chambers, Bibb, Calhoun, Hale, and Randolph. The caterpillar was mischievous in several coun- ties of Mississippi, viz: Pike, Warren, Wilkinson, Rankin, Claiborne, Clarke, Jasper, Madison, Winston, Washington, and Holmes. In Lee the damages were mostly restricted to low, rich lands; in Leflore the crop was reduced 20 per cent. In Tuscaloosa the pests were effectually resisted by an early and persistent application of poisons. In Louisiana the presence of the worms, with greater or less injuries, is reported in Claiborne, Washington, Franklin, East Baton Rouge, West Feliciana, Concordia, Bossier, and Tensas. In Henderson County, Texas, cater- pillars destroyed a fourth of the cotton, the fields being stripped bare of leaves. In Liberty they unaccountably stopped short of the entire destruction of the crop. Destructive visitations are reported in Nacog- 498 . doches, Washington, Marion, Red River, Upshur, Shelby, and Cherokee. In Matagorda it was found that Paris green was successful, but in wet « seasons the poison must be applied every time the worm hatches. In. Arkansas three counties—Union, Columbia, and Clark—record the pres- ence of these pests. : Boll-iworms (Heliothis armigera) were very destructive in Chesterfield County, South Carolina, and are reported in Upson, McDuffie, Butts, Twiggs, Baldwin, and Heard Counties, Georgia. In Green and Hale Counties, Alabama, they were very mischievous, with a light visitation in Geneva. In Lee County, Mississippi, they were observed only on low, rich lands; they were troublesome in Pike and Wilkinson. They were very bad in Morehouse and Bossier parishes, Louisiana. In Titus County, Texas, they cut down the crop twenty per cent., and were more or less destructive in Rush, Upshur, Shelby, and Cherokee. They were also heard from in Clark County, Arkansas. Grasshoppers, (Caloptenus sp.)—These insects were destructive in Bandera County, Texas, and in Uvalde, where their ravages were es- pecially noticeable in wheat and oats. In Bradley County, Tennessee, they were bad in corn; in Hancock they destroyed the turnip-crops. -They were observed *in the growiig wheat in Livingston County, Ken- tucky. In Medina County, Ohio, they injured tobacco; in Geauga and Mahoning, corn and oats; in Crawford they nearly ruined clover. They were abundant in Orange and Hamilton Counties, Indiana, and in Win- nebago and Edwards Counties, Illinois. -They were destrustive on crops generally in Ramsey County, Minnesota, and especially affected Chinese sugar-cane in Martin. Iowa reports them only in Sioux County. In Missouri they shortened the cabbage’ and turnip crops of Clay County; in Montgomery and Franklin they were destructive in the growing wheat; in Pettis they destroyed fall pastures. They swept the buckwheat-crop in Osage County, Kansas, and were observed in the cereal crops in Smith County, as well as in Weld County, Colorado, and Lewis and Clark County, Montana. Potato insects.—Both the Colorado beetle, (Doryphora decem-lineata,) and the common black potato-bug, (Hpicauta (atrata) pennsylvanica,) have been heard from in the Middle and Western States. In Cambria County, Pennsylvania, the bugs followed the gathered crop into the cellar, and also ‘fell upon the tomatoes. They swept late plant- ings in Armstrong, Indiana, and Butler Counties ; the Early Rose and other early varieties matured before their advent. The same is reported of Fentress County, Tennessee ; bugs are reported also in Dickson and in Tyler, Brooke, iayette, and Pleasants Counties, West Virginia. They were encountered in Mahoning, Geauga, Erie, and Crawford Counties, Ohio. In Clinton County, Michigan, they were less troublesome than last year, while in Calhoun they were successfully resisted with Paris green. Their ravages were more or less serious in Boone County, Tli- nois, in Dunn County, Wisconsin, in Ramsey and Nicollet Counties, . Minnesota, in Muscatine County, Lowa, in Washington County, Kansas, and in Madison County, Nebraska. Chinch-bugs (Micropus (Rhyparochromus) leucopterus) are reported in Adams County, Ohio, and in Ripley and Scott Counties, Indiana, where they ravaged wheat, oats, and corn. They were also virulent in Clin- ton, Edwards, Washington, Pope, and Boone Counties, Illinois, and in Polk, Lawrence, Pulaski, and Phelps Counties, Missouri. In Labette County, Kansas, it is estimated that but for these insects the enormous wheat-crop woulda have reached another quarter million of bushels. 499 They were very injurious also in Montgomery, Cherokee, and Wilson. _In the last-named county bottom crops generally escaped. Grub-worms (Lachnosterna sp.) damaged grass and corn crops in High- land County, Virginia, and in Mercer and Berkeley Counties, West Vir- Fruit-caterpillars (Clistocampa) are reported in Floyd County, In- diana. Cut-worms (Agrotis sp.) were humerous and destructive in Saint Mary’s County, Maryland, and in Grundy County, Tennessee. Tobacco-worms, ’ probably Macrosila carolina, were troublesome in Montgomery County, Tennessee, and in Dallas County, Missouri. Bud-worms.—Insects designated by this unmeaning term were destructive in the corn-crops of Uvalde County, Texas, and Scott County, Arkansas. Several species of destructive insects are known by this name in different parts of the country. W heat-midge (Diplosis tritici) was observed in Mercer County, West Virginia, and in Ripley County, Indiana. Hessian fly, (Cecidomyia destructor,) Edwards County, Ulinois. Black weevil (Sitophilus oryz@) troubled the wheat-crops in Knox County, Tennessee. . In Grundy County, Tennessee, Pi grape-crop was injured by several insects. In Sevier County a remarkable absence of birds is mentioned and a consequent prevalence of various destructive insects; red and black oaks were stripped of their foliage, the red oak suffering more than the black. In Floyd County, Indiana, innumerable varieties of worms infested forest trees, the walnut being especially affected. CHEMICAL MEMORANDA. By WiLL1aM McMurtrin, CHEMIST. GREENSAND MARL.—During the month of April of the present year this Department received from Mr. E. A. Vannort, Hanesyille, Kent County, Maryland, a sample of greensand marl for analysis, which has the following composition : Tiere eRe Ae ee ee we Se eS Se ert a3 35175 OPT PSA T NEG ETN Ay GEST eye cats ae a on ooo ania ae ee eet et 4.475 Silica Gb ee EOSIN She Sa so Sohal Sa eine Se RTE 6's 9 SU Seed COS BAe 48, 481 ArOvOS1OC ObMIROM dane te ARC od le eee Ae EL See ese 6. 430 GEOR ICC OLALNION aah ceteeeene ne 2 i Se hs EGE ee ts ENE BARRY Ee SE 13. 901 SU er Sain erie RS BC RET a 5 a EES SRO fT A) ey Sr eae 10, 9944 NS DNGLI Cel Gose ra Co ametIe eN s L at e a eeene ot hess ons! he 0. 0086 PENT eee ee ee ee or | LE ap ANS NE 6. ic a kc elniebe Sonat a a RO GSTa hee se oe te ete ee nes pave, caret ins LES oto y fe oe) ances 3. 1638 TIS N97 = a en a ee et a ee Fe cus ane 6. 767 Shard Ve se ae eres Ee EE rr rr re SEIN. 2 Lae ea oe i 0. 805 ‘ ” 100. 3168 This compares very favorably with marls of like character from the extensive deposits of New Jersey and other localities. Opium FRoM NortH CARoLINA.—Many experiments have been tried with varied success in the way of cultivation of poppy in different parts of our country, and this Department has lately received a commu- nication from Mr. F. J. Kron on this subject, accompanied with a speci- 500 men of opium produced near Albemarle, Stanley County, North Caro- lina, which presented a very fair appearance. The following is Mr. Kron’s communication : Some four years ago seed of the opium-poppy, originally derived from Turkey, was obtained from the Department of Agriculture and has been experimented with here ‘ever since. Theresults have demonstrated that both our climate and our soil are well adapted to the production of either poppy-seed for the manufacture of poppy oil, (huile @oliette of the French,) or of opium as good as can be made anywhere. The results have ever shown that the plant here is decidedly hardy; contrary to what is stated concerning it in the report of our consular agent at Smyrna, in 1869, where it is repre- sented as being tender to frost.. Here where the temperature some years falls below zero, the seed sown, as in Asia Minor, in the fall, vegetates freely and passes the winter safely, to present, in the spring, plants of remarkable vigor, provided with heads which are numerous and large, far superior to the plants raised from seed sown in the spring. The yield, however, has not thus far been abundant enough to make the culture re- munerative. An idea may be formed in that respect from the fact that only 216 grains of opium were obtanied from 220 heads. But the quality of the opium produced is something superior to anything we can obtainin commerce. It is all opium; none of the filth and seed which often constitute three-fifths of the bulk of the opium sent to us here. In medicinal properties it will not disappoint the practitioner, but present him with all that is expected from the greatest of boons of Providence to suffering humanity. The sample of opium sent. was free from foreign matters; was well dried, and was quite hard and resinous. When pulverized and sub- jected to analysis, the air-dried product yielded 5.01 per cent. of pure morphine. This proportion of morphine is rather low; yet it is nearly equal to that of many varieties of opium from India. In order that this result may be compared with results of analyses of opium from other localities, we give below a table of results obtained by different analysts. Locality. u pee eo Analyst. SAVIN AS os cee os oes selene ses oceans 12 to 14 Guibourt. DEAD Re (Ola) Pes eae ee AR Se ae Ee Eo Gees see 5.8 .to 6.6 std ES (UNOTIED) 2 s- 6 4---- eee ee eee 6 holed \wareie BiplOd ian «sass ME setae ts see ee £2 EY: 5.3 to 7.7 | Guibourt. eb ae eee ee eee eres es St er Sey GIES Y/ ' “ AUserian (White POPpPles).--ck- -==---saeaceeesee= =~ = | 1.52 to 8.57) Aubergier. Pee (red Popples)-=-s202 sscese 2-=—-eeeeeeeeor se oe 10.37 to 11.23 % ‘ey(purple poppies)s: cs 22. Leee= seers eae= 2s = 4,71 to 17.83 a Brirh (blue poppies) =<: s2.2 «232-2 sseeeee ae vies= e- - = 16.6 to 20 Blitz. RM WHLTe POP PICS) --..\= so a =. erersnap sa seo per lb Butter, choice dairy --.-. --. do... MIME = Seen ses do... Cheese, Ohio factory .---..-- do._ N.Y. factory----- do. . Cotton,middling ...-.....-... do... . Wool, tub- washed..--.-.--- doses unwashed combing .-do-.- NEW ORLEANS. Flour, superfine ...--.... per bbl OXbER. ts. eee ee do... Ghoiee <2.sa5522-ee"5 “ee Corn, white, choice. -.--- per bush VOUOW —2-p score ee do. . Oats, Choice 2..---25-- s=--< do. iEiay, CHOICE. cone ee eee per ton PLIME |. 252th ee nase do. POTK, MESS 22-5 s2e5-4 per bbl per -Fexas, 22.038 s22e0as=- aot northern and western, per parrel 222---e-2, ses bee Fulton market-..per 3 bbl. WAAR 2 <2 os.. eee olive = lee eee IDVEAINO -oocc oe cw ec cie ce oes we melee ace now eee ss ooo Bec oe ee ee ee Digestibility of phosphoric acid and lime ...........-...--.---------.--- Manganese 10 Weech-leaves.. oe oceans ~ «== some sae ie eee Eifiect of street-gas on vegetation --.— . 22225 2... cs cen ae See ena alnene Freezing wines.-.--- Spode eo Bno cp aoseee 75+ supeapeeStoseeddse- Ss05-5-- Nghe AtIONIOL BOUS) “oe. see eelee cele vi teemera a= == 2 ceccehes css eee eee Respiration by aquatic veretation'..--- cos. .---.- sco mnce on acee ene nee inet itie PlOWULES on en oe mo oe ae ae = @ =~ ee ee BOTANY: ID ABICAINOLCS aes sc sce << 6 onic Seclec ete sie see melee cece c= nove cece aap eee eee IBTOMUSISCULAICLL - occ 5c wacccns cert ee lemon ee acacs votes cees pee eee eee Anmileciaichhysanhle oo colle oo eee et een >= lee neta serene pe CONG MOWOD. = - a t- cee biacle se eee Rep eeee << .-ie@n/s see os eeee eee MOrEMLYZAONOLHOWEIS: 5& ot eced vot vee Doaeee ke cle ee bcc tees cena eee MicROSCOPY : MIGTOREODIC ODSEDVaLIONS =< eases se see cee enfen =a ae «oe oie ae ae WINGASOA OL OFAN PC-bLGES! sa = —scicen sag mea een loe ae nie = Feiner WONTELY REPORT. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, Statistical Division, November 25, 1873. Sir: I herewith communicate for publication a digest of the Novem- ber returns, showing the comparative production of corn, cotton, hay, potatoes, and other crops, with extracts from regular correspondence, tables of current prices of certain farm products, statistics illustrating the condition of agriculture in several European countries, and matter pertaining to the operations of the several divisions of the Department. J. BR. DODGE, Statistician. Hon. FREDERICK WATTS, Commissioner. DIGEST OF CROP RETURNS. CORN. The November returns do not materially change the corn prospect as indicated in October. This crop is so generally grown, its importance so great in the farm economy, that the reports are not only numerous, but more accurate than local estimates of the minor crops can be, and may be relied on as approximating closely the actual fact—possibly not so closely aS census returns, perhaps in some cases a greater approach to accuracy. The so-called failure in 1869 was indicated before the crop was ripe. Instead of eleven hundred millions of bushels, or even ten hundred, the estimates footed up’but eight hundred and seventy-four ; and a large amount of soft corn was subsequently fed as forage, and not counted as corn gathered in the census. The gathered corn re- ported in the census was seven hundred and sixty millions of bushels, an aggregate actually less by seventy-eight millions than the crop of 1859, reported ten years previously. The estimate was not a bushel higher than the actual amount of corn in the fields at the time, including the soft corn, not of equal value, but utilized for feeding purposes. There was a good corn-crop in 1870, and the estimate was two hundred and twenty millions higher than that of 1869. The present returns indicate another “failure” in the exaggerated language of crop conversation and random crop reporting—a reduction of two hundred and thirty-three millions from that of last year. The per centage of the previous crop is 78. This gives eight hundred and fifty-eight million bushels. Only six States appear to have as much corn as in 1869, 522 viz, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Oregon, and Rhode Island. The reduction in the principal corn-growing States is made as follows: Kentucky, 4 per cent.; Ohio, 11; Michigan, 17; Indiana, 22; Illinois, 29; Wisconsin, 13; Minnesota, 10; Iowa, 28; Missouri, 32; Kan- sas, 31; Nebraska, 40. Last year’s estimate for Illinois was two hun- dred and seventeen millions; the present, one hundred and thirty-two millions—a difference of eighty-five millions. The percentages in the following principal counties, each of which produces from one to five millions in an average season, are: Montgomery, 33; Mason, 40; Adams, Bureau, De Witt, Moultrie, Piatt, Stevenson, Vermillion, 50; Mercer, 55 ; Cass, Lee, Marshall, Whitesides, Winnebago, 60; Hancock, Knox, Tazewell, 65; Ogle, 66; Edgar, Pike, Warren, 70; Sangamon, 72; Car- Douglas, roll, McHenry, Marion, Wayne, 75; Henry, Macon, 80; Starke, Saint Clair, 90; Madison, 100. . Fhe reduction is heavy also inslowa; the following counties, which count by millions of bushels, returning percentages as follows: Fre- mont, Marion, 50; Benton, Jefferson, Mills, 60; Tama, 65; Madison, 70; Clinton, Jones, Mehaska, 75; Iowa, Lee, 80; Jackson, 85; Linn, 90. The percentage for New York is 92; for Pennsylvania, 84; Tennessee, 91; Mississippi, 85; Arkansas, 90; Texas,75. Nebraska gives the low- est percentage; Florida the highest. A classification of the counties show that, of 983 represented, 652 return smaller products than those of 1872 ; 185 larger, and 146 the same as last year, as follows: *" 6). 16 ‘ 5 ~~, fas.| se. | Seer SEs oe CES oR os3 128. | gee |ge States co2 | S63 | S85 | Es 3) oO o = -) b eS = 2 z = Dn 5 = D 2 a a + Bes | 25 | Bes | eae Z ~a z a a ~A = or LO) AS BUSS BSR ReO Sen OnE eee Se SSeee. 5 eae | Soot oe taal lock ee since 9 9 ING@xyPHampPBLING n= Ceo see eee oe Cee ne oe eos ae eee ne eee =~ esas Se 5 3 8 WWeErINOn pesca.) a: ~~ eee eee eee ee ao. fi da = 5-2 ee oe 1 3 7 il MaSHACHUSOLUS..-- 2-4 hsbc eee ne ascet wages <-eaatoeeonenes 1 3 3 74 Rhode Island .....--.------.-..-. 2oSSU SSSRE RRS E ge = Eee 1 pa Ree: 3 CHT MCC UA AS ES ee AL ee RR ee eee pie a ee Se ee 1 4 5 NB WG; SOU a= 22 e.. caeh os Se pee te ae et 3k eb 8 6 27 41 ING Wiel GINOYi io 22s oetee- oclegee sc en cece toe ane eee = in 4 1 8 13 Pennsylvania .-.-.....+--- ae SES BD ues Ce ee eee a a ° 3 6 29 38: TPES Ley pa eee © a Se eae SMa... Sea a ae Soe oc 1 1 WRETV AMC ees ea cee ete n kant ens came ae eee == oil (ei Ear 6 10. Suara 2 ease Sek ea. Peek < et oS ee ees = Q7 8 19 54 NGO NAS s = 2. co Mee ms fe esos o sleSente Gece tems | ny a5 3 | ra2 | wrt 2 i} FE mw. fy : Sum | aq | wpa Oo 2 States. ag AS ) Sere ae a =O | oc: ont Ll } — sg =< 23 cee: = 2 al A Sens) Zi al Bales Bales Bales OF AO UTE ae rae eae | 144, 935 180, 000 176, 400 STEMS AROUND oxo fice cicis bee ee aa joe Ah sence tee 224, 500 276, 000 253, 920 On ELE She Sa See ee eee Ran amie sis 473, 934 595, 000 577, 150 TEC EN CES Se Ss eae ak ae 2 39, 789 47, 000 BAM CLI Cerne rie eee lois osc = wee eels wks Baie 429, 482 530, 000 | 486, 850 RURISMISND Plo eeas ce eee fe cena Seeirieeese ae 564, 938 744, 000 632, 400 MORIA 2 oer 8 ele oo hk took es eb oS Pe 350, 832 501, 000 | 400, 800 PP MAN cate Anes dans o a mtetonc ena ms sie Tons ee 350, 626 467, 000 523, 040 PALE MIRE S) ccs cleats soba ten Gas oAG So Scictles ees 247, 968 335, 000 | 341, 700 PROMMIGRRGO! oom > Selb niaiaace eee sae oes aaee 181, 842 240, 000 244, 800 meal re eos LSI eros fis. 3. 28 oS. 3, 008, 848 | 3,920,000 | 3, 682, 650 This aggregate, with the small quantity grown outside of the limits of the, cotton States, will make the total estimate of the November re- turns, as nearly as possible, three million seven hundred thousand bales. As the weather and other circumstances continue to affect the ultimate outcome of the crop, in the more southern and larger States, until Christmas, the result may yet be modified by an exceptionally favorable season in the latter part of November and in December, on the one side, or by storms affecting injuriously the saving of the crop on the other. Low prices and Scarcity of pickers may cause a remnant of the crop to be left in the field, as some correspondents have already suggested. The yield per acre is much lower than usual in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The average is always comparatively high in the latter State, the cotton acreage being almost exclusively on productive lands. This is also true of a large proportion of the cotton-fields of Arkansas. Mississippi gives a high rate of yield in the river counties, on the Yazoo and Big Black, and in the rotten-limestone lands of Hinds and Madison; but the counties of Eastern and Southern Mississippi, large in total area, but not in cotton acreage, make smaller yields and reduce the general average. In Texas the yields have always been reported high because cotton is generally planted on very productive soils, of which there is yet an abundant supply for selection. VIRGINIA.— Sussex : Cotton-crop will be 50 per cent. greater than last year ; a worm, heretofore unknown, stripped the leaves just before the cool nights of October. Sur- rey: Has opened well, and promises a good yield of good quality. .Greenville: Shipped about 4,000 bales. Dinwiddie: Increase in acreage 30 per cent.; decreased yield per oer 10 per cent.; rain caused dropping of forms and rust. The quality of lint is good. _ Nortu Carouina.—Rutherford : Yield and acreage 50 per cent. above average; qual- ity very good. Stanley: Crop has grown well, but there is a lack of labor to save it ; much will necessarily be left to destruction. Chowan: Shortened by rain and worms. i ) 531 Hameit: Crop reduced to an averageby wet. Catawba: Increased acreage will about make up deficiency i in yield. Craven: Increased acreage will bring a deficient crop up: to average. Piit: Top crops taken by worms ; boll-worm i injurious ; crop marketed early through necessity. Tyrrell: Below average ; unprepitious season and caterpil- Jars. Beaufort: Shortened by wet and caterpillars; fields that were expected to turn out 1,000 pounds per acre are realizing but 500 to 600 ; caterpillars saved the top-crop: from the frost. Alamance: Plants hada fine stalk, but the season was too wet for their maturity. Zenoir: Short 10 per cent. Gaston: Satisfactory ; yield of lint fair; frost October 20; damage not known. Franklin: Increased acreage will bring the crop up to last year’ 8, Or nearly so. Davidson: Late spring frosts kept back the crop too late to mature well.. Greene: Low prices do not justify more than 40 cents per hundred for picking, a rate which does not attract laborers; yield athird below average and 25. per cent. below last year. Granville: Acreage three times that of last year; lint very good. Haywood: Did not mature well on the high table-lands. Rowan: Attacked by army-worms October 5 and stripped; opened unusually early. Currituck: Prospect good till the army-worm came. Panilico : Army-worms have reduced a crop promising 20 per cent. increase to last year’s standard ; rain and rustalso injurious as well as the money panic. Northampton: Good weather has opened the crop more freely of late ; second picking good. Martin: Yield small; quality good. Perquimons: Half crop in yield, but increased acreage will carry it to 70 per cent. probably ; cotton won’t pay at less than 15 cents per pound. Sourm CaroLina.—Edgefield: Season fine for picking. JVilliamsburgh: Miserably poor; half of last year’s crop will not pay cost. Lexington: Below last year; ran to weed, and was afterward eaten by worms. Georgetown: “‘Santee grades,’ approxi- mating long staple or sea island, have done well. Short staples have also proved re- munerative. Marion: Overrun by ¢ crass in the spring and early summer; stripped by caterpillars on the more improved lands. Mar lborough: Injured by frosts and worms, but the yield probably equal to last year’s. Newberry: Better than was expected ; much rust in gray lands. Barnwell: Willaverage about 475 pounds of seed-cotton per acre. Richland: Hardly equal to last year. Laurens: Four-fifths will average mid- dling; very little yellow cotton. GrEORGIA.—Jackson: Late fall and fair weather will bring an average crop. Putnam : Late cotton taken by caterpillars. Twiggs: The most disastrous cotton year since 1840. Stewart: Shortened one-half by wet and worms. Macon: Falling price, and product very discouraging. Hall: Best picking season yet known. Jloyd: Injured slightly by late killing frosts, the top-crop having been swept by caterpillars; fine picking season. Fulton: Yield unexpectedly large; lint fine ; good fall season; picking will be finished a month earlier than usual; half the crop sold. Spalding: Quality 20 per eent. better than last year; fine picking season. Hart: Increased acreage will bring the crop to last year’s average. JWalton: Season unusually favorable tor maturing and gathering the crop; increased acreage will balance the decreased yield. Taylor: Acreage increased 10 per cent. ; worms nearly ruined the crop. Dooly: Cotton a failure, but the “ Peeler” has done well; it should be planted very early. Schley: Short crop ; will be picked by November 19. Upson: About .15 per cent. better than last year, yielding 125 pounds of lint per acre ; some lands reach 1,000 pounds, and others sink to 75. Wilkes; Remarkably good picking season ; frosts injure late cotton, but the ex- posed area isnot large; labor scarce and unreliable. Gwinnett: Fine season ; crop equal to last year, though the weed is not so large; mostly picked without rain or stain. Muscogee: Shortened by caterpillars. Marion: Shortened by caterpillars. Oglethorpe : Below last year; excessive early summer rains; shedding ; early frosts, &c. Whitfield: Good: nearly all picked. Richmond: Lint on strong red lands may average 250 pounds ; on gray lands not over 100. Johnson: Cut off to some extent by caterpillars- Dawson: Average increased; Peeler from the Department is large, well bolled, and yields good lint, “put it is late. Picking season fine. Carroll: Fine picking season ; heavy frost October 19. Liberty: Injured by rain. Murray: Lint fine; 1} pounds lint to every 3 pounds seed-cotton. FiLoripa.—Manatee: Much injured by storm October 6. Hillsborough: A little in- jured by rain. Taylor: Caterpillars have nearly stopped cotton-culture. Jefferson : Caterpillars had stripped the leaves, permitting the late storm to blow out the lint badly, reducing the yield very greatly. Gadsden: Reduced by the storm of September 19'to half an average, and one-fourth below last year. Wakulla: Ten per cent. above Jast year in spite of caterpillars and the September gale; a few unsuccessful experi- ments with Parisgreen. Madison: Reduced by storms. Jackson: One hundred pounds seed-cotton yield 31 of lint. Putnam: Black-seed or long-staple cotton is a money- crop in the western part of the county. ALABAMA.—Bullock: Better than usual. Perry: Below expectations. Lewiston: Little over a half crop; quality better than usual; pickingearly. Lawrence: Probably below average. Chambers: Caterpillars ruined the top-crop and did other damage. Crenshaw : Fair crop; 1 bale of lint to 3 acres. Choctaw: Shortened by caterpillars. Clinch: Cut down one-half by wet weather and caterpillars. MWorth: Shortened by 532 rust and caterpillars ; cotton-culture very unpromising. BLlount: Best crop ever pro. duced here ; caterpillars ate the leaves, but this only hastened the ripening of the bolls ” fine picking weather. Pike: Less than expected; seed injured by ravages of worms on the stalks. Saint Clair: Peeler cotton on good uplands produces 1,400 pounds of seed-cotton per acre. Coffee: Goodseason ; Jate cotton injured by caterpillars ; crop 25 per cent. better than last year. Wilcox: Half crop. Montgomery : Unprecedented fall- ing off; picking time good. Conecuh : About 150 pounds lint per acre ; slow market- ing ; holding up for better prices. Franklin: Wiil sample better than last year. Cal- houn : Injured by worms, but not nearly so bad as last year. Talladega: Shortened by caterpillars. Dallas: Considerable acreage stripped by caterpillars. Mississipp1.—Lee: Shortened by drought, caterpillars, and boll-worms; very few acres produced a bale. Jefferson: Short through worms and panic. Hancock: Staple fine. Jones: Better than was expected. Pike: Curtailed by rain, grass, and army and boll worms. Jasper: Shortened by caterpillars; marketed promptly. Grenada: Greatly injured by drought, rust, and worms, together with poor culture and ineffi- cient labor. Claiborne: Full average. Wilkinson: Gathered very early. Tishemingos Freer from dirt than usual. Lowndes: A failure. Rankin: Upland Peeler, on cow- penned land, produced 1,600 pounds per acre of seed-cotton; no better than other cot- ton beside it. Bolivar: Severe frost October 28; no top crop of consequence; caused by shallow plowing. Clark: Good picking season; worms took the top crop; first killing frost October 28; next night ice was formed half an inch thick. LovuIsIANA.—Caddo: Fall fine; most of the crop gathered; about half average. Bossier: Severe frost October 28, but most of the cotton had beensaved. Yensas: Short- ened by worms and rot—dry or black rot. This disease is unexplained. It prevailed in poor, worn-out soil; new or highly fertilized land was but little affected. Hast Baton Rouge: Half crop; fine picking season. Morehouse : Two-thirds of a crop; fair picking weather. Claiborne: Boll-worms still more destructive’ than caterpillars. West Feliciana: Ruined by worms. Tangipahoa: Short; first killing frost October 28. Iberia: No cotton coming to market. fapides: Half last year’s yield; staple short and stunted; much rot. Franklin: Lint averages about 180 pounds per acre. Grimes : Low prices have caused much of the crop to be left in the field. Assumption: Injured by rain and worms. Corcordia: Half crop. Trexas.—Rusk : About 25 per cent. below average. Jllis: Increased acreage will bring up the yield to 50 per cent. above last year’s, if the whole crop should be gathered ; it will all be gathered in November. Brazoria: Spring frosts, summer rains, and worms have about destroyed ,the crop. Cooke: Lint good; early frosts will damage the crop; thermometer showed 27° on the morning of October 29. De Witt: Fine west of the Guadaloupe, but the scarcity of labor causes great difficulty in getting the cropin. A large area has produced one bale of 500 pounds per acre. /Villiamson: Frost and ‘ice October 28, killing one-fourth of the cotton. Difficult to get hands to pick cotton where poisons have been used to kill insects, and hence a few or no efforts of that kind have been made. Montgomery: On some farms, with a free use of Paris green, the crop turned out as high as 1,400 or 1,500 pounds per acre; on some pine and red-oak lands the yield was as low as 300, having been overrun with weeds. Coryell: Will average 300 pounds per acre; would have been a very large crop but for heavy rains. Red River; Opening finely in the nice weather. Collin: Season favorable for gathering cotton and for maturing late erops. Milam: Average, but below expectation. Henderson: More favorable than last report; three-fourths average; good picking season. Dallas: Fine; good harvest weather; lint of average quality. Parker: Yield 250 pounds per acre of lint; about the same as last year; acreage largely increased. Upshur: Short, but yields an unu- sual proportion of lint, 33} per cent. Caldwell: Insects less injurious than was sup- posed ; many crops yield over a bale per acre; lint better than for years. Kendall : Acreage largely increased; plants short, but bolls plentiful and remarkably clean. McLennan: Largest crop yet raised; reliable reports of 750 pounds of lint per acre ; picking behindhand. Lavaca: Excessive rains and worms ; lack of labor to gather the crop and storms are beating a portion of it out; present system of cropping unsatis- factory. Burnet: Promises well, but there is a lack of pickers. Matagorda: But little cotton will be saved; lack of reliable labor in gathering; Peeler sustains its high character. Lamar: The wet spring caused a considerable acreage to be lost after plant- ing. Marion: Better than was expected since the worms disappeared. Medina: Some damage by army-worms and rain. Austin: Crop late; where the worms were not destructive a heavy top-crop will require the whole month to pick. 7 ARKANSAS.—Drew: The money panic will prevent some farmers from gathering their crops. Franklin: Above average in quantity, but deficient in quality of lint. Perry: Recent freezes severe. Baxter: Early frosts have arrested the opening of cot- ton. Bradley: Below average, but quality better than last year; picking weil ad- vanced. Prairie: Better than was expected. Arkansas: Injured by drought in tim- ber lands; good on bottoms. Jfonree: Yield better than was anticipated; below 533 average, but better than last year. Cross: Not over 75 per cent. of an average: injured by spring rains and summer drought: Craighead: A gain in lint over last year. Garland: Shortened 15 per cent. in quantity and 30 per cent. in quality by drought and army-worms. Hempstead: Damaged greatly by worms; fiber generaliy short but sound and clean. Crittenden: Late and caught by frost. Little River: Damaged by wet spring; worms took the top-crop, cutting down the yield at least 10 per cent. TENNESSEE.—Lauderdale: Not so good as was expected. Haywood: No top-crop ; crop cut short a third by drought following excessive rains; 15,000 bales last year ; middling now selling at 10 cents. Shelby: Damaged 50 per cent. by caterpillars and boll-worms. Hancock: Does well on sunny slopes and river-bottoms. Obion: Best erop for ten years. Giles; Fine gathering season. Lincoln: The yield will be larger than last reported ; fine. picking season. Putnam: Unusually good. Fayette: Cotton but two-thirds of a crop. KENTUCKY.—Graves : Cotton culture increasing. Missourt.—Ripley : Will market 500 bales against 200 last year. Stoddard: A little below average, but the large increase of acreage raises the aggregate yield to 120, as eompared with last year. Dallas: Cotton culture increasing. Pemiscot: Three times the acreage of last year, but the yield per acre was below average ; frost cut short the crop at least 10 per cent. Kansas.—Labette: Cotton quite a success in: a small way. Montgomery: Cotton would pay if there were gins accessible. POTATOES. Our returns make the average product of potatoes throughout the country 15 per cent. less than last year. As the crop was then esti- mated 113,516,000 bushels, a falling off of about 17,000,000 bushels is indicated. The product equals that of 1872 in Delaware; exceeds it in New Hampshire, Virginia, Arkansas, and Oregon, 103; Vermont, 122 ; Massachusetts and Connecticut, 101; New Jersey and Georgia, 102; South Carolina, 104; Florida, 125; and Alabama, 116; is lessin Maine, 82; Rhode Island, 90; New York, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, 95 ; Maryland and California, 96; North Carolina and Texas, 92; Missis- sippi, 99; Louisiana and Tennessee, 97; West Virginia, 93; Kentucky, 81; Ohio, 78; Indiana, 80; Illinois, 57; Minnesota, 75; Iowa and Ne- braska, 40; Missouri, 58; Kansas, 46. The variations from last year’s product in some of the principal potato-growing States are about as fol- lows: Increase— Vermont, 918,000 bushels; decrease— New York, 1,187,000; Pennsylvania, 558,000 ; Kentucky, 408,000; Ohio, 1,705,000 ; Indiana, 560,000; Illinois, 4,157,000; Minnesota, 553,000; Iowa, 3,979,000 ; Missouri, 1,132,000 ; Kansas, 2,051,000; Nebraska, 575,000. In all sec- tions the quality, except where affected with rot, is represented as su- perior. Among the causes of diminished product are specified : Maine, Waldo County, drought and frost; New York—Washington, Yates, Tioga, and Ontario, rot; Albany, drought; New Jersey—Hudson, drought; Mercer, drought and rot; Pennsylvania—Cumberland, Wy- oming, Northampton, Lehigh, Bucks, and Lancaster, rot; Elk, Law- rence, Fayette, and Armstrong, beetles; Maryland—Dorchester and Baltimore, drought; Virginia—Orange, frost and drought ; Highland, rot, worms, and beetles; Texas—Burnet, grasshoppers; Arkansas—Gar- land, beetles and rot; Tenrtessee—Dickson and Coffee, drought; Hick- man, rot; West Virginia—Burleigh, Brooke, and Baxter, insects; Mou- galia, rot; Kentucky—Shelby, drought; Anderson and Livingston, Colorado beetle; Ohio—Washington, Franklin, Medina, Loraine, Craw- ford, Geauga, Hamilton, and Mercer, Colorado beetles; Fulton, Hen- ry, Wyandotte, and Mercer, drought; Michigan—Mason, drought ; Ottawa and Oceana, drought and beetles ; Calhoun, beetles; Indi- ana—Warren, and Brown, drought; Martin, Owen, and Ohio, drought and beetles; [llinois—Henry, drought; Tazewell, Mason, and Boone, drought and bugs; Clinton, bugs and wet; Sangamon, beetles; Cass 504 reports the lightest, and Knox the poorest, crop ever raised; Lee, almost a complete failure; Wisconsin— Washington, drought and beetles; Calumet and St. Croix, beetles; Richland reports that winter had set yet in, and Outagamie that the snow was a foot deep, and many fields not dug; Minnesota—Kandiyohi, drought and beetles; Redwood, drought and grasshoppers; Martin, grasshoppers; Iowa—Ringgold, Clarke, Montgomery, Boone, and Louisa, drought; Harrison, drought and grasshoppers; Fayette, Audubon, and Winneshiek, drought and beetles ; Plymouth, grasshoppers; Story and Benton, early frosts; Missouri— Baxter, Perry, and Maries, drought; Pettis and Maries, beetles; Bax- ter, Adair, Laclede, and Stone report half a crop; Clinton one-fifth, and Anderson an entire failure; Kansas—Miami, Clay, Bourbon, Labette, and Montgomery, drought; Smith, beetles, worms, and grasshoppers; Nebraska—Pawnee and Nemaha, drought; Thayer, beetles and frost; throughout the three States last named early plantings appear to have produced much better in yield and quality than late. In California—San Luis Obispo, the crop was greatly injured by grasshoppers, and in Oregon, Tillamook, by blight. Returns from the Territories are gener- ally favorable, but Deer Lodge, Montana, reports one-third of the crop frozen in the ground in September, and in Clallam, Washington, the* rot had appeared for the first time. The following are specimens of current prices reported: Vermont— Orleans, 35 cents per bushel; Indiana—Perry, 75 cents; Illinois—White- side and Bureau, $1.25; Macon, $1.40; Hancock, $1.20; Iowa, Ring- gold, 75 cents ; Pottawattamie, 60 to 80 cents; Des Moines, $1 to $1.20; Kansas—Coffee, 80 cents; Nebraska—Adams, 65 to 95 cents; Otoe, $1 and rising; Idaho—Nes Perces, 50 to 75 cents. Marine.— Waldo: Light crop; shortened by drought and frost. Oxford : Crop light, but of good quality. Piscataquis: Will fall short a tenth; some plantings of extra yield and quality; one farmer raised 390 bushels per acre. Androscoggin: Crop light, but good. Cumberland: Yield large, quality excellent. New HampsHireE.—Hillsborough: Crop large and good. Carroll: Turned out splen- didly ; one farmer raised 3753 bushels per acre of fine tubers; one weighed 34 pounds. VERMONT.—Lamoille : Unusually good; larger percentage of starch than usual, with less rot. Rutland: Crop large and excellent. ssec: Never better. Franklin: Most excellent ; marked contrast with last year. Orleans: Very ripe and good; selling at 35 cents per bushel at the starch factories. MassACHUSETTS.— Berkshire: Of good quality, but shortened by drought. Franklin: Good; average 50 cents per bushel. Norfolk: Abundant, and of better quality than for several years. CONNECTICUT.— Windham : Never finer. New York.—Yates: Yield fully up to last year; many tubers diseased. Seneca: Yield moderate, quality good. Warren: More sound than common. Chemung: Well matured on light dry soils, but not on heavy clay or strong loam. JVashington: Peer- less and late Rose rotting badly; price low. Tioga: Earlier varieties rotted on loam soils, on account of wet. Saint Lawrence: Excellent. Hrie: Well harvested and closely sold up at 40 and 50 cents per bushel. Columbia: Fine in yield and quality. Rockland: Early plantings a half crop; late much better and of good quality. Gen- esee: Very fine. Albany: Suffered from drought. Ontario: Yield light; more or less rot. Wyoming: Did well. Otsego: Potatoes a fine large crop. Alleghany: Very short. New JeRsEY.—Altlantic ; Unusually good; abundant rain since August. Mercer: Early potatoes shortened by drought; late plantings yielded heavily, but the quality was materially damaged by rot. Burlington: Late potatoes have done well; Early Rose, planted June 26, received the first premium at our county fair; White Peach Blows, planted July 2, were the best I ever saw. Union: Early Rose a very short crop; Peach Blows came out better than was expected. Hudson: Slightly injured by summer drought. PENNSYLVANIA.—Cambria: Much affected by rot; one farmer lost 1,500 bushels. Clinton : Good, and in some cases extraordinary, especially the “ Peerless.” Northum- berland: Better than last year and a fourth more in yield. Wyoming: On grass lawns rotting very badly. Northampton: Yielded better than last year, but three-fourths of the crop affected by dry rot. lk: Considerably injured by bugs. Beaver: Crops light; tubers small. Lawrence: Half a crop, and poor quality from bugs. bayettes 535 Injured by bugs. Armstrong : Tops bug-eaten or otherwise injured before the tubers ripened, especially late plantings. Lehigh: Rotting very much, especially Pink Eyes; Early Rose and Prince Albert least affected. Jefferson : Yield and quality good. Lycom- ing: Yield less than last year, but quality remarkably good. Bucks: Late potatoes rotting badly. Lancaster : Wet weather just before harvesting reduced the crop from — near an average by causing rot. DELAWARE.—Aent: Yield and quality good. MaryLannv.—Howard : Late potatoes good; early ones very poor. Dorchester: Late pototoes excellent; early plantings shortened by drought. Baltimore: Late potatoes very fine; early ones shurtened by drought. Washington: Large crop. VirGinta.—Iting and Queen: Crops larger and better than last year. Madison : Abundant and good. Spottsylvania: Best crop for years. Rockbridge: Very fine. Hen- rico: Very tine, especially late plantings. Orange: Early Rose cut short by frost and drought. Goochland: Above average. King George's: Excellent. . Highland: Injured by rot, worms, and bugs. Clarke: Exceeds last year’s crop both in quantity and uality. NortH Carorina.—Tyrrel : Only early crops made. Franklin: Second crops good. Soutu Caroiiwwa.—Fairfield: Spring crop very good; late about average. Orange- burgh: Large and fine. GEORGIA.—Jackson : Crop large, but poor in quality. Muscogee: Suffered from grass and then from drought. Whitfield: Too dry for potatoes. ALABAMA.—Lewiston: Full average. Crenshaw: Average. Calhoun: Very fine. TEXAS.—Grimes : Average. San Saba: Good. Wood: Very tine. Burnet: Destroyed by grasshoppers. ARKANSAS.— Bradley : Increased average and improved quality. Arkansts: Crop good and well secured. Cross: Below average, but better than last year. Garland: Planted largely, but shortened by bugs and rot. TENNESSEE.— Dickson : Late plantings shortened by drought; early plantings good. Fentress : Yield and. quality good. Hickman: Half crop; rotted in the ground. Hay- wood: Toomuch rain in June. Wilson: Not so good as last year. Wilkinson: Decline in yield 60 per cent; increase in acreage 10 per cent. Blount: Short of last year 25 per cent. Greene: Crop good and sound. Coffee: Shortened by drought. Putnam : Crop large and fine. _ West Vireinia.—Raleigh: Turned out finely. Mercer: Damaged by insects. Pleas- ants: Few planted for fear of bugs; yield good. Marion: Much better than usual ‘where they escaped the bugs; fine, large, and good quality. Brooke: Good quality, but small; foliage devoured by Colorado beetles. Jefferson: Well matured, escaping frost. Braxton: Quality as good as last year, but the yield was reduced by bugs. Monongalia: Good, but some complaints of rot. Harrison: Excellent. Tyler: Pro- duct and quality good in spite of bugs. Krentucky.—Hardin: Late plantings not a fifth of acrop. Shelby: Shortened by drought. Laurel: Very fine. Lincoln: Very fine. McLean: Injured by extreme wet weather. Logan: Very good. Fayette: Quality good, but yield below expectation ; surplus selling at 60 cents per bushel. Anderson: Shortened by Colorado beetles. Johnson: Late planting good. Owsley: Never better. Livingston: Eaten by bugs. Jackson: Above average. Jefferson: Injured by bugs; northern seed make the best crop; native seed produced small tubers. Oxn10.— Washington: Injured by Colorado beetles. Fulton: Late planting and dry summer injured the crop greatly. Franklin: Greatly shortened by Colorado beetles. Medina: Reduced acreage; Colorado beetles destructive; half a crop. Coshocton : Good condition ; reduced acreage. rie: General yield light; I harvested 375 bushels from an acre with Carrier’s potato-digger. Wood: Ten per cent. below last year’s crop, which was but half average. Lorain: Used up by Colorado beetles in many cases. Crawford: Injured by bugs; unfavorable season. Geauga: Injured by bugs; where these kept away the crops were excellent in quantity and quality. Henry: Early Rose did well; Peach Blows suffered from drought. JVyandot: Too dry for potatoes. Law- rence: Full-grown and abundant. Hamilton: Very badly injured by Colorado beetles. Perry: Above average in quantity and quality. Mercer: Injured by bugs and drought. Micuican.—Shiawasse: Many fields not yet harvested, though covered with snow. Mason: Late plantings shortened by drought. Lapeer: Best crop for several years. Calhoun: Fair crops were Secured by those who destroyed bugs. Jackson: Generally secured in good order. Ottawa: Injured by bugs and drought. Oakland: Good crop of good quality; early varieties best. Oceana: Suffered severely from drought and bugs. Anirim: Never better. Berrien: Short, but of good quality. INDIANA.—Owen : Less than half average ; excessive rains, then drought, then frosts. Dubois: Turned out well, especially early varieties. Miami: Short. Montgomery : Acreage reduced, by late planting season ; yield good. Ripley : Short, but fine quality. Perry : Small yield; price 75 cents per bushel. Jarren: Halfcrop; drought. Gibson: Enough for home consumption; yield and quality fine. Hamilton: Scarce and fine. 2A 536 | ak: Martin : Shortened by drought; bugs the whole season. Steuben: Colorado beetles not. so destructive as formerly. Wells: Half crop, but excellent. Brown: Shortened by - drought, but excellent ; worth 60 to70 cents per bushel. Dearborn: Early and medium plantings fair; late a failure. La Porte: Yield larger and better than last year in ‘spite of bugs and drought. Ohio: Injured by drought and Colorado beetles. ILLinois.— Kankakee: Almost a failure. Fayette: Good quality, but a little below average. Pike: Very short and poor. Whitesides: Very scarce; worth $1.25; half the home consumption must be imported. Tazewell: Shortened by drought and bugs. Macon: Almost a failure; only early plantings gave any return ; shortened by drought and bugs; selling at $1.40 per bushel. Putnam: Almost destroyed by drought and bugs. Bureau: Almost a failure ; sold at $1.25 per bushel. Sangamon: Greatly short- ened by Colorado beetles. Henry: Shortened and depreciated in quality by drought. Ogle: Scarce, but good; selling at 75 cents to $1 per bushel. Winnebago: Late plant- ings did not mature. Cass: Lightest crop ever known here. Edwards: Yield large, but of poor quality. Hancock: Selling at $1.20 per bushel. Knox: Poorest crop ever raised here; Peach Blows hardly returned their seed; Peerless did better. Mason: A failure through drought and bugs. Boone: Shortened by drought and bugs; selling at 60 to 0 cents. Clinton: Injured by bugs and wet. Lee: Nearly a complete failure. WISCONSIN.—Clark : Season too short. Richland: Many fields not dug and winter begun. Calumet: Early Rose least effected by the bugs. Dodge: Great’ variation in the field from 75 to 110 per cent. St. Croix: Reduced acreage; quality good; Colo- rado beetles troublesome. Walworth : Moderate crops of good quality. Outagamie: It looks as though root crops would remain undug all winter; snow 12 inches deep. Green Lake: Very fine. Washington: Early plantings average where the Colorado beetles were killed ; Peach Blows greatly shortened by drought. Minnesora.—andiyohi: Almost a failure through drought and bugs in some portions. of the county. Steele: Average and of the finest quality; acreage increased. Colo- rado beetles not very injurious. . Redwood: Almost a failure through drought and grass- hoppers. Martin: Injured by grasshoppers. A lowa.—Shelby: Poorest crop yet known. Ringgold: Injured by extreme drought in summer and very scarce; sell at 75 cents per bushel. Story: Damaged by the back- ward spring and early frosts. Clarke: Badly injured by summer drought. Decatur : Nearly a failure. Harrison: Acreage reduced on account of low prices; crop almost a failure through drought and grasshoppers. Mills: Halfacrop. Montgomery: Injured by drought. Boone: Almost a failure through drought. Fayette: Injured by drought and Colorado beetles; early plantings best. Hardin: Early plantings best ; Peach Blows light. Audubon: Shortened by late spring, summer drought, and bugs; tubers small and poor. Benton: Late plantings destroyed by early frosts. Plymouth: Injured by grasshoppers. Linn: Crop very short; quality excellent. Des Moines: Selling at $l to $1.20 per bushel. Pottawattamie: Shortened by Colorado beetles; selling at 60 to 80 cents per bushel. Jinnesheik: Early plantings good; late a light crop on account of bugs and drought in the latter part of the season. Louisa: Early plantings good ; late plantings injured by drought. Marion: From one-eighth to half a crop. Monona: Crops large and fine. Guthrie: Half a crop but very good in quality. Calhoum: Very few in the hill. Missourt.—Caldwell: Early planting good; Scotch russets good; Peach Blows poor. Audrain: An entire failure. Platte: Early plantings did well; late plantings scarce return their seed. Clinton: One-fifth of last year’s crop; tubers small and inferior. Harrison: Short but good. Baxter: Reduced by drought to a half crop. Douglas: Early potatoes good; late a failure. Pettis: Suffered greatly from Colorado beetles. Some success in the use of powder, glass, and coarse flour, dusted on the vines through a fine cloth, while the dew was on. Care should be taken not to inhale the glass-dust. Adair: Half crop, but good quality. Howard: No potatoes worth mentioning, ex- cept the Early Rose: Perry: Late planting a failure through drought. Phelps: Early plantings good; late nearly afailure. Franklin: Average yield and quality. Maries: Injured by bugs and drought, but partially recovered before harvest. Laclede: About 50 per cent. short. Stone: Half cropand poor. Dallas: Only early varieties planted ; hence the drought was too late for serious injury. Newton: A little better than last year in quantity, but quality not so good. Cole: Late plantings failed, except in a few bottoms. Kansas.—Miami : Greatly shortened by summer drought. Clay: Much injured by drought; early frosts. Bourbon: Shortened by drought. Shawnee: Late plantings almost worthless. Washington: Almost a failure. Jefferson: Early plantings good ; late almost a total failure. Labette: Early plantings good; late poor; Linn: Early : . . . Phat ’ plantings of early varieties did well, but late was injured by drought. Montgomery : Shortened one-half by drought. Woodson : Total failure on many farms ; bottoms that last year returned 300 bushels per acre yielded only 50. Coffey: Early plantings fair ; late a fourth of a crop; selling at 80 cents per bushel. Republic: Early Rose average ; late plantings short. Cowley: Early plantings good; late ones tolerable. Osage: Nearly all plantings after May 1 are worthless. Smith: In the south part of the - 537 county early crops were injured by bugs and worms, and late ones by grasshoppers. In the north part Early Rose, Buckeyes, and Peach Blows did best. Riley: Almost a failure. Neosho: Early plantings good ; late a complete failure, except in low lands. NEBRASKA.—Johnson: Nearly a failure. Thayer: Almost a failure; hogs very in- jurious. Pawnee; Shortened by drought four-fifths; dryest season for fifteen years. Adams: Ten per cent. better than in the river counties; 65 to 95 cents per bushel. Antelope: Early varieties did weil; late ones nearly a failure. Nemaha: Late plant- ings ruined by drought; early good but limited in acreage; late varieties frosted. Cass: Almost a failure. Otoe: Almost a failure: $1 per bushel and rising. CaLIFORNIA.— Alameda: Full average and good. San Luis Obispo: Greatly injured by grasshoppers. : OREGON.—Tillamook : Greatly injured by blight CoLoraDo.—El Paso: Potatoes have produced enormously in some localites,, while, in others they will not grow at all. Larimer: Almost a failure. Uran.—Kane: Late rains have made the best crop for years. Morgan: Crops good, but acreage decreased. Weber: Excellent. DaxotTa.—Clay: Injured by hogs and drought. IpaHo.—Ada: Injured by frosts. Nez Perces: Crop all that could be asked; yield abundant and excellent, selling at 50 to 75 cents per bushel. ARIZONA.— Yavapai: Increased by late rains. ! Montana.—Deer Lodge: One-third of the crop frozen in the ground in September ; fortuately there is a large surplus. New Mexico.—Mora: Drought restricted planting. WasHINGTON.— Thurston: Rottedin low ground. Clallam: Rot for the first time. SWEET POTATOES. This crop was a fair one both in yield and quality. The States hav- ing the highest per cent. of product compared with last year are Texas, 125; South Carolina, 116; Georgia, 114; Alabama, 112; Florida, 110; West Virginia, 107; the lowest, New Jersey, 60; Iowa, 77; Missouri, $1. The other States in which they are grown range between these figures. NortTH Carotina.—Chowan : Half crop. Craven: Damaged by rain. Tyrrel: Below average. Greene: Poorest crop ever housed, Haywood: Best crop ever known. SouTH CaROLINA.—Georgetown: Yield increased 10 per cent. Fairfield: Average. GEORGIA.—Jackson ; Full average. Spalding: Fine. Liberty: Injured by rain. ALABAMA.—Lewiston : Fullaverage. Crenshaw: Twenty-five per cent. above average. Clinch: Very good. Wilcox: Doing well. Calhoun: Injured by fall drought. Clarke: Better than last year. Mississtppi1.—Lee: Heavy yield, fine quality ; 150 to 200 bushels per acre; selling at $1 per bushel. Hancock: Did well. . LovuiIstana.—fapides : Inferior in yield and quality. Texas.— Rusk: Tubers large but few to the row; too much vine. Ellis: Tubers abundant; of good size and quality. De Witt: Promising. Milan: Better than usual. Upshur: Fine quality and heavier crop than usual. Kendall: Very good. Austin: Large crop, but of quality inferior to last year’s. ARKANSSS.—Fulton : Improved by laterains. Prairie: Short. Garland: Fine yield. TENNESSHE.— Dickson: Good quality, but shortened by drought. Fentress: Large yield, but not keeping well. Hickman: Fine. Wilson: Very fine; 20 per cent. above last year. Blount: Generally very good. DeKalb: Heavy crop, though injured by frost. Coffee: Shortened by drought. Putnam: Crop large and fine. WEST VIRGINIA.—Braxton: About the same as last year. Doddridge: Injured by drought. Kentucky.—Laurel: Very fine. Logan: Superb. Fayette: Fair. Owsley: Never better. Livingston: Tolerable; quality good. Jackson: Better than in any former year. Ou10.— Washington : Increased acreage. Lawrence: Large and fine. Micuican.—Berrien : Short, but of good quality. INDIANA.— Ripley : Plenty and good. La Porte: Less in quantity than last year, but better in quality. Intrnois.— Bureau : Crop small, but. good. Cass: Good. Mcson: Good quality. lowa.—Harrison : Good yield and quality. Mrissouri.—Bacter : Fair. Kansas.—Labette: Decreased acreage ; yield and quality good. 538 HAN: s Maine and New Hampshire report the hay crop larger than in 1872; in the other New England States, and in New York, the quantity is less, but the deficit is probably fully made up by the superior quality. Rut- land and Franklin Counties, Vermont, and Berkshire, Massachusetts, estimate that the yield, though smaller, will carry more stock through the winter. In Delaware and Missouri the product equals that of last year; in Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Nebraska, it falls below; in the remaining States.itis above. Thosein which the per cent. of gain, compared with 1872, is greatest, are: Texas, 160; Oregon, 133; South Carolina, 130; Virginia, 125; Alabama, 123; Maryland, 116; Tennessee and California, 115; West Virginia, 114; New Hampshire, 110; Maine, 108. Those in which the per cent. of loss is greatest: Rhode Island, 82; Vermont and Massachusetts, 88 ; Wisconsin, 90; Ilinois, 91; New York and Kansas, 93. With rare local exceptions the returns throughout represent the quality and the condition in which it was cured as better than in 1872. In New Jersey, Gloucester, the first crop was shortened by drought, but the second was heavy. In Pennsylvania, Wyoming, the crop was never better; Armstrong, the deficiency of the first crop was made up by the second. In Virginia, King and Queen and Madison, report the crop both larger and more nutritious than last year; Dinwiddie, increased attention to the production of hay ; and similar reports come from Cra- ven, North Carolina, and Orange, South Carolina. In Florida, Rich- mond, the yield of cow-pea hay and Hungarian grass was 100 per cent. greater than last year. In Texas the hay-crop was abundant in every county reporting. Hamilton reports that the indigenous mesquite-grass excels the blue-grass from the North; Grimes, that the quantity of hay saved is increased year by year; Titus, that experimental hay-crops have yielded astonishing results; Coryell, more hay saved than ever before; Parker, sixty tons of Hungarian-grass raised by one farmer on twenty acres; Collin, considerable shipments of prairie-hay. In Ar- kansas, Fulton, Italian rye-grass from the Department succeeded finely. In Tennessee, Wilson, Hungarian-grass and millet of different kinds, especially German, were very productive; Wilkinson reports an increase of 50 per cent. in acreage, and of 30 in yield. The only specially adverse report from this State is from Coffee, “the third short hay-crop; no winter-grass for stock.”’ In Ohio, Washington reports meadows, and Mercer timothy, nearly run out, owing to three successive droughts ; Lo- rain, the crop ruined by grasshoppers, and Wyandot, by drought. The crop was cut short in Shiawassee, Michigan, by the backward spring; in Livingston, by winter-killng; and in Oakland, by the drought. In Perry and Edwards, Ilinois, hay was shortened by the army-worm. Saint Croix, Wisconsin, reports that the acreage in hay increases annually, and Baxter, Missouri, an increase in the cultivation of tame grasses. Reports, respecting both quantity and quality, are generally favorable from Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri. Clay, in Kan- sas, and Sage, in Nebraska, report large quantities of hay and wheat stacked in the field burned by prairie fires. In Tillamook, Oregon, the acreage is 100 per cent. greater and the yield greater than in 1872. The quantity of hay produced this year in the United States is about 500,000 tons less than last, when it was not far from 24,000,000 tons. Much the largest part of the decrease indicated is in New York, being over 316,000 tons. But as the average quality is much better than last year, and as pasturage throughout the country, with a few limited excep- 539 - tions, has been good during the autumn, stock, wherever reasonably eared for, may be expected to enter winter-quarters in good condition, and to maintain it until they come out. Marne.—/WValdo: Extra in quantity and quality. Piscataquis: Average quantity, quality extra; fine harvest weather. ‘*dndroscoggin: Crop good. Sagadahoc: Very good. Cumberland: Full average quantity and fine quality. New Hampsnire.—Hillsborou gh: Very fine; fall feed abundant; cattle will go to the barn with a better stock of hay than last year. Vrermont.—Rutland: A little less in bulk than last year, but its fine quality makes if more valuable. Franklin: Less in quantity than last year, but will carry more stock through the winter. MASSACHUSETTS.—Berkshire: Less in quantity, but of greater value than last year, on account of better quality; fine growing and harvest weather. Plymouth: First crop of hay small, but on good soils the second crop was large. Norfolk: Crop large and good; fall feed good. ConNECTICUT.— Windham: Excellent; scarcely a drop of rain in harvest. Hartford: Average and of good quality ; fall feed abundant. New York.— Yates: More hay cut than last year; clover considerably injured by harvest rains. Seneca: Crop moderate but of good quality. Chemung : Ten per cent. better than last year’s light crop. Washington: Larger second crop of hay than usual. St. Lawrence: Crop cood and well secured; fall feed abundant. Columbia: From $15 to $20 per ton. Rockland : Short ; ; selling at $35 per ton. Madison: Fall feed good.” Genesee: Second crop of clover good. Albany: Crop light. Ontario: Crop shortened by June drought. Alleghany: Short in the north half of the county; in the south half average. NEw Jersey.—Allantic: Salt-hay and black-grass our main dependence. Hunterdon : Pasture better than ever known at this season. Sussex: Fully as much hay as usual has been secured, but the upland hay is not as good as usual; bottom crops more or less injured by rain after cutting. Cumberland: Hay but half average ; timothy of good quality, but clover rather poor, being coarse and stemmy. Gloucester : First crop short- ened by drought; second crop heavy. Burlington: Fall pasture good. Warren: Timothy good and well secured ; clover short and badly secured. Hudson: Greatly in- jured by drought and ox-eye daisy ; pastures benefited by late rains. PENNSYLVANIA. —Wyoming : Crop never better. Beaver: Pastures better than for several years, and live-stock in better condition. Lawrence: Meadows injured by severe frosts. Fayette: Half crop, but good quality. Armstrong: Second crop of hay good, making up the deficiency of the ‘first crop. Jefferson: Below average, but bet- ter than last year ; fodder must be economically used. Northumberland: “Large and and fine yield. Crawford: Damaged by late spring frosts and afterward by drought. MAryYLAND.—Howard : Greatly improved by seasonable weather this year. Carroll : Pastures good. Baltimore: Crop shortened by drought, but better than last year. Vireinia.—King and Queen: Crop larger and more nutritious than last year. Pu- laski: Fall pastures good. Fauquier: Hay-crop good; pasturage holds out well. Fair- fax: Crop below average from drought. Rockbridge: Late pastures good. Henrico: Crab-grass hay enough Mnade to winter our cattle on. Madison : Largely in excegs of last year; quality good. Spottsylvania: Hay and fodder crops large. Pittsylvania: Grass-crops never recovered from the July drought. Lunenburg: Little or no hay raised ; cattle fed almost entirely on corn-fodder. Goochland : Hay-crop much greater than last year andfine. Highland: Yielded well; quality good. Greenville: Good hay season, but the cotton mania has restricted its cultivation ; ; in some cases the grass is allowed to die without cutting. Bath: Hay extra. Dinwiddie: Season favorable to ha ry; In- creased attention to grass-crops. Norra Caroiima.—Craven: Attracting more attention and an increased quantity secured; native grasses constitute the staple, but clover is becoming a favorite in some places. Tyrrell : Average in quantity, but inferior. Forsyth: Very fine, bringing 40 cents per hundred. Robeson : Only crab-grass cured. South CO ae eee Short; Jack of sunshine. Marlborough : Unusu- ally fine. Juairfield: Hay abundant where saved. Orangeburg: More attention to hay ; land too poor for blue-grass. GrorGcis.—Floyd: Shortened by wet, especially clover. Muscogee: Crop consider- ably increased. Oglethorpe: Above average. JWhitfield: Light, buat of fine quality. tichmond ; Yield of cow-pea hay and Hungarian gTass double last year’s; spontaneous summer grasses from 75 to 100 per cent. in advance of last year; fow cultivated varie- ties. ALABAMA.— Montgomery : Especially fine. Calhoun: Short but good. Lovrstana.—Hast Baton Rouge: Abundant and fine. Iberia: Hay $5 to $8 per ton. Texas.— Hamilton : Our indigenous mesquite-grass excels the blue-grass from the North. Grimes: More hay saved every year. De Witt: Native grasses abundant and 540 fine. Harris: Native grasses choice and abundant. Coryell: More hay saved than eyez before ; wild pasture unusually fine, the live-stock being greatly reduced by being driven to Kansas. Collin: Considerable shipments of prairie- hay. ‘Bee: Prairie-grass as good as for fifteen years past. Milam: Finest grass-crop for ten years. Titus: Ex- perimental hay-crops have yielded astonishing ‘results. Parker : Crop good; one farmer raised 60 tons of Hungarian grass on 30 acres. Kendall : Prairie- -hay never better. Kaufman: Kentucky blue-grass fine; Lucerne bids fair; Italian rye-grass died out. Austin: Large quantity of hay made. i ArKANSAS.—Fulton : Italian rye-grass has done finely ; prairie-grass as good as ever nown. TENNESSEE.— Dickson: Grew well, but yielded short. Hickman: Better than last year in quantity and quality. Obion: Hay a fine crop. JVilson: Annual _ grasses, such as Hungarian and different kinds of millet, yielded finely; German millet has done especially well. Grundy: Turned out remarkably well. Giles: Unusual yield of hay, and secured in No.1 condition. Wilkinson: Increase of 50 per cent. in acreage and 30 per cent. in yield. Blount: A little short. Sumner: Immense hay-crop; large acreage in Hungarian grass and German millet; timothy never more abun- dant. Greene: Better than usual. Lincoln: Italian rye-grass from the Depart- ment growing finely; -can scarcely be distinguished from grass growing on my farm for forty years. Coffee: The third short hay-crop ; no Winter-erass for stock. Putnam: Of excellent quality, and secured in prime condition. Fayette : Unusual amount of hay saved, especially wild grasses. obertson: Timothy’ and herd-grass better than last year; clover not so good. West Vircinis.—Mercer : A good | hay-crop, and secured in good order. Pleasants: Damaged by rain in harvest. Marion: Fall pastures better than for three years. Braxton ; Crop larger and better than last year. Harrison: Crop heavy, and secured in tolerable order ; fall pastures not very good. KentTucky.— Oldham: Below average, but secured in good order. Logan: Fine, and ~ secured in good condition. Fayette: A little short, but of excellent quality. Johnson: Generally ood. Owsley : Hay and grass crops very five. Oxn10.— IVashington : Meadows mostly run out; drought for three years has pre- vented theirresetting. Fulton: Hay below average, but better than last year. Medina: Scarce. Coshocton: Above av erage, and secured in good condition. Lorain: Injured by grasshoppers; pastures Bory, “short. Wyandot: Shortened by drought. Lawrence: Light and scarce; brings $22 per ton. Perry: Much above last year, and would have been greater but for “floods last spring, especially on bottom-lands. Mercer : Timothy nearly ruined by three successive droughts. MIcHIGAN.—Shiawassee: Cut short by the backward spring; crop secured in good condition. Jason: Crop fine. Lapeer: Fair crop of good quality, and well secured. Ottawa: Good hay-crop. Oakland: Shortened by drought. Antrim: A good yield and quality. Livingston: Light; badly winter-killed ; fall pasturage good ‘and abun- dant. INDIANA.—Owen: Injured by excessive rains. Morgan: Excellent. Wells: Injured by rains. Brown: Crop heavy, but injured by rain; worth $10 per ton.: Dearborn: Average, but injured by white-top and other weeds, La Porte: Shortened by early drought; quality brought to average by late rains. Floyd: Light. Ohio: Shortened by Winter-killing and weeds, especially white-top daisy. Intiwois.— Pike: Two-thirds of a timothy erop, but clover enough to make up the deficit ; very late fall pasture fair. Whiteside: Light, but of excellent quality. Perry: Shortened by army-worms. Henry: Short, but excellent. Edwards: A large crop, but depreciated in value by army-worms; weedy. Mason: A good yield and quality; seldom better. Piatt: Pastures good. Clinton: Light, but well secured. Lee: Pas- - tures poor. WiIsconsin.—A dams: Timothy a half crop, but the excellence of the marsh-meadows made up for the deficiency. Dodge: Acreage reduced; quality depreciated by harvest rains. Lond du Lac: Clover-hay shortened by winter-killing. St. Croix: Acreage in hay annually increasing. Walworth: Light but of good quality. Washington : Early-cut clover was damaged by rainy weather; late- cut clover and timothy made excellent hay. Minnesota.—Steele : Extra in quantity and quality. Martin: Heavy; good mowing prairie-hay on high lands. Iowa.—Decatur: Saved in the best order. Harrison: Unusually good; mostly prairie. Goone: Excellent in yield and quality. Appanoose: Crop immense ; from 200 to 500 acres of meadow on single farms; yield enormous and quality good. Fayette: Of splendid quality. Hardin: ~ Grass- -crop shortened by early frosts and Pas fires. Plymouth: Abundant and excellent. Marion: Saved in good order. Missouri.—Caldwell: Very good and secured in fine order. Maniteaw: Fall pastures ; good. Clinton: Rains in May made the crop very good; good harvest weather. Harrison: Well saved. Clay: A good yield; saved in good order. Baxter: Good; ‘ 541 - large quantity secured in good order; tame-grass culture increasing. Phelps: Very good. Franklin: Good. Newton: Shortened by drought; quality good. Cole: Splen- did crop and secured in the finest order. Kansas.—Nemaha: Very large quantities put up and of superior quality. Clay: Large quantities of hay as well as wheat in the field burned by prairie-fires. Jefferson : Crop short but well secured and in good order. Cowles: Good, and got up in good con- dition. NEBRASKA.— Antelope : Crop large and excellent; allof natural grasses. Sage: Much hay and stacked grain destroyed by prairie-fires. CaLiIvoRNIA.—San Luis Obispo: Pastures poor; without speedy rain live stock must suffer. OrEGON.—Tillamook: Acreage of hay double last year’s; yield increased. Douglas: More or less injured by June and July rains; grass will be short the coming winter. Uran.—Kane: Hay, mostly alfalfa, a large crop, but late cuttings are inferior. ~ ARIZONA.— Yavapai: Increase of hay yield trom late rains and more acres cut; all wild grass except 150 tons of Hungarian, alfalfa, &c. Santa Ava: A complete fail- ure. Thurston: Abundant, but not well secured. SUGAR-CANE. 4 In all the Gulf States there are counties reporting the cultivation of sugar-cane to some extent. But outside of Louisiana it is evident that this production is small. In Georgia all the counties reporting show a crop in advance of last year’s, which is probably the result of increased acreage, as injuries to the cane-crop are reported in some localities from drought anda in others from excessive rains. In Florida, which returned 50 per cent. more sugar in the late census than Georgia, there was more variation in the yield, several counties reporting a decrease. Much in- jury was done to the crop by the severe gales of September. All the counties reporting sugar-cane in Alabama indicate an inereased yield, but as the total crop of this State, reported in the census, amounted to only 31 hogsheads, this increase will but lightly affect the general aggregate. The same remarks apply to Mississippi to a still greater degree. In Louisiana, several of the larger sugar-producing parishes indicate a yield equal to last year’s, while several smaller ones report an increase, but these indications are more than counterbalanced by adverse reports from severallarge parishes. Lafourche and Assumptiong which, together, produced 18.62 per cent. of last year’s crop of the State, (108,520 hogs- heads, according to Bouchereau,) this year show a decline, the former of 15 and the latter of 20 percent. Several counties in Texas, whose sugar-. -erop was too small to find a place in the census, indicate a greatly in- , creased yield, but counties producing much larger crops report a serious decline. Brazoria, for instance, which returned 1,423 hogsheads of the 2,020 reported ‘from the whole State in the census, estimates this year’s crop at only 65 per cent. of last year’s. In this county the stubble- crop is poor, while the acreage both in stubble and plant cane has been reduced. In some localities in Texas irrigation was used with good re- sults in the culture of sugar-cane. GrorGia.— Marion : Sugar-cane good, but would have been better with a seasonable fall; no rain for ten weeks. Liberty : Injured by rain. FLoripa.— Manatee: Much injured by storm of October 6. Jefferson: Damaged 10 per cent. by late storms. Leon: Good, but suffered greatly by the gale of September 19. Wakulla: Materially damaged by the September gale. Jackson: Acreage in- creased ; good as last year. Crenshaw : Grows well. LovuIsIANa.— Assumption : Greatly improved since last report. Hast Baton Rouge : Promising. Lafourche: Reports not encouraging. Rapides: Better than last year. Saint Mary: Stubble-cane a failure, yet the general average equals last year’s. TEXaAs.—San Saba: Does well with irrigation. Brazoria: Stubble poor: acreage of both stubble and plant cane less than last year. Titus: Does well. 542 BUCKWHEAT. Rhode Island, Maryland, and all the cotton States, except North Caro- lina and Tennessee, return no buckwheat. The yield compared with last year was, in Vermont, 116; Virginia, 111; Tennessee, 110; Massachu- setts, 108; New York, 106; ’ Oregon, 105; New Jersey, 104; California, 102 ; Connecticut and North Carolina, 100; ; in the other States less than 100, the lowest being Nebraska, 40's Towa, 53; Kansas, 56; Illinois, Dian Missouri, 61. Trials of Silver-hull buckwheat distributed by the Department were for the most part quite successful. In York, rons 4 quarts yielded 5 bushels of good quality ; in Virginia, Page, 2 quarts yielded 2 bushels; in Floyd, the seed yielded forty fold ; in Highland, it is re- ported as our best variety; ripens earlier, and hence may be sown earlier, escaping early frosts and late hot sunshine.” In Mercer, West Virginia, it also ripened earlier, and was better filled than the common variety. Further results of experiments with‘it will be found noted in the extracts which follow: New YorKk.—JVashington : Less sown than usual; crop good. Tioga: A little extra. Albany: A fair crop. Wyoming: Large yield. New JeRSEY.— Warren : Good average crop; good thrashing weather. ~ PENNSYLVANIA.— York: Quality good. Armstrong : Extra good crop. Lawrence: Injured by early frosts. ik: Increased acreage. Nor thumberland : Crop large and fine; no early frosts. Vireinta.—JVarren: Buekwheat very fine. Spottsylvania: Crop large. Northumber- land: Promises to thrash out well. Silver-bull does not suit our climate. Page: Crop good, Washington : Amounts to nothing; 2 quarts of Silver-hull from the Department produced 2 bushels ; ripened two weeks earlier than the common variety, and doubled its yield. Highland: Growth good, but much destroyed by squirrels, turkeys, &ce., there being no mast in the w oods. Floyd : Silver-hull a success; seed prodiives: 40 fold, Greenville: Seed from the Department did not do well; needs acclimation. Norte Carorima.—Stanley : Taken by rats and rabbits. SouTH CaRoOLina.—Orangeburg: Silver-skin a failure. GEORGIA.— Taylor: Silver-hull from the Department very favorabiy reported. TEexas.—Denton: Buckwheat from the Department very fine considering the drought. ARKANSAS.—Arkansas: Grew luxuriantly, but has no seed in the chaff. Garland: Gained 5 per cent. in quantity and 40 per cent. in quality. West VIRGINIA.—Grant: Badly injured by frost. Mercer: Slightly over average ; Silver-hull did well; matures a week earlier and is better filled than the Black-hull. Fayette: Three quarts Silver-hull produced’1} bushels; the straw is objectionable. Tyler: Generally good. Oxnro.— Vinton: Crop would have been large but for early frosts. Medina: Reduced to half a crop by gr asshoppers and early frosts. Coshocton: Above av erage; increased acreage. JVood: Almost a total failure. MICcHIGAN.—Shiawassee : Early sowings escaped damage, but the frost cut down the yield below average. Berrien: Shortened by drought. INDIANA.—fipley : Greatly damaged by frost. InLivois.— Bureau: Almost a failure. Jinnebago: Not half a crop. WISCONSIN.—Green: Almost a failure. .ddams: Scalded in the blossom and did not fill; some fields not harvested. Dodge: Drought prevented the grain from filling; only 75 per cent. of an average. Silver-hull about the same as our native varieties. Green Lake: Injured by drought and early frost. MiInneEsota.—Jsanti: Silver-hull a great acquisition; cropped well and ripened early. — lowa.—Clarke : Badly injured by summer drought. Mills: All frost-killed. Hardin: Frosted. Tama: Failure through ‘drought and early frost. Benton: Mostly destroyed by frost. Des Moines: A total failure because of drought; silver-hull two weeks earlier than either the black or gray. Jefferson: Ruined by frost. Wayne: Almost a total failure through frost. Louisa: Ruined by drought; won’t pay for harvesting. Monona : Increased acreage, but swept by grasshoppers. “Calhoun : Killed i by early frost. Grundy : Almost ruined by September frosts. Missourt.—Caldwell: Entirely ruined by drought. Clinton: Destroyed by early frost. Harrison: Almost a failure through frost. De Kalb: Nearly a failure. Howard: Nearly destroyed by frost. Mercer: Silver-hull yielded 3 bushels very fine from 4 quarts 543 of seed. Cass: Almost a failure. Laclede: A fourth of a crop. Pemiscot: Silver-hull yielded well. Kansas.—Nemaha: Area largely increased, but very little has been harvested, and that of inferior quality ; silver-hull did best. Howard: Silver-hull from the Depart- ment failed through drought. Shawnee: Mostly killed by early frost. Washington: Killed by early frost. Jefferson: Nearly a failure through drought. Labette: Almost a failure from drought. Woodson: A total failure; even the silver-hull, which last year ‘yielded 50 per cent. more than the common seed, failed through drought. Coffey : Hardly half acrop. Cowley: Silver-hull not successful here. Osage: Ruined by drought and insects. Smith: A failure. Cherokee: Silver-hull destroyed by prairie-chickens. OREGON.—Grant : Materially injured by early frosts. Daxota.—Clay: A failure. IpaHo.—Bon Homme: Killed by early frosts. Nez Perce: Silver-huil from Depart- ment did well though late sown. BEANS AND PEASE. Maine.— Piscataquis: Beans largely killed by frost August 28. Androscoggin: Beans good, VERMONT.— Franklin : Decreased acreage, but the steck of merchantable beans is larger than last year. Lampille: Beans raised on a larger scale than formerly by a few farmers. New Yor«.— Tioga: Beans and pease good. JVyoming: Beans a large yield. Virernta.— Clarke: Abundant and good. | NortH Carorina.—Chowan; Pease a half crop. Gaston: Pea-crop unusually fair. Greene: Early frost eut the pea-crop short 25 per cent. Haywood: Beans very prolific. Martin: Pease a good crop. SoutH Carorina.—IVilliamsburgh: Pease a fine crop, but harvesting is costly, en- croaching on the margin of profits. Marlborough : Pease nearly a failure. GEORGIA.—Jackson : Beans and pease very good. Whitfield: Pea-crop large and sound. TEXxAs.— Upshur: Fine pea-crop, helping out the deficient corn-crop. Cherokee: Pea- crop fine. ARKANSAS.—Bradley : Increased acreage. Garland: Pease cut short by drought, but equal to last year ; beans yielded a surplus and sold well. TENNESSEE.—Blount : Pease good. Wesr Virernra— Mercer: Beans and pease good. On10.— Washington : Beans largely planted to meet the anticipated deficiency in potatoes. Medina: Beans extensively planted to make up an anticipated deficiency in potatoes, but grasshoppers and aly, frosts diminished the yield to an average. MicHigan.—Livingston : Beans a good yield of good quality. ILLINOIS.—Knox: Beans frosted. WIsconsin.—Dodge: Beans a good crop and well cured. Minnesora.—Steele : Small crops, but fair. lowsa.—Monona: Beans and pease planted in larger quantities than ever before, but destroyed by grasshoppers. Missourt.—Laclede : Beans half crop. NEBRASKA.—Antelope: Beans rusted badly ; much eaten by grasshoppers. OREGON.—Grant: Beans materially injured by frost. Urau.—San Pete: Beans light, but good; pease not so abundant as last year, bury of excellent quality. Ipsno.—Ada: Beans injured by frosts. Daxora.—Bonhomme : Beans injured by grasshoppers. New Mexico.—Mora: Better than last year, but below average. Dona Ana: Beans and pease injured by lack of water. TOBACCO. The average in comparison with last year is 94. The returns for to- baceo make the yield above that of Lance in West Virginia, 129; Kansas, 114; Arkansas, 108; Virginia, 102; Illinois, 101; New Hamp- shire, New York, Texas, and Oregon, 100. The other States range between 70 in Pennsylvania and 98 in South Carolina and Florida. In condition, Connecticut reports an average of 135; Massachusetts, 120; New Hampshire, 118; Vermont, 110; Maryland, Louisiana, and Oregon, 106; IJXansas, 102; Virginia, Georgia, and Alabama, 101 Other States ran ge between 100 in Illinois and 91 in Missouri. MASSACHUSETTS.— Franklin : Tobacco is doing well; no pole-sweat; scarcity of money “SV prevent the early marketing of the crop. 544 Connecricut.—New Haven: Excellent where not frosted. PENNSYLVANIA.—Lancaster : Crop short. $ MARYLAND.—Howard : Good season and good crop. Vireinis.— Madison: Generally cut before frost, and curing handsomely. Fluvanna: Full crop, though much of it was late. Pittsylvania: Did not recover from July drought. Rockbridge: Failed; did not get a good stand. Chesterfield: Heavy yield, but badly .frosted. Buckingham: Large crop well secured; fine harvest-season. Mecklenburg: Short crop planted and it failed to mature; much was cut green. Spottsylvania: Crop large; season fine; no frost until October 13. Orange: Crop had a bad start, but sub- sequent good weather made a fair yield. Goochland: More tobacco made than in any year since the war; quality good. Cumberland: Very fine. Nelson: Much had to be cut green to escape frost; curing season good. Dinwiddie: Scarcity of plants and in- creased cotton culture reduced the acreage; crop injured by rains. NorTH CAROLINA.—Person: Yield heavy and good. Alamance: Poor stand at start- ing; grew rapidly later in the season, but produced but little fine tobacco; cut before ripening. Forsyth: Good and secured. Rockingham: Heavy, but inferior on account of late rains. Caswell: Planting delayed by drought; later rains caused a second growth, which did not mature well; fine tobacco scarce. FLoripa.—Gadsden: Large increase of Cuba tobacco. ALABAMA.— Crenshaw : Acreage 25 per cent. increase; yield 25 per cent. above aver- age. Hancock: Increased acreage and good quality; seed mostly brought from Ha- vana. TENNESSEE.— Dickson : Good crop well secured; injured somewhat by worms. Obion : Very good. Williamson: Acreage 25 per cent. less; quality 25 per cent. better. Sum- ner: Injured by frost in some places; increased acreage will make up the deficiency ; Smith: Ten per cent. over last year’s yield. Trousdale: Not so good leaf as last year. Putnam: Crop large, excellent, and well secured. Jobertson: About 600 pounds per acre average ; quality 25 per cent. below last year. “West VirGINIA.—Grant: Badly frosted. Mercer: Very good; increase acreage ; more attention to this crop. KENTUCKY.—Hardin: Above average in quantity, but inferior in quality. Oldham: Secured in good order; shortened by drought. Adair: Larger acreage than ever be- fore ; late planted and somewhat frosted. Laurel: Above average in spite of frost. Nicholas: Drought injured late plantings; worms bad. Pendleton: Stand late and consequently ripened late, reducing the quality, though but little was frosted. Taylor: Crop greatly reduced by wet early season and subsequent drought. Clinton: Great increase in tobacco culture; aggregate yield five times as great as last year. Henry: Depreciated by early frosts; late planted on account of drought. McLean: Injured by extreme wet weather. Anderson; Average. Livingslon: Well saved; not frosted. OuI0.—Medina: Leaves somewhat eaten by grasshoppers, preventing their use as cigar-wrappers. ; InDIANA.—Dubois : Shortened greatly by drought. Ripley: Somewhat frosted. Brown: Increased acreage; late planted; considerably frosted. Edwards: Good in spite of worms. WIsConsIN.—Clark: Damaged by wet spring and early frosts. Adams: Injured by early frosts. Missourl.— Moniteau: Badly frosted. Clinton: Increased acreage, but some of it in- jured by early frosts. Howard: Injured by frost. Carroll: Early planting fine; late, damaged by frost. Franklin: Much injured by worms. Stone: Full 25 per cent. above last year in yield, but nearly worthless, having taken a second growth. Cass: Frost caught most of the tobacco. Kansas. —Lubetle : Experimental crops promising. CALIFORNIA.— Alameda: Not extensively grown, but under a new method of treat- ment it is thought to be equal to Havana. ORrEGON.—Tillamook : Growth small, but quality excellent. FRUIT. MAINE,—Cumberland : Short crop of apples, owing to freezing last winter, and to an ' extensive yield last year. Sagadahoc: Almost a failure; a hard blow in September took off half the apples left on the trees; pears very fair. Androscoggin: Grapes above average ; apples a failure; pears light. Piscataquis: Apples a very small crop; largely blown off by the September gale. NEw HampsHire.—Carroll: Cider $10 per barrel. Hillsborough: Apples few; pears abundant; grapes a fair crop. VERMONT.—Caledonia.—In the west of the county the crop is double last year’s; in the central and eastern portions but half as great. Franklin: Apples better than ex- pected ; choice varieties scarce, but cider-apples plenty. MASSACHUSETTS.— Berkshire: Grape-crop full; the valuable varieties have ripened 545 finely ; the dryness of the soil has operated favorably: good cultivation has been re- paid in the apple-crop; pears abundant and good. Franklin: Apples worth $4 per barrel. Norfolk: Apples a fourth of a crop ; pears a larger crop than for several years. Connecticut.—Windham: Apples very scarce; know of no orchard producing & tenth part of a crop; pear-crop never better. ‘ New York.— Yates : Good yields of apples in some quarters; pears not well matured, though above average in quantity. Seneca: Apple-crop small; pear-crop large. Tioga : Grapes good, but short; apples ditto; pears good. rie: Apples well harvested and closely sold up at $1.50 to $2 per barrel. Columbia : Apples scarce and poor. Cattaraugus : Apples frozen on the trees. Albany: Grapes and pears fine. Ontario: Fruits well ripened. Wyoming: Grapes ripened well; apples good, but short; pears plenty, it being the bearing season. New JERSEY.—Hudson: Grapes injured by drought; apples, hardly a half crop; pears more abundant than usual, the late varieties being the best. Gloucester : Com- plaints that fruit does not keep well. ‘Varren: Apples short. PENNSYLVANIA.— Bucks : Apples alight crop, except a local variety, Smith’s Cider, which has greatly enlarged the yield. Jefferson: Such apples as were not blown off are generally sound. Armstrong: Apples fell oft badly, yielding a short winter supply. Northampton: Apples few; picked but 10 barrels where last year I got 133; trees badly winter-killed. Cumberland: Grapes, apples, and pears almost a failure. Northumberland: Apples about one-tenth of an average; pears three-fourths; trees secured to stand winter better than any other fruit ; grapes, one-tenth average. DELAWARE.—Kent : Grapes never finer. MaryLanp.—-Dorchester : Grape-culture reliable and profitable. Baltimore: Fruit not so abundant as last year; grapes did better than other kinds. VirGinia.— Warren : Grape-crop fine; culture increasing. Bland: Apples killed by frost whenin bloom. Madison: Apples good and abundant in the mountainous region of the county. King and Queen: Grapes, apples, and pears did not fulfill their early prom- ise. Pittsylvania : Many pear-trees killed by blight. Orange: Apple crop fair, though drought caused many to fall. Northumberland: Apples frosted in April; some have secured second crops, in other cases the third set of blossoms have appeared. Page: Apples better than for three years. Goochland: Apples and pears good crops. SOO. 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The mountain pasture lands are divided into tracts known as alpages, 4,559 in number, of which 54 per cent. are owned by individuals, 33 per cent. by communes, 9 per cent. by corporations, and a few by the State. About 150,000 milk cows are pastured, six acres being required for each cow; and a large number of other cattle are kept in these elevated pastures. The agricultural resources of Switzerland bear no comparison naturally with those of Colorado, or almost any equal portion of the Rocky Mountain region, notwithstanding the aridity of our great mount- ain areas. The abruptness of declivitous surfaces, and the poverty of the soil, in large portions of Switzerland, are in marked coutrast to the surfaces and soils of our mountain domain. Germany.—The German Empire exhibits to the world a miracle of industry and thrift in agriculture. The northern portion from Berlin northward is natarally little better than a desert of sand, and southward the improvement is small and slow until the neighborhood of Dresden is reached. Saxony and Bavaria are the most fertile prov- inces. Grains, potatoes, sugar-beets, forage-roote yield abundant returns for the pa- tient labor and constant fertilization required ; wheat does not equal the yield of En- gland, being at the rate of 17.1 bushels per acre, yet the wonder is that so large a pro- uct can be secured. The latest average for rye is 16.7 bushels; for oats, 32.9 bushels. As in Great Britain and other countries, there is a marked tendency to improvement of stock and the increase of meat supplies. Formerly wool was peemennt in sheep- husbandry, mutton being altogether subordinate. The original families of Spanish merinoes became founders of a new order of ovine nobility, the Electoral in Saxony, the Negretti in Mechlenburg, and the Electoral and Negretti in Silesia, which became famous throughout the world, ultimately supplying an extensive demand from Austra- lia, from South Africa, and South America, and a more limited demand from the United States, where the American breeders of the same Spanish families commanded the pre- ference of a large majority of wool-growers. Now, the production of fine wool isdeclining in Germany, and the Southdowus and Leicesters of Great Britain are eagerly sought. The present numbers are reported officially at 29,000,000, of which about 14,000,000 are merinoes and other grades, 7,000,000 of pure or partial English blood, and 4,000,000 of native races. The wool production is estimated at 120,000,000 pounds. It is found that the mutton-breeds are more profitable on the best lands and in the densest popu- lations, while in regions remote from market and sparse in population the merino still maintains its former sway. The cultivation of the vine ha become an extensive rural industry in Germany, re- quiring the use of 360,000 acres in vineyards in Saxony, Bavaria, the Rhine, and Moselle Valleys, and other portions of Southern and Western Germany. The business is char- acterized by increasing care, better culture, and superior skill. New varieties have been introduced, and improvements in the manufacture and treatment of wine. In Bavaria the practice of setting vineyards with poles and wires has obtained to a con- siderable extent. Flax and hemp are prominent products in Silesia, Westphalia, Hanover, and the Rhine Provinces; and hemp is grown extensively in Baden and Alsace. Foreign flax- seed is chiefly used, and the home manufacture requires an import of foreign flax. Re- cent improvements in machinery for preparing the fiber are giving an impetus to the business. Tobacco is a profitable crop in some sections; at Pfalz a tobacco of peculiar character is grown, valuable for wrappers, to the extent of more than 60,000 acres, yielding about 11 cwt. per acre. Hops are grown largely in Bavaria, Hesse, Posen, Brunswick, and Baden. Between 1850 and 1860 the business was extended too rapidly, resulting in low prices followed by a temporary check in production, which is now in- creasing again. The practice of training the vines on wires bas become very general. Diligence, patient persistence, a gradual but steady march of improvement appear to characterize every department of German agriculture. Avusrris.—The soil of Austria is far superior in fertility to that of Prussia, especially the valley of the Danube, a vast plain, inuch of it level as the prairies of Llinvis, and apparently equal in productiveness to average western lands. It has been subjected to a somewhat exhaustive system of cnlture feck long period, and it bears with remark- able success this test of ite capabilities. There is little waste Jand in Austria proper. With an area nearly three times that of the State of Ohio, or 75,000,000 acres, 69,000,000 are productive, or 92 per cent. of the whole. These productive lands are divided into plow-lands, which ¢ggregate about 24,000,000 acres, nearly two-thirds of which are in Galicia and Bohemia; meadows and gardens, 8,500,000; vineyards nearly 500,000; pae- tures, above 13,000,000; forests, 23,000,000. Rice is grown to some extent on the coast- lands, and abont 40,000 acres are set in olive and chestnut orchards in Dalmatia. In a portion of the vineyard-land, olive and fruit trees are set at regular intervals, and a double crop obtained; and in the coast provinces there are 10,000 acres in which grass and grain are grown in the intervals of the vine-rows. Frnit-trees are also planted to some extent-in the pasture-lands, In the Alps there are tracts amounting to 210,000 acres which are alternately plow-lands and pasture-lands. This alternation is now disappearing. In Moravia, in 1866, there were 146,000 acres of such lands, and in 1871, 560 scarcely 30,000. At 2,000 reet elevation, in Styria, a system of harrow culture is in prac- tice upon fully 500,000 acres. Since 1861 the productive area has increased over 3 per cent. As elsewhere in Europe, the tendency to increase of farm-animals, and especially to their improvement, with reference to increase of meat, milk, and wool, is manifest. The meadows have been increased in ten years 8 per cent., and the pastures 18, while the forests have been diminished 16, and the vineyards 12 per cent. The recently reported yield of cereals is, for wheat, 15.2 bushels; rye, 14.7; barley, 17; oats, 19; maize;15. Maize is a somewhat prominent product of this country, as well as of Hungary and Italy. Ina favorable season a small export occurs, as in 1859, when nearly 5,000,000 of bushels were exported; but in 1871 the imports exceeded the exports by more than 1,000,000 bushels. The only provinces having a surplus of bread-products are Galicia and Mo- ravia; Bohemia and Lower Austria have a small surplus in good harvests; other dis- tricts always have occasion to import, mainly from Hungary, though in recent years a small trade has sprung up with Western Europe. The beet-sugar interest is prominent, having now 190 factories in operation, of which 126 are in Bohemia. The average price of dry beets is 4 florins and 80 krentzers per centner, or about $2.40 for 136 pounds. The industry gives employment to 31,858 men, and 18,939 women, the wages of the former ranging from 18 to 80 cents per day, and of the latter from 13 to 75 cents. During the exhibition in Vienna there was a permanent show of the dairy-stock of Austria made by the agricultural societies of the provinces, comprising three type spec- imens of each distinctive breed, if breeds they can be called, viz, the self-colored breeds, the Mariahofer, of grayish color, good keepers, the yield of milk from each of these cows ranging daily from 8 to 15% liters, the heaviest weighing 1,098 pounds; La- vanthaler, from Carinthia, white, small-boned, early maturing, weight 890 to 1,065, the best yielding 10} liters; the Stockerauer, from Lower Austria, dark gray, meat-produc- ers, valuable for crossing with Dutch stock, weight 905 to 1,075 pounds, yielding 8 to 11 liters of milk; the Oberinthaler, from Tyrol, originating among the Alps, light gray in color, desirable as milch-cows, light of weight, small-boned, weight of exhibited speci- mens from 790 to 930, yielding from 7} to 122 liters daily ; the Murzthaler, from Styria, dark gray, good as milch-cows, and valuable for working, weighing from 892 to 1,057, the milk of the three ranging from 9} to 14} liters each ; the Podolische, whitish cattle from Galicia, originating in the wild oxen of Moldavia, quick, hardy, escaping disease, useful for work, weight 1,015 to 1,072 pounds; the Opocner, from Bohemia, crosses of Swiss and natives, dark brown in color, much sought by milkmen of Prague, but nearly extinct since the war of 1866, the best giving 11} liters of milk; and the Montafuner, light brown, from Voralberg. good tempered, 950 to 1,087 pounds in weight, giving milk 300 days per annum, yielding respectively 93, 11, and 12 liters daily. Besides these were several tribes of spotted or striped stock, the Kuhlander from Moravia, the Pins- gauer from Salzburg, the Molthaler from Carinthia, the Pustenthaler from Tyrol, the Zillerthaler from Tyrol, the Lichten from Upper Austria, the Egerlander from Bohemia, and the Gfohler from Lower Austria. Diplomas were awarded for the Lavanthaler, the Oberinthaler, and the Montafuner. The latter are symmetrical and handsome animals, coming very close to the English breeds in perfection of development, but scarcely equaling them in harmony of proportion. HunGary.—Hungary, though a part of the Austrian Empire, prefers to be regarded as a distinct nationality. Hungary proper is about the size of Illinois, and occupies in Europe very nearly the position held by that State as a producing section. The level plains of the Danube Valley are among the very richest lands of Enrope, and have long been the granary of Central Europe, to which the hungry of the German states, as the Canaanites went down to Egypt to buy bread, have made pilgrimages in search of food in seasons of scarcity. The condition of the peasantry has been muchimproved. The robot, a labor-tax pay- able to the nobility, was abolished in 1848, and the wine-tax and game restrictions have been abolished. Every feeholding peasant or householder now possesses his prop- erty in fee-simple, by the same title that secures the possessions of the nobility. The land is now occupied, about one-third by small proprietors, holding from five to thirty joche, (a joch is 1.4223 acres,) or seven to thirty-five acres; a third to a medium class, owning from 30 to 200 joche; and a third to those owning from 200 to 10,000 joche. The number of holdings is 2,486,255, of which 2,348,110 are small farms. Three-fourths of the land belongs to individuals, and the remainder is held in mortmain, or by the Crown—the government lands comprising 2,700,000 joche, or six per cent. The price of land has advanced greatly during this period of political change. Formerly 50 to 60 florins per joch was a common price, now in some neighborhoods lands can be had for 100 florins; moderately productive lands in better situations command 200, and occasion- ally, under the competition of active demand for small tracts which are very produc- tive, 400 florins are obtained. This is equivalent to $140 per acre. ; There are two races of cattle, those of the plains, which are white, large, with long horns, herds of which form a striking picture on their broad and level pastures; and 561 those of the mountains, the Liebenburger, a mountain race, yellow and brown in color, small, compact, with short horns. The plains cattle are alert in movement, hardy, enduring changes of climate, and fattening readily. In Hungary proper there are 1,072 sheep to every 1,000 of the population. This is a larger proportion, in comparison with population, than is found elsewhere in Europe. The increase has been 33 per cent. since 1857. The number of sheep in 1870 was 15,077,000; of cattle, 5,279,000; of horses, 2,158,800; of swine, 4,443,300. The great industries are flour-manufacturing, pork-packing, and grain-selling, mak- ing the country appear more like home to a western American than any other part of Europe, and the great maize-fields do not detract from the similarity ; but the people, their language, their manners, their methods of industrial labor, and their agricultural machinery are all strange, and many of the comparisons instituted by the Westerner are not favorable to the progressiveness of the country. Still he will find our reapers and mowers there, and coming in yet more rapidly, while the old ladies of the harvest- field look on with sorrow, wringing their hands, with tears in their eyes, as they be- | hold for the first time an innovation which they fear may take the bread from their own mouths. IraLy.—In passing rapidly through Northern Italy among the most striking indus- trial features of the country was the vast system of irrigation in operation there, by which the clear Alpine waters are swiftly conveyed in broad and deep channels through every portion of the productive area, and distributed by a net-work of minor streams, giving refreshment, verdure, and fruitage to fields that would otherwise be dry and dreary in their comparative barrenness. There was almost a monotony in the appear- ance of the fields, though there was variety in unity from Trieste to Venice, from Ve- rona to Milan and Arona, at the base of the mountains, an almost continuous field of. maize, broken by parallel lines of the mulberry, which were kept closely trimmed and hung with festoons of vines. Thus three crops are grown on the same land, furnishing food, drink, and’clothing. Polenta, a sort of hasty-pudding, appears to be the princi- pal food of large numbers; it is used everywhere, sold on the markets ent in slices, taken for lunch in the field or at home, and always acceptable. Perhaps no other food could so well support so large a population. FrANCE.—This distracted country fills an important place in the production of Eu- rope. Itisacountry noted for scientific experiments in agriculture; it has 43 farm- schools under the supervision of the government, several official veterinary and other establishments for the advancement of rural industry. It makes a profiable specialty of sugar-beet production, and about 4 per cent. of its territory is devoted to the culti- vation of the vine. The cereals are grown in far larger proportion to cultivated area than in Great Britain, but their yield per acre is little more than half as great, and not much greater than our own rate of yield. The practice of Great Britain is re- versed : instead of two acres in restorative to one of exhaustive crops, the exhaustive area is two to one. With all this prominence given to bread-producing grains, there is a scarcity of animals and domestic fertilizers, and the result is a frequent necessity for a small import of breadstufis. Of live stock, the horse receives the most attention, and the race of Normandy is still sought for export to foreign countries. AGRICULTURAL TENDENCIES, No intelligent observer, in taking even a cursory view of the agriculture of the Old World, can fail to see that the agricultural mind is active, inventive, as well as recep- tive; that more of energy, method, and business acumen are being infused into rural industry ; that the tendencies of progress are, many of them, in the same direction in which earnest minds in this country have been pushing, perhaps more impulsively, possibly not so successfully. I will name of these tendencies a few only : First. More liberal and general provision for fertilization. It is seen that the lands naturally the most fertile are not those on which the largest crops are actually pro- duced, and that the fertilizing resources of earth and sea and air are sufiicient to con- vert into a garden a desert of sand. And while commercial or chemical stimulants are ‘found in some eases profitable, it is seen that better results at a lower cost may be se- cured by the production and feeding of roots and forage plants to farm-animals, and a wise economy of accessible and inexpensive local material for ultimate plant-food. Second. More judicious and economical drafts upon stores of plant-food in the soil. Local causes may make a temporary demand and an enhanced price, and the result in the next season is an unnecessary production and an unremunerative price. ‘This is an unnecessary waste of plant-food. A constant succession of plowed or hoed crops, espec- ially under the exposure of a hot sun, is found to dissipate rapidly important elements of plant-growth. } 667, 770 680, 486 652 A RE IONE ie oe oe aoitet ween a A ys : ona =" be c =| = =H a8 Aa cs) | b5 ay S © Ey eo a =e | 4 3S S i = ia od ° cm on =) ° = oe 5 re ° = NA No 2) = Ay ‘S) <4 ol A Wihlestts:--- sncee 31, 556 | 84,160 | 35, 100 |125, 400 |350, 886 | 8,269 | 43,952 | 2,401 | 8,831} 700, 660 Speltsr sts Sees a ee! 578 169 311 7,424 | 2,575 |137, 936 | 9,912 75 | 158, 980 LH Ueno See hae 20, 479 1,734 | 3,548 | 29, 668 682 | 9, 847 4,561 | 17,421 | 87,940 DGB A 38s SSeeSS= 8, 593 |174, 304 |179, 740 | 97,169 |178,205 | 5,506 | 41,505 | 26,196 |* 6,845 | 715, 063 Barleyices ass as--- 21,531 | 18, 619 8, 550 | 12,215 | 27, 661 1, 745 | 11,260 | 2,549 | 2,765 | 106, 495 Osta eee are =< ee 1), 817 | 52,315 | 45,288 | 62, 464 | 10,605 | 6, 069 |150, 455 | 69, 443 | 25, 751 | 434, 207 Buckwheat ..----- 1,129 | 9,326 | 23,774 | 4,754] 2,842 82 287 143 578 | 42, 955 DEANS 2.24 ss. 2-5 =< 16, 271 4, 890 1,176 6, 436 | 25, 423 660 | 4,611 203 220 } 59,950 Pease and vetchese} 2, 899 1,894] 1,175 |) 2,849 11,801 820 | 10,515 | 1,097 | 2,057] 35,107 Green fodder....-. &, 152 | 56,069 | 41,849 | 58,155 144, 973 3, 867 | 82, 705 | 26,065 | 11,096 | 432, 931 15 OS ees Soe ae 11, 231 | 53,210 | 92,382 | 36,159 |105, 556 | 26, 094 | 81, 240 | 96, 256 | 37, 897 | 540, 025 Root fodder crops.| 3,714 | 13,590 | 4,148 | 11,976 | 27,379 701 7, 188 1, 408 573 |} 70,641 _ Potatoes...25...55=:- 14, 152 | 91, 327 | 63,277 | 57,260 }113,128 | 3,995 | 48,873 | 24,988 | 12,071 | 429, O71 1G) Sooo dee eel Pease 2, 906 1, 013 aris | i Bei ee 250 600 324 7, 244 DER ee ee OSere eee 4,594 | 59, 672 | 11,384 | 11,120 | 47, 722 |.0....... 4, 831 1, 339 301 140, 963 Colzaie: sae... Sa. 2,608 | 20,593 | 3,316 | 6,714 | 28,822 |.....-... 1,134 | 2,059 303 65, 549 Aya Se DO ee Se PY el Bee aoe somrecen pote try: 7s qaeremee 166 129 [S22 S22 lo enreeee 295 TEbACCD EH S22 crores te = e ss—e I*G25) eae 2 = Peers: 2,046 i452. fae toe eens 49 RES ~ 3, 896 BE ilies ae eee a Mane 4.7040| Boss. 82 jaa. Sotes 652901) ae 270 oe ool Sees 11, 293 Chictoryt ss o-3-- alec etl 2+ ONS |) a4eee te Patol sect G, 709412 Lh SS ag SESty SSeS. | eee 9) 810 Sugar-beets .....-. 1,377 423 677 | 5,732 | 34, 871 240 | 2,133 5 186 | 45, 644 Pastureiss.-- 25-22% 53, 499 | 28, 832 | 25, 059 | 16, 554 | 64, 866 | 28, 298 11 493 | 35,150 | 3,104 266, 835 567 Table showing the average yield per acre of leading crops in the several regions. / i) Region of the | 3 Condrusian re-| ¢ o Ke fA sandy zoneof—| 30 gions. 2 a Fy 2 é 3 a & a & | Ba] 2 GH . . o4 tot) <) m 2 as ss) & | € ] 8) 2 ;%s | ee] & | 28] 4 é 3 st be 3 ot ee = I g bh a | z S ak) ag so % q >) a a a =] 3 FY on a 5 ® a) Fu iS) n 4 i 2) 4 4 ob PWahiedt 3 2k oye cece bush 19.52 | 18.95 | 16.08 | 16.98 | 20,88 BOWEL cette ees oe staiai = Meo retina 33.30 } 36.17 | 34.74 | 34.45 | 34. 85 Woeslin{ss 224. 5attsxi2 dose liec dos. 20.67 | 20.67 | 18.37 | 17. 80 | 23.21 Oy? @ be ace Reetorigh se do 21.82 | 22.11 | 20.67 | 20.10 | 25.38 BAMOY hee ees esac. do 29.86 | °34.45 | 21.82 | 24.12 | 35.10 ates. 26 cb Sec.02 2: do 35.60 | 35.60 | 34.45 | 32.16 | 42.47 Buckwheat. ......-. do 20.67 | 22.97 | 28.71 | 28.71 | 24.87 Gans Joss0s-. 2.32 do.. 21.82 | 19.52 | 17.23 | 16.65 | 24.52 Pease and vetches. .do.. 22.97 | 21.82 | 18.37 | 20.67 | 22.80 Green fodder ....-. tons. 6. 47 9.70 | 4.10] 4.42) 8.82 2.19 1.88 1.29} 1.45] 1.82 14. 72 14.72 | 2380] 6.69 | 13.22 4. 02 4.02 | 5.80] 6.46 4. 50 2 snaps 6.25 | 4.46 4,91 6. 48 Ree ere 4502) 312) ) 3.12 ty Sack whee 34.45 | 17.23 | 17.23 | 27.94 2 setae LL 1S Seba Soe eo siete oiaterat 8.92) Sage salelne a eee We Oe Chiccory: <-/. -2:'--- BOO Geeta ce|| Lt eRe eee || erent tence ab Od Ree cs 7. 04 Sugar-beets ........ do.. 11/38 | 11.38 | 2.68] 5.36 | 13:72 The aggregate yield of these various crops for the whole kingdom is given as follows: Wheat, 14,657,691 bushels ; spelt, 5,541,975 bushels ; meslin, 2,035,442 bushels; rye, 18,123,916 bushels; barley, 3,782,943 bushels; oats, 24,111,465 bushels ; buckwheat, 1,317,655 bushels ; beans, 1,470,172 bushels; pease and vetches, 769,083 bushels ; green fodder, 3,379,312 tons; hay, 948,515 tons; root fodder, 941,345 tons; potatoes, 1,896,649 tons, 4,669,278 pounds ; flax, 52,281,156 pounds; colza, 1,823,- 764 bushels; tobacco, 4,934,203 pounds; hops, 10,301,647 pounds ; chiccory, $2,144 tons; sugar-beets, 613,101 tons. Of the above enumerated crops the spelt, Triticum spelta, is scarcely if at all known in this country. It is considerably cultivated on the continent of Europe, where it is known by the name of German wheat. it is stated in the document before us that it does not produce half as much flour as wheat. Meslin, spelled also maslin and mislin, is a mixed sowing of wheat and rye, practiced considerably in Europe. The highest’ average yield of wheat, 31.16 bushels per acre, is found in the region of the Polders, the only region that produces enough of this grain to supply the home demand. The lowest average is in the Ardennes, 16.08 bushels per acre. The deficiency in this breadstuff is made up by,a large foreign import. Neither spelt nor meslin are culti- vated in the Polders, but both are in all the other regions. In the Condroz proper spelt occupies the largest acreage, 137,936, but the highest aver- -age, 37.90 bushels per acre, is found in the zone of Flanders. Meslin is largely raised in the loam region, occupying nearly 30,000 acres, but its highest average yield is in the zone of Flanders, 29.28 bushels per acre. ye, the largest of the grain crops, is produced mostly in the sandy and loam regions, but its highest average yield per acre, 36.17, is in the Polders. Barley and buckwheat are subordinate and supple- mental crops, the latter largely employed in what are called, signifi- cantly, stolen crops. Oats are the largest crop grown, though occupy- ing but little over half the acreage of either the wheat or the rye crops. The largest breadth sown, 150,455 acres, was in the Condroz proper, but the largest yield per acre, 54.55 bushels, was in the Polders. Nearly half ; 4A . 2 568 a million acres are devoted to green-fodder and root-fodder crops—that is, crops grown to furnish food for farm animals, whether of stalks and leaves, as of corn, or of roots, as turnips, &c. The largest acreage of the former, 144,973, is found in the loam region, but the largest yield per acre, 10.75 tons, is in the zone of Flanders, which also produces the largest yield of root-fodder, 20.08 tons per acre. The “root-fodder” crops occupy but one-sixth of the acreage of the “* green-fodder” crops, but the former produce one-fourth the aggregate number of tons produced by the latter. The grass-crops cover a larger acreage than the wheat or rye crops. The loam region presents the largest acreage in meadow, 105,556, but the largest average yield of hay, 2.25 tons per acre, is in the zone of Flanders. . The loam region also has the largest amount of land in pasture, 64,866 acres, as well as in potatoes, 113,128 acres, but the largest average yield of the latter, 8.03 tons per acre, is found in the Polders. Beans, pease, and vetches are subordinate crops. The remain- ing crops, hemp, flax, colza, tobacco, hops, chiccory, and sugar-beets, receive the local designation of ‘industrial crops” from the fact that they are grown to meet the demand of manufacturing establishments in the country. These are of very limited acreage, but open a profitable scope for local industry. SWISS AGRICULTURE. PHYSICAL CHARACTERS. In an official statement relative to Swiss agriculture, the soil of the republic is divided into three zones, the Alps, the Jura, and the Swiss plain interposed between them. The latter comprehends the south- west portion of the plateau extending from the passage of the Rhone, just below Geneva, to the defile of the Danube, near Passau. The Swiss plain lies between Lake Geneva on the southwest and Lake Con- stance on the northeast. The great plain of the Rhine, between the Vosges and the Black Forest, also penetrates the Swiss territory on the northwest. The Alps are divided into two mountain zones by a longi- tudinal depression, embracing the upper valleys of the Rhine and the Rhone and the valley of Ursern, in the canton of Uri. The mountains are evidently of igneous origin, their out-crops being of granite, sienite, diorite, serpentine, AS mica-schist, porphyry, basalt, &c. The Alpine region covers 574 per cent. of the Swiss territory. The medium altitude of this region, not considering the longitudinal and lateral valleys, is 8,325 feet above sea-level, the maximum, Mount Rose, being 15,000 feet. The Jura range, skirting the northwestern frontier, nowhere attains the line of perpetual snow, its maximum altitude being 5,420 feet It is divided into several parallel and bifurcating chains. It shows the out- crop of only sedimentary rocks, especially the lower, middle, and upper Jurassic formations, which take their name from this locality. The physiognomy of the Jura notably contrasts with that of the Alps. Arid plains are sometimes found interposed between its ridges, but its low elevation admits of abundant vegetation. It is everywhere covered with fields, meadows, pastures, or forests. It occupies 124 per cent. of the national territory. The Swiss plain, the principal seat of the industry aud commerce of the country, is a plateau rising to a medium altitude between 1,200 and 1,350 feet above the level of its great lakes. Several chains of hills and mountains traverse this plain; their summits reach an elevation of 4,000 feet. In this section are found the remarkable cities and the agri- cultural regions of Switzerland ; it covers 301 per cent. of the republic. 569 CLIMATE. Local climates are subject to special influences, greatly modifying the effect of altitude. For instance, the canton of Grisons, in the southeast, is exposed to cold winds, which contracts the range of vegetation. The canton of Valais, isolated by high mountains, enjoys a genial and equa- ble temperature. Some parts of the country are darkened by fogs. At Berne, tor example, the year averages 66 days of fog—16 in spring, 30 in autumn, and 20 in winter.. Great St. Bernard averages 91 days of fog per annum—26 in spring, 19 in summer, 25 in autumn, and 21 in winter. At St. Gothard the foggy days number 278 per annum—71 in spring, 79 in summer, 70 in autumn, and 58 in winter. The same varia- tion is visible in the amount of rain-fall. At Geneva it is 31 inches per annum; at Zurich, 32; at Berne, 42; at the foot of the Alps, 42; at Great St. Bernard, 73. On the northern slope of the Alps the rainy days average 120 per annum; on the southern slope, 90 days. The gov- ernment has established 84 meteorological stations, which have made valuable contributions to meteorological science. POPULATION. The population is given at 2,669,147, or about 166 per square mile. Of these, 1,566,347 are Protestants, 1,084,369 Roman Catholics, 18,431 Jews and other sects; 384,538 speak German, 133,575 French, 30,079 Italian, 3,826 other languages. Soil-culture employs 44.4 per cent. ; manufactures, 34.5 per cent.; commerce, 5.2 per cent.; transportation, 1.8 per cent.; public administration, science, arts, &c., 3.9 per cent. ; personal service, 6.3 per cent.; occupations not indicated, 3.9 per cent. The census of 1869 exhibits one birth to each 32, one death to each 40, and one marriage to each 141 of the population. COMMERCE. The total importations from foreign countries in 1871 amounted to 153,855,664 franes, or 57.55 francs per capita. Of this aggregate 63,480,295 represented cereals, being 23.78 francs per capita; wine, 21,467,340 francs; coffee, 20,641,940 francs; sugar, 18,082,800 franes ; brandy and spirits of wine, 6,157,600 frances; butter, 6,103,130 francs ; flour, 4,435,950 francs, &c. The total export amounted to 42,187,692 franes; of which over two-thirds (28,939,050 franes) represented cheese. The other items were mostly cereals, flour, butter, and coffee. AREA AND CEREAL PRODUCTION. The area of Switzerland is about 16,000 square miles, nearly equal to New Hampshire and Massachusetts combined. Not over 15 per cent. of the area of the republic is susceptible of cultivation. The larger pro- portion of this cultivable area is found in the Swiss plain, but the val- leys of Jura and the Alps afford very considerable scope for agricul- tural enterprise. In general, landed property is minutely sub-divided, large farms being found only in Berne and Lucerne; medium properties are foundin Argovie, Soleure, and Thurgovie. The cantons of Lucerne, Soleure, Fribourg, and Schaffhouse produce a surplus of grain; in Ar- govie and Valais production and consumption are nearly equal; in the rest of Switzerland there is a deficiency. The annual import of foreign grain amounts to nearly 4,000,000 quintals, while the export does not 570 exceed 60,000. It should be remembered in this counection that not less than "50, 000 foreigners spend a portion of each year -in Switzer- land. Forests cover 19 per cent. of the Swiss territory. FRUIT CULTURE. Fruit culture is quite extensive in the cantons of Thurgovie, Zurich, Soleure, Zong, Lucerne, St. Gallj Appenzell, and Bale-Ville. The fruit is either dried or made into cider, in which form it forms a considerable export, especially by way of Wiirtemburg. Vineyards are also scat- tered through Vaud, Zurich, St. Gall, Argovie, Neuchatel, Valais, Tes- sin, and Grisons. The annual production of wine is approximately esti- mated at 1,155,000 hectoliters, (30,512,559 gallons,) but the home de- mand requires in addition the import of 800,000 or 900,000 quintals of wine, 106,000 quintals of brandy, and 44,000 quintals of beer. GRASS CROPS. In- meadow cultivation the leading cantons are Lucerne, Argovie, Zurich, Berne, and Soleure ; then follow in order Bale, Schaffhouse, St. Gall, Fribourg, Geneva, Grisons, and Valais. The pasture-grounds of the Alps are divided into small definite tracts called alpages.. The unit of measurement of these tracts is denominated a stoss, which indicates the area of pasture necessary for the support of a cow during summer. This area varies, according to the richness of the pasture, from 2 to 10 arpents, the average being 5 arpents and 18 perches. The arpent of Geneva is equal to 1.2766 acres. A horse of three years or younger re- quire one, two, or three stoss; three heifers will require two stoss; a ealf or a hog one-fourth, and a sheep one-fifth of a stoss. The number of these alpages is 4,559, scattered through 19 cantons and demi-cantons, and 691 communes. Individual proprietors own 2,488 of these tracts, or 54.6 per cent.; 1,525, or 33.5 per cent., belong to com- munes; 80, or 1. 8 per cent., belong to communes and private owners to- gether; ; 453, or 9 per cent., belong to corporations; 11, or 0.2 per cent., Delong to the government. The altitude of these pastures varies from. 2,000 to 9,000 feet ; the actual pasturage of live stock in 1864 amounted to 270, 3389 stoss, and the actual number of days of pasturage of indi- vidual ‘animals was 25 074,238. The value of the alpages is estimated _ at 77,186,103 franes. In 1864 153,320 milch-cows pastured on these al- pages, returning 8,182,788 francs, beside 115,941 non-milking cows and other cattle, returning a minimum revenue of 2,703,465 francs. The total return, then, was 10,893,874, or 14.11 per cent. on the capital. Af- ter deducting a liberal margin for interest and charges of amortisation there remains a net revenue of 9,545,000 francs, or 12.4 per cent. At 5 per cent. this revenue represents a principal ‘of 190,900,120 franes, which amounts fully to 200,000,000 by including the alpages not em- braced in these statistics. LIVE STOCK. The aggregate value of live stock is estimated at 260,000,000 frances. The census of April 21, 1866, gave the following enumeration : Horses.—Stallions, 428 ; other stallions two years old and upwards, 3,449; stallions, less than two years old, 5,647; breeding-mares, 9,515 ; other mares and geldings four years old and ‘upwards, 64,380 ; “mares 571 and geldings under four years, 16,905; asses and mules, 5,475; total horses, asses, and mules, 105,799. | | Horned cattle —Bulls, 10,311; milch-cows, 553,205; breeding-heifers, 74,634; beef-cattle, 52,203; calves over six months old, 172,826; calves less than six months old, 130,012; total, 993,291. Hogs.—Boars, 1,544; sows, 30,288; fattening hogs, 190,705 ; sucking- pigs, 81,951; total, 304,428. Sheep, 447,001. Sheep, 375,482. The foreign trade in cattle shows an import of 103,424 horned cattle in 1871 against 6,987 in 1870; and of 2,191 calves against 2,711 the pre- vious year. The exports of horned cattle in 1871 were 54,971 against 41,062 in 1870; of calves, 8,157 against 11,683 the previous year. In 1871 the imports of butter and lard were 55,483.49 quintals against 35,404.21 in 1870; the exports were 15,492.92 quintals in 1871, and 22,149.70 in 1870. The exports of cheese exceed the imports by about 60,000 quintals. The dairy facilities of Switzerland are attracting the attention of for- eign capitalists. Among the exhibitors at the Vienna Exposition was the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, an association of English and Swiss capitalists, which has factories at Chane, Gossau, and Fri- bourg, Switzerland, and at Chippenham, England. The central office is at 38 Leadenhall street, London, but their main establishment, at Cham, in the Swiss canton of St. Gall, was erected in 1866, ‘The company has: a capital of a million of frances actually invested. In 1872 it produced 3,500,000 packages of condensed milk, each weighing one pound. It has numerous agencies in Europe. ENTOMOLOGICAL RECORD. By TOWNEND GLOVER. PROTECTION AGAINST COTTON-INSECTS.—The following circular on a subject, the importance of which will be generally acknowledged, was recently sent to the regular corps of Department correspondents in the cotton- growing States: The annual losses of cotton from ravages of cotton-insects amount possibly to half a million bales in years of insect prevalence. One-fourth of a million bales would be deemed a light infliction, and yet, at $100 per bale, such a loss would be equivalent to $25,000,000. The methods to be employed for lessening their ravages have been here- tofore canvassed by the entomologist of this Department. The remedy can only be applied by the planters themselves, and their own experience can best render practica- ble and efficient the means employed. Numerous correspondents have of late been experimenting with a mixture of Paris green and flour or plaster, dusted on the plants when wet with dew—a remedy which has proved very efficient against the Colorado potato-beetle and other insects. Some report this remedy effectual against the cotton caterpillar, while others declare it of no value whatever; others still hesitate to try it for fear of poisoning. It is of the utmost importance that the facts in the experience of planters the present season should be carefully reported, showing the quality and proportions of material used, the method and frequency of its application, and the observed results, that a thorough test may be made of its value or worthlessness. The answer of the following questions is therefore requested : 1. What is the result of your experience or observations as to the efficacy of Paris green, or other arsenical compounds, mixed with flour or plaster, for the destruction of the cotton-caterpillar ? 572 2. In what proportions, and in what mode, time, and frequency of application haye ‘experiments been made? 3. Have any injurious effects of the poison been observed, either upon the plants or the soil, or in human poisoning in its application, or in the destruction of beneficial insects, as bees, &c.? 4, Have you used any other remedies, or means of extirpation, such as fires or torches in the fields, to destroy the perfect moths on their first appearance, and with what suc- cess ? Returns have been received from one hundred and seventy different counties in the cotton-growing States, Alabama and Texas being repre- sented by the most numerous and complete statements. Of these, one hundred reported that no experiments with Paris green, or arsenical preparations, had been tried ; many were from counties in which little cotton is ever grown, and others were from counties where the worms have never appeared. 1. Efficacy of Paris green—Of the seventy returns reporting actual experiment a large proportion, at least four-fifths of all, declare the success, either full or partial, of the application of mixtures of Paris green or other arsenical compounds, when they are properly applied. Some are content with the simple declaration that it is an effectual remedy. Where it is most generally used it is most approved. In New Iberia, La., where a machine that will powder 15 to 18 acres per day is in use, it is said that fifty planters have found it successful. In Wil- kinson, Miss., where a simple compound of Paris green and flour was used, “rows treated with the compound were healthy and vigorous, while neglected rows beside them were destroyed.” In Landry, Tex.,* ‘‘one application of Paris green in solution resulted in ten additional bales in a field of 35 acres, over the rate of production in other fields where none was used.” A similar result is reported from Montgomery, Tex., by the use of Paris green mixed with lime or plaster, or even fine sand, where “ a neighbor has picked already ten bales of 500 pounds each from 13 acres, while freedmen on the same farm lost their whole crop by refusing to use it.” The correspondent in Worth County, Ga., declares it ‘‘ was death to everything that eats the leaves that have been sprinkled.” Some correspondents enjoin the necessity of repeated applications to meet the appearance of successive broods of worms, as enough are left after the most careful application to perpetuate the noxious race. In some cases, caution is suggested not to make the ap- plication after the bolls are open, lest it become “‘ dangerous to picker and ginner.” In the cases of failure mentioned there appears no evi- dence that the application was properly and persistently made, and with a pure article of Paris green. In some cases where it killed both worms and plants it is very evident that the proportion of Paris green was too large or applied too heavily. The following extracts representing different phases of the experi- ment will illustrate the tenor of the returns on this subject: Craven, N. C.—Has been used in the county. Checked the worms at points where applied. Rains were frequent, labor scarce, and the experiments not continued, and the cotton was eventually damaged. Beaufort, N. C.—Have heard of but two instances where Paris green was used to stop the ravages of the worm, and in both cases without benefit. Calhoun, Ga.—Paris green has failed, though from 7 to 8 pounds of the green were applied to the acre every two weeks. Jefferson, Ga.—The remedy worse than the disease. It occasioned more loss of forms and young bolls than the insect. Macon, Ga.—Patent remedy used, but not successful. Used about 25 pounds on eight acres. Talbot, Ga,—Experiments too limited to furnish an opinion—and mainly with arsenic in solution. It kills both plant and insect. 573 Duval, Fla.—Experiments with compounds, of which Paris green has been the prin- cipal ingredient, have been very successful, In every case, except where an inferior article has been used, the green has exterminated the caterpillar. Gadsden, Fla.—No good results. Killed plants and worms. Jefferson, Fla.—Paris green and flour destroyed and drove them away. Those parts of the plantations where applied are green and thrifty, while cotton uot so treated is destroyed. . Liberty Fla.—Paris green, combined with flour or other matter, except water, is a umbug. “Blount, Ala.—Two or three applications are necessary to destroy the successive broods of worms. On light cotton the cost exceeds the profit, and on rank cotton the injury produced by forcing through it to sow the poison is a considerable item, unless more than one-fourth of the crop could be saved by the application. If worms appear in July they produce much injury; but if in September, are regarded as a benefit. Greene, Ala.—Kills the worm when it eats the poison. If applied on their first ap- pearance will prove of benefit. The poison was only applied once, and killed many worms, but did not seem to stay their ravages. Marengo, Ala.—Used it on a large scale. Paris green will certainly kill the caterpil- lar, if pure and properly applied, either in solution with water or in combination with flour, which must be sound. Wilkinson, Miss.—Paris green and arsenious acid used, with some failures from im- proper application and impure drugs. I am convinced of the efficacy of pure Paris green and flour alone. Rows treated with the compound were fresh, vigorous, and healthy, while neglected rows were destroyed. Noxubee, Miss.—It is much trouble to scatter the compound. Thus far no good has been accomplished. Avoyelles, La.—Paris green was used to a limited extent in this parish, and when properly mixed and applied was a triumphant success. ‘ Claiborne, La.—Used patent remedies and killed worms and plants. Made it weak, and killed neither worm nor plant. Austin, Tex.—Numerous experiments made with patent remedies—effectual in de- stroying the worm, but retarded the growth of the cotton. An unpatented combina- tion, increasing the amount of flour, destroyed the worms without injury to the plant. The application must be made before the bolls open, and in no case after, as if dropped on the cotton it becomes dangerous to picker and ginner. Fayette, Tex.—Quite a number of experiments, and all of them with good results, both with dry preparations and arsenical solutions. The effect does not appear at once, but is seen in from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. There has been much pre- judice, but all will fall in next year; and, with a favorable season, we expect to take a bale of cotton from an acre. Cotton is cleaner where the green is used. Arsenical solution the cheapest mode. Fort Bend, Tex.—Experiments varied and extensive, chiefly with Paris green and flour, 1 pound of Paris green to 20 or 40 pounds of flour, one to thirty being best pro- portion. Satisfactory; expense being about $5 per acre. Freestone, Tex.—Mixing the green with flour or other powders has not succeeded so well as the solution, and cannot be administered so cheaply or thoroughly. Montgomery, Tex.—Paris green mixed, either with flour, lime, plaster, or very fine sand even, applied inthe morning, from daylight until an hour after sunrise, while the dew was on the plant, has been universally efficacious. Arsenic in solution has also been used, but with little effect. It burned the leaf and caused the squares to fall. 2. Proportions and mode of application—The mode and time of appli- cation, both of arsenical mixtures and solutions, are indicated by a se- lection of representative extracts, as follows : * Jones, N. C.—One to twenty-five. Sifted from a tin vessel having a perforated bot- tom, and attached to a staif 10 feet long. One or two applications sufficient. Cost, $1.50 per acre. Craven, N. C.—One to twenty-five. Shaken on to the plants from a box with a long handle when the dew was on the plants. One pound of arsenic to eight gallons of water was equally effectual. One pound of Paris green to ten pounds flour destroyed the leaves. Richland, 8. C.—One to twenty parts of flour. Jefferson, Ga.—One to twenty-five. Killed the forms and young leaves. Jefferson, Fla.—One to twenty-five. Should be applied at night when the wind is down and the dew is on the leaves. It must be repeated after a shower, or it will be rendered useless. *Where no other substances are mentioned, Paris green and flour by weight are un- derstood. 574 Duval, Fla.—Royall’s patent used. One to twenty-eight answers equally as welland is less expensive ; costing, with labor and materials, from $1.30 to $1.40 per acre. Putnam, Fla.—Sifted upon the plant, the operator being mounted and the animal muzzled. Butler, Ala.—Apply in August when worms first appear—two applications will suf- fice—14 pounds to 8 pounds flour, 50 gallons water; or 13 pounds green, 1 pound resin and gum arabic each, with 20 pounds of flour. Clark, dla.—Used in proportion of 1 to 28 with the desired effect. Applied 6th of August, and ten days later, (the heavy rains washed it off,) by means of a bucket with sieve bottom. Have also used a spoonful of the poison in a bucket of water, shaken on by means of a shuck tied to a stick. Grenshaw, Ala.—One to twenty-five, flour or lime; 1 to 40 gallons of water. Greene, Ala.—One-quarter pound green to 30 gallons water. One hand rides down the rows on a mule and sprinkles from a watering-pot. Hale, Ala.—One-half pound to 40 gallons water. Marengo, Ala.—One pound in 20 used, dusted on by means of sieve when the plant is wet with dew orrain. At the same time uséd1 pound in 40 gallons of water, (to an acre,) applied with fine watering-pots, when too dry for the powder to stick. Two applications will, doubtless, save the crop. The green is not soluble, but by keeping the water stirred, better results are obtained. Montgomery, Ala—Has been mixed in proportion of 1 pound of green to 20, 25, and 30 pounds of flour. Applied on the first appearance of the worms by means of a tin strainer. Perry, Ala.—One pound in 40 gallons water to an acre. Clark, Miss.—One to thirty, sifted on when worms first make their appearance in the morning, repeating in ten to fifteen days. Wilkinson, Miss.—Treated with 1 to 30 by weight, sour flour, carefully mixed, per acre, and by meansof a mosquito-netting bag on a pole, held over the plant and slightly tapped. This isdone in the morning while the dewison. The sun evaporates. the moisture and the poison is glued to the leaf. New Iberia, La.—Paris green and flour, and arsenic and lime, have each been used with equal success. They have also been used with a sprinkler. A sifter is used. Rapides, La.—Best results from solution of arsenic in the proportion of three-quarters. of a pound to 40 gallons (barrel) of water—1 barrel to 3 acres—used by means of a watering-pot. Saint Landry, La.—One pound to a barrel of water. Austin, Tex.—Proportion, 1 to 26, adding a little rosin and gum arabic; applied with a sieve attached to a forked stick, which is tapped as the operator moves along the row. Dust while the dew is on, walking to windward. Comal, Tex.—Paris green 1 to 20 by weight—also used with water, 1 ounce arsenic: to 1 pound water. Remedies most effectual when used in the morning. Fort Bend, Tex.—No regular systems for application. Some have used sieves, others. coarse netting sacks, while dew was on, some using through the day and for the third time. Arsenic dissolved in water also used with good effect. Freestone, Tex.—Paris green succeeds best in solution, and is administered more thoroughly and cheaply ; 2 ounces to 1 pound of green to 10 gallons water, administered with a common watering-pot. Lavaca, Tex.—Royall’s patent, 1 pound green to 1 pound resin, one-half pound gum arabic, and 17 pounds flour. Two applications saved the crop when worms first ap- peared, and on the appearance of second crop. Leon, Tex.—One-fourth to one-half pound arsenic in water to an acre. Sprinkled with common sprinkler. Sabine, Tex.—One-half pound green, 10 pounds flour, 10 pounds lime, and 1 pound resin to an acre. Put three-fourths of this amount on at intervals of four weeks when the worms first appear would be the best mode. 3. Injuries or poisonous effects.—Nearly all returns made reference to the matter of poisoning or injury from the application, and most of them stated positively that no injurious effects were observed. Several assert that when too liberally applied, or in too strong a solution, the leaves are spotted or killed. In Rapides Parish, La., “ in some cases plants were injured and nearly killed by the Royall’s mixture,” and in Claiborne Parish ‘‘a patent remedy killed plants.” In Avoyelles, La., “caused blooms to shed to a limited extent.” In Sabine, Tex., our cor- respondent’s stock roamed at large over the field with no injurious results. ‘Reports of horses and mules dying from licking the poison from the stalks” are returned from Brooks, Ga. Our correspondent in Worth, Ga., says: *‘ Stock has been poisoned by eating the cotton, and it 5715. has made several persons using it giddy when advantage was not taken of the wind. Turkeys and chickens have been killed from eating the dead worms.” It is deemed a decided advantage in Putnam, Ga., that it kills the noxious weed known as beggar’s lice. There are reports from Crenshaw, Ala., of ‘a few cases of injury to human beings and to stock and some destruction of birds eating dead worms,” but no particulars are given; and a similar report from Carroll, “one or two cows killed from eating the cotton.” One correspondent expresses the opinion that it will prevent the pasturing of cotton-fields after the picking is over. The Craven (N. C.) correspondent says: ‘No inconvenience from pois- oning where the right proportions are used. The caterpillar or flock bird feed upon these worms in the same fields where the poison is strewn, and grow very fat. Sportsmen kill these birds and thousands eat them, yet have not heard of any one being injured.” 4, Means of destruction—Most of the returns fail to indicate the use of any other than arsenical compounds for the destruction of cotton- insects. Several declare definitely that no others have been tried. Of those which are reported the following extracts will give an idea: Jones, N. C—Fires or torches are of no service. Carbolie soap has been tried and believed to be good. It is used in the proportion of one gallon of soap to ten of water. Beaufort, N. C.—Ravages stopped in one field by a flock of turkeys. Granville, N. C.—Turkeys saved the crop. Worth, Ga.—Ceasing to cultivate cotton for a year or two, and resting the lands, is the remedy. Sumter, Ga.—Fires and lamps are worthless. Jackson, Fla.—Tin lanterns of peculiar construction, also torches, have been used with success. Gadsden, Fla.—Turkeys highly recommended. Kerosene-oil and turpentine in small quantities in water have been used with some good effect. Orange, Fla.—Birds are encouraged, and we find it pays. Butler, Ala.—Torches and fires, with little or no success. Carroll, Ala.—Fires used with no effect. Jones, Miss.—Fires will retard the progress of the caterpillar. Noxubee, Miss.—Fires and torches in some instances seem to have done good. The best remedy is early and clean cultivation. Madison, Miss.—Fires and lamps used with only partial success. Clark, Miss.—Fires, torches, and small lamps used with only partial success. Would be more useful if practiced by every planter in a neighborhood, as it attracts the moths from neighboring farms. Warren, Miss.—Early in July last sheet-iron pans, 18 by 15 inches by 2 inches deep‘ containing cval-tar to the depth of 1 inch—and about 4 inches above the center of each pan of tar a lantern was secured—were placed on stakes something higher than the cotton-plant, set about 100 feet apart in the field, and light being placed in the lanterns at night mapy millers or moths were destroyed, but without perceptible relief. Earlier commencement and a more general effort in a similar direction may accomplish some- thing in future. No poisons were tried. Bossier, La—Running a sweep-plow through the rows does more good than anything else. It rakes the worms off the cotton and covers them up. Comal, Tex.—Large lamps set in pans of molasses used extensively through the county. One lamp to one hundred yards square, lighted at early dusk. Moths were collected with very favorable results. Lavaca, Tex.—Night lights have been nsed. Unless universally adopted by all farm- ers not much benefit derived, as the light attracts from adjacent fields. Fields where: lights were used have been known to be first destroyed. CONCLSUIONS.—From the answers fo the various questions above quoted, the following is a summary of the conclusions: The use of Paris green, when pure and unadulterated, mixed with flour in the proportion of 1 part of Paris green to 25 to 30 parts of flour, is of utility, and in many cases has saved the crops; that in many in- stances where the Paris green has failed it has been attributed to im- proper use or using a spurious article. Paris green or arsenic, also used with water and sprinkled over the plants, has been used with good effect, 576 but to be of any avail the water must be well mixed up and stirred at the time of using it, as the Paris green or arsenic is only partially soluble in water, and requires to be thoroughly disseminated throughout the water, to be deposited as a slight coating of poisonous powder on the leaves to be of any avail. When Paris green or arsenical compounds are used great care must be taken not to make the mixture too strong, or they will kill or injure the leaves and plants. When used as a pow- der dusted over the plants, the plants must be wet in order to make the powder adhere to the leaves. Rains will wash the mixture away from the leaves, and it will have to be renewed after heavy showers. Some glutinous or sticky substance may be used with the Paris green and flour in order to cause it to adhere to the leaves, but it is not necessary. Sour or spoiled flour will answer as well as the best; plaster, ashes, and even dust have, in some cases, been substituted for the flour, but has not answered the purpose as well as flour. Applying the Paris green on the first appearance of the caterpillars is recommended, and as soon as pos- sible after the second crop of worms appear on the plants also. No notice has been taken of patent insect-destroyers, as the patentees claim a private and exclusive right to use them. Only avery few cases of injury to man or beast have been observed, and even some of those cases are not well substantiated by proof. It, however, would be well to caution persons using this poison to be on the windward side when dusting or showering it on the plants, and not to let stock in to feed upon the foliage. The prejudice of the negroesagainst using Paris green is now partially removed. The application of Paris green not strong enough to injure the cotton will kill the beggar’s-lice weed in the rows. One or two of the favorable accounts of the success of Paris green in certain localities must be considered, however, as occurring in the same neighborhoods where the worms mysteriously disappeared in neighbor- ing fields without the aid of the poison. Fires are said by some plant- ers to be of use in attracting and destroying the moth or miller, and by others to be injurious, as attracting moths from neighboring plantations ; and it has been observed that the cotton has been very much attacked immediately around such fires afterward, as ifthe moths had been at- tracted by the fire and deposited their eggs in the vicinity. Torches are of no avail unless generally used by all the planters in a neighborhood, except when placed over pans or dishes containing some adhesive sub- stance, and into which they fall. Great complaints have been made by planters about the indiscriminate destruction of insectivorous birds, which ought to be protected by law, as they are exceedingly useful in destroying the cotton-caterpillar. Some planters used salt-water in the proportion of a gill to a bucketful, and thought they experienced beneficial results from its use, while others plowed between the rows with pine brush fastened to the swingle-tree in order to sweep off the caterpillars from the plants onto the ground, where they are either buried under the earth or scorched to death before they are able to re- ascend the plants. Kerosene-oil, cresylic soap, and other preparations have been used, but to no great extent, though with some beneficial results. Turkeys driven into the field, as in the case of the tobacco-worms in Maryland and Virginia, will quickly exterminate many of the cater- pillars, and have been highly spoken of by three of our correspondents. In many cases the correspondents consider that when the cotton is attacked quite late in the season, and after the last bolls are formed, the caterpillars are rather a benefit than injurious, as by eating off the dense foliage, the air and sunlight being admitted, the bolls that would otherwise not ripen and open are fully matured. 577 Tak PHYLLOXERA.—The following article from the Bulletin des Sceances de la Societe d’Agriculture de France, 1872, p. 514, may be of interest to some of our vine-growers as showing the good effect of an application of soot for the destruction of the grape-vine root gall-louse. However, not having tried the soot ourselves, we can only give the ex- perience of others, and add that Dr. Erni, formerly chemist to the De- partment of Agriculture, in a letter from Berne, Switzerland, has also highly recommended the use of soot for the same insect. M. Rogier, mayor of Poule Gard, exhibited to the central society of agriculture the results obtained by the use of soot in the treatment of vines attacked by the phylloxera. A young vine attacked by this insect in 1869 was treated with soot put at the foot or root of each stem in the quantity of a half kilogram, (about one and ‘one-tenth of a pound.) The vine recovered. The following years all the stems which composed it were smoked with soot. This vine has a remarkable vigor, while the neighboring vines were dead or seriously injured. All vines treated with soot, used as a preservative compost, are healthier, although surrounded with diseased vines. We give the above extract for what it is worth, and hope some of our correspondents will try soot and report the result to the Department, as we have scarcely any of these destructive insects in our own immediate neighborhood. In reference to this insect, the grape-root gall-louse, the Department has received a very interesting letter from Mr. George W. Campbell, of Delaware, Ohio, in which he expresses his opinion that the aphis (pemphigus) affecting the leaves and that upon the roots are not identical. He says: I have since then found in two instances what were doubtless eggs of the phylloxera (root-gall-louse) upon diseased roots the same as those within the galls, but solitary, and not in clusters as in the galls. This, I think, settles the question, that the aphides infesting the roots are propagated under ground, upon the roots, and that they are probably not the same as are propagated in the galls upon the leaves. Mr. Campbell also sent specimens of the roots injured, together with numerous root gall-lice clustered upon them, but although carefully ex- amined with the microscope we failed to find any eggs whatever upon the roots sent. These roots, however, have been planted just as re- ceived with the insects upon them in a flower-pot and placed in a large wardian case in close contact with other pots containing healthy vines, in order to find out if the insects will pass from one vine to another during the winter, and if the healthy roots will next season be infested with either root or leaf gall-lice. We give Mr. Campbell’s remarks merely to stimulate further inquiry into the identity of the two insects, as many naturalists have stated them to be merely varieties of the same insect. In France it appears that flooding the vineyards at certain seasons to drown the insect out has been recommended, but this plan even if successful could only be carried out in level places, and could not be adopted in side-hill vineyards. THE COLORADO POTATO BEETLE.—In reference to this insect, Dory- phora 10-lineata, our correspondent in Dodge County, Nebraska, sends the following : As soon as the soft bugs or grubs are hatched in the early part of the spring, I har- row the patch with a slanting (backwards) tooth harrow; the beams knock off the grubs and the teeth bury them in the soil, from which they have not power to rise. When the plants are over 6 inches high I use a two-horse four-shovel corn-cultivator having hung sticks of round fire-wood, 3 feet long, by ropes transversely across the frame about a foot and a half in advance of the shovel-blade ; the dangling sticks knock off the grubs, and the shovels effectually bury them. 1 do this in the middle of a hot, dry day, and have kept two acres completely clean by going through once a week, thus keeping down the bugs and the weeds at the same operation. Two to three hours’ work of this kind will accomplish more than a dozen children in a whole day with sticks and pans, according to the old way. 578 XYLORYCTES SATYRUS.—A very large black beetle with a short horn on the top or front of its head has been very injurious to young ash-trees in the neigh- borhood of Babylon, Long Island, where it has ap- peared in great numbers according to a letter from a correspondent, Mr. P. H. Foster, who states that %, after expending five days’ labor in digging out the ’\*s, beetles his foreman estimated the number destroyed MN at one bushel, while Mr. Foster himself thought there ’ were at least twenty-four quarts. He says: We We found as many as fourteen at the root of one tree 8 feet ‘5 high, and have looked over about 6,000 trees, mostly white-ash, and a few European, (F. excelsior,) and out of this number 1,500 had holes around them; these we opened and obtained the above results. I did not discover their depredations until they had destroyed a number of my young trees. Another season I shall study them more thoroughly. The insect alluded to is known to entomologists by the name of Xyloryctes (wood-borer) satyrus, of Burmeister, and is not very uncommon in this neighborhood, where it has been taken at the roots of ash-trees. The larva resembles the white grub of the corn-field, which is the larva of the May-bug, Lachnosterna, but is of a much larger size, and has a black head instead of the head being of a red color as in the common white grub. These larve feed on the roots of ash-trees, and have been taken also on liquid amber, a sweet gum, in Maryland. The best way to destroy them is, in spring and autumn to dig up around the roots of ash-trees infested and to destroy white grubs, of any size whatsoever, found in such situations, as it is in the grub state they injure the roots. The perfect beetles should also be dug out at the time they make their appearance as perfect insects and de- stroyed before they have had time to lay their eggs for another brood the following season. INSECT INJURIES.—Cotton-caterpillars (from description probably Anomis xyline) appeared for the first time in Sussex County, Virginia, stripping the foliage of the cotton-plant. The same insects, with the boll-worms (Heliothis armigera) were more or less destructive in Chowan, Pitt, Tyrrell, Beaufort, Rowan, Currituck, and Pamlico, North Carolina; in Lexington, Marion, and Marlborough, South Caro- lina; in Putnam, Stewart, Floyd, Taylor, Muscogee, and Marion, Georgia; in Taylor and Wakulla, Florida; in Chambers, Choctaw, Clinch, Worth, Talladega, and Dallas, Alabama; in Lee, Jasper, Grenada, and Wilkinson, Mississippi; in Tensas, Claiborne, and West Feliciana Parishes, Louisiana; in Brazoria, Blanco, and Chero- kee, Texas; in Garland, Arkansas, and in Shelby, Tennessee. Various preparations of Paris green and other poisons have been used in different portions of the cotton-growing region. Insome locali- ties farmers were deterred from using them by fear of casuaities to man and beast. In Cherokee County, Texas, false reports were rife of actual injuries, but these soon exploded. Ginners were also afraid to gin poisoned cotton, lest the product of vegetation might contain sufti- cient poison to be injurious. Grasshoppers, (Caloptenus femur-rubrun, &c.,) were reported in Carroll County, New Hampshire, as lively till the last of October. In Palo Pinto County, Texas, grasshoppers appeared September 20, and left Octo- ber 2, destroying all verdure, not even excepting fruit-tree foliage. Tobacco and corn crops were injured by them in Medina, Lorain, and Geauga Counties, Ohio. In Orange County, Indiana, they were destructive 579 upon all fall crops till they were killed by the severe freeze of October 28. In Redwood County, Minnesota, they were particularly damaging to potatoes, beans, and buckwheat. In Sioux, Harrison, Monona, and Plymouth Counties, lowa, they injured all the crops. In Clay County, Missouri, aud in Smith County, Kansas, they were also mischievous. In Madison County, Nebraska, ‘the prospects of a fine crop this year were greatly depressed by these pests; they were also heard from in Antelope and Nemaha Counties; they were rife in the western part of the State. In San Luis Obispo County, California, they injured pota- toes. They were troublesome in Clay County, Dakota, in Lewis and Clarke County, Montana, and in Bonhomme County, Dakota. Potato-insects.—Our correspondents would confer a favor by designat- ing the particular kind of insects depredating upon potatoes. Many of them speak simply of potato-bugs, but it appears sufficiently evident that in most, if not in all, cases the Colorado beetle (Doryphora decem- lineata) is meant. Injuries are reported in Garland County, Arkansas: in Marion, Brooke, and Tyler, West Virginia; in Anderson and Livingston, Kentucky; in Washington, Franklin, Medina, Lorain, Crawford, Geauga, Hamilton, and Mercer, Ohio; in Calhoun, Oceana, and Livingston, Michigan; in Martin, La Porte, and Ohio, Indiana; in Tazewell, Mason, and Boone, Illinois; in Calumet, Saint Croix, and Washington, Wisconsin; in Kandiyohi and Steele, Minnesota; in Fay- ette and Audubon Counties, lowa; in Pettis and Maries, Missouri; and in Clay, Dakota. An insect formerly destructive of potatoes (Cantharis marginata) attacked spinach and other garden vegetables in Elk County, Pennsylvania. Paris green is used with increasing effect- iveness in abating these nuisances. Insects designated by the unmeaning term corn-worms (probably Heliothis armigera) were mischievous in Waldo, Maine, and in Bandera and San Saba, Texas. Grub-worms (Lachnosterna sp.) injured the corn in Bland, Virginia, and in Washington, Wisconsin. The weevil (Sitophilus or yz) infested the corn-crop of Wilkinson Mississippi. : Chinch-bugs (Micropus (Rhyparochromus) leucopterus) are reported as shortening the corn-crops of Gibson, Dearborn, and Ohio, Indiana; ana; in Pike and Boone, Illinois; in Jasper, Gasconade, Miller, Douglas, Texas, Perry, Phelps, Maries, and Dallas, Missouri ; in Labette, Montgomery, Woodson, Wilson, Neosho, and Cherokee, Kansas. Our correspondent in Labette, states that the fourth brood of these insects were destroyed by frost, and inquires whether this will not arrest their reproduction the coming year. The eggs of the chinch-bug have been found by the entomologist in the ground in midwinter awaiting only the warmth of coming spring to hatch them out. Cabbage-worms (Pieris. sp.) are reported in Wyoming, New York, and in Franklin, Ohio. Tobacco-worms (probably Macrosila Carolina) did some damage in Dick- son, Tennessee; in Nicholas, Kentucky; in Franklin, Missouri. Fruit-insects, undesignated, were observed in Marion and Whitfield Georgia. The apple-crop was affected by core-worms (Carpo- capsa pomonella) in Harrison, West Virginia. A great variety of insects, nanies not given, were destructive to crops in Grundy and Montgomery, Tennessee. In the last report notice was taken of the absence of birds from the forests in this State. The correspond- ence of the Department shows that the pernicious practice of shooting birds has gained ground in the South in the last few years. The great increase of insect “depredators may be partly traced to this cause. 580 CHEMICAL MEMORANDA. By WILL1AM McMurrriz, CHEMIST. BAT-EXCREMENT.—During the early part of the month of October this Department received from Messrs. Milier & Tancré, of Hunts- ville, Alabama, a sample of organic material, which was accompanied with the following communication: We send you to-day, by express, a small box containing specimen of a deposit found in a cave on the plantation of Mr. B. F. Watkins, in Landerdale County, Alabama, on the Tennessee River, about forty miles west of Huntsville. The cave has never been thoroughly explored, but is thought to be about two miles in length, with rooms open- ing on either side of the main entrance. It is inhabited by a countless number of bats, from whose discharges the deposit in question is formed. No correct idea can be formed with regard to the extent of this deposit, but in many places it is found to be fifteen feet deep. By request of Mr. Watkins we send you this specimen for analysis, as he wishes to ascertain its value as a fertilizer, and the proper ingredients with which to compost it for either cotton or cereals. There is in it also a lump of niter, which also exists in a large quantity. This was worked during the war by the confederacy in the manufac- ture of saltpeter. The color of the deposit is dark brown. The material is very light, and seems to consist of small scales, which are probably the remains of insects. This fact, together with the fact that the cave from which it is obtained is inhabited by a large number of bats, may be considered fair evidence in support of the theory advanced with regard to its origin. The lump accompanying the dark sample, supposed by our correspond- ent to be niter, cannot be considered as such since it contains no potassa or other alkali of any account, and but a small proportion of nitric acid. On account of the presence of this latter constituent, as well as of the soluble phosphoric acid, it has some agricultural value, and will be found useful in admixture with the other material. When taken from the box it was quite moist, and when cut through, the section pre- sented a white and yellowish mottled appearance. On exposure it dried, forming a tolerably hard mass, which crumbled upon application of slight pressure, and when crushed it was very fine and pulverulent. From the results of analysis given below it seems to be an accumula- tion of siliceous clay. The analysis resulted as follows: Moisture ...-.-. Seeey Sats aicajeb apace en eeeeetos ssn sein aplasia ase sea eee 12. 800 (RERUN, SERRE 3 ee ee oe ee = ons eae aol eree hae eee 9,700 Dilies, msolubie im chiorhydric acid .- ---.cesce. ---- secon eansen anos ne pee 42, 290 Silica, soluble'in*chlorhydric acid J.092. 2 22bse-- + 5-2 aos eae ae eae ane Sees 9, 410 Phésphoric cid, (soluble in water 022... Wel 2ih. 2.) cess .2s oS - toe eee 0. 2277 ‘Phosphoriciacid? insolublean’ water, -2--.222ese-s- c= -cne «amas lone = +e sere 1. 4673 IPELOxIG OLOl cITODS 525) a-Se coe «)sciis sansa nists oe Sena * sepa eee 0. 1169 TUN Diente ote ison =, oc ok acicwen ne ooCe eee elo Ss cce Se Retake oe. eer 19. 88 DAME Sse eee ese OP TES DALE SSeS! TS SE Sn See 1, 6377 Biovidars AleCrebessies (aks eet eee. wets bee oe. eee 2.09 NICH AGIO.. Sepereee Sei ice coca aceeta coh aR ree © 6 oat ae eee sare tet eee 0. 0823 SHUDBTNTIC AGIs oo pa ake ono eae is =o ne es cee Sena ai ae ee Trace. Soda.----- ee Ne ce Ex Ee Se ae ATR oe aoe eS ee ees Trace. Garponice acid +. see 02.22 IMS. CR Seen Loh ok. ee se ao foe eee ete tote Trace 99.7019 The dark-brown material has a greater agricultural value, since it contains a much larger quantity of the constituents which are imme- 581 diately available for plant-food. It may be used with advantage in the raw state, in favorable quantities, without composting, for either cotton or cereals; but in cases where it may be more convenient for application it may be used with any kind of composting materials whatever. The analysis of this material gave the following results : WVIGISUURG Ye ois ct ela 5 eh eee Mes Gert ola, t Wevat aps eottetedanlats. fokefa 2/5 Ste) Sole, eas etete 11. 60 BABU D LES UIC A= noe se ele ae nae oc wc wine oe oe tine ie eecarcile a araiare eaeke 2 iMale laterals 30. 81 Salm blosiliGan Sjstace 23 Lao see Sloe Pek UM ee tat gees 3.18 Insoluble organic matter § containing 3.72 per cent. of nitro-§ ....---.----.-- 23. 687 Soluble organic matter ; gen = 4.52 per cent. of ammonia ; Bad 10. 573 HECeaMMAG Mae. = dats ce lod Nee ee Sb = ao ee eee adele ail a me dalbeals Stale ate Sta eleetate Trace. hosphoricvacid, soluble in water’... .....-: <)-- --st}aacueiaepachl inns ~ let cetastpeioets 1. 305 AOS pharic Acids ANsOlMble Wa pWwaLbeL. 5 so <2) S aiennteieininiels 21> asjela/s ea ejaaielee etal 1.5016 WELOKIGe OF ILON.: - -' on -nalense tee sss sono e FER a Sie GY ME el i hi 1. 428 /ASITUTS CUTE ype pated i Sih Ee adel a ae le rs SB el» eg eee SC ilk Lugudiy) Stead fatale Maeab Ss pst ge ye ay oP fh CR Ory yr ARE ED Apes yr EG PPB oe 4.11 AVIETERIO SIA. coo = sient ai eke Same este Clete n= wiles Soc otal cere Seite eras cine cya wheres are 3.11 NS DY 0S poegesel mea ge ones ete Sister Veo LS ee Ay roe ys a aN ROE 0. 312 IAT Got) TCT AS ee FR ne a eR Ee I hea AEE SL AES 6 oes 0. 122 99, 9486 DITAINE, NEW SUBSTITUTE FOR QUININE.—The use of Eucalyptus globulus as a substitute for quinine has been quite thoroughly discussed, and now we find another plant which bids fair to make equally as great a stir in the medical world. The plant in question, Echisers scolaria, belongs to the family of the Apocynacee, and grows quite abundantly near Luzon, in the province of Bataugar, in the Philippine Islands. Its bark has for some time been employed by the inhabitants of the prov- - ince as a cure for all kinds of fevers. M. Gruppe extracted from the bark the active principle, which he called ditaine, and which has been used in the hospitals in the same manner and the same doses as quinine. It is said to be quite as efficacious as quinine without producing any of its disagreeable effects, and has been found very valuable as a tonic. DIGESTIBILITY OF PHOSPHORIC ACID AND LIME BY ANIMALS.—In the course of some investigations with feeding lambs by Dr. V. Hof- meister, at the royal veterinary school at Dresden, he found that when known quantities of phosphoric acid and lime were administered to lambs and wethers, variable quantitiesof these substances were digested. He first experimented upon two separate lots of lambs, one lot being fed upon hay and potatoes alone, and another lot fed upon an equal quantity of hay and potatoes, to which was added a known quantity of pre- cipitated phosphate of lime. This course of experiments extended over several months, when it was found that the amount of phosphate of lime digested varied with the amount administered, the phosphoric acid of the former decreasing as the latter was increased. Thus when the lambs were daily fed with 6 grams of the precipitated phosphate of lime, a max- imum quantity was digested, but when 9 grams were administered only about one-half of the phosphoric acid was digested. On the other hand, in the latter case the amount of lime digested increased to 86.2 per cent. against 65.6 per cent. under the former conditions. So also with feeding two-year-old wethers with superphosphate of lime, or the phosphate “ot lime soluble in water, it was found that when 10 grams of this material, containing 1.95 grams of phosphoric acid and 1.20 grams of lime soluble in water, and 2.036 grams phosphoric acid and 3.90 grams lime insoluble in ’ water, the whole of the soluble portion, together with 4.24 per cent. of the phosphoric acid and 23.7 per cent. of the lime of the insoluble portion, was digested. But when 20 grams of the superphosphate were daily administered, 582 only 64.7 per cent. were digested. Dr. Hofmeister, therefore, concludes that when small quantities of the phosphate of lime are added to hay and potatoes, about one-half of the phosphoric acid and about 42 per cent. of the lime is digested. But when a larger quantity is administered, the digesti- bility decreases about 20 per cent., only about 30 per cent. being then taken up; while the amount of lime which is digested is increaSed to _ 65 per cent. against 23 percent. taken up in the previous case. What would be the influence of a continuation of this treatment upon the subsequent health of the animals has not- been determined. MANGANESE IN BEECH-LEAVES.—J. A. Wanklyn has observed in the course of some investigations upon the value of different leaves for use as tea, that beech-leaves yield 20.8 per cent. of extract, which, upon in- cineration, yields 2.44 parts of ash, the latter containing so much man- ganese as to cause it, in the dry state, to show a decided green color, and upon treatment with water to give the characteristic red solution of permanganate. Mr. Wanklyn suggests that on account of the great fragrance of the extract it might possibly be used as a beverage. EFFECT OF STREET-GAS UPON VEGETATION.—By a Series of experi- ments upon the effect of gas upon different species of trees by Messrs. Spiith and Meyer in the botanical gardens in Berlin, it has been found that when the gas is brought into contact with the roots of trees for considerable length of time, in quantities however. small, though some _trees are able to withstand this influence longer than others, yet all must finally succumb, and will at last sicken and die. The influence is much less active during the winter, when the rootlets have become woody, than during the period of growth in the summer, when they are young and tender, and are therefore in a better condition to absorb the gas, FREEZING WINES.—A very important industry bids fair to arise in the way of improving the quality and richness of wines and other al- coholic fluids by submitting them to very low temperature. It has been found that alcoholic Jiguids containing 50 per cent. of absolute alcohol become viscous at —30° C., (= —22° F.) When taken from a wooden vessel, (to avoid contact with cold metal or glass,) rum and cognac thus cooled to —40° to —50°C. (= —40° to —58° F.) have the curious property of producing butaslight sensation of cold upon differentorgans. If cooled to —71° C. (= —96° F.) they are said to produce an effect similar to soup which is alittle too hot, but when placed upon the skin they slowly cauterize without burning. Sparkling wines subjected to this treatment increase about 60 cc. per bottle, while non-sparkling wines increase only about 15 cc. One-half to two-thirds of ordinary wines may be removed by freezing, leaving a liquid which may be dirty at first, but becomes clear by standing. They become richer ip alcohol and extrae- tive matters; their aroma as well as their color is improved, and they lose by coagulation and precipitation all the albuminoids and salts, which form an abundant magma. M. Melsens, who has worked up the matter, states that the ice which separates, if submitted to centrifugal force or pressure, is entirely free from alcohol, and that 40 per cent. of ice may be removed from Bourgogne wines. With well-organized work and suitable apparatus this method may be successfully applied to the amelioration of wines, and may in some cases even take the place of distillation. Since freezing preserves and enriches the wines, and heating protects them from maladies, it is probable that a combination of these two methods of treatment will remove the diffi- culties of bad years. { NITRIFICATION OF SOILS.—M. Schloesing, who has devoted a great 583 deal of attention to a consideration of the value of nitrogen and nitrates in agriculture, has lately published the results of some very interesting investigations with regard to the formation of nitric acid in soils under different conditions. He finds that the slow combustion of organic matter in the soil is, in many cases, almost independent of the amount of oxygen in the confined air, but that it varies considerably according to the temperature. Thus, at an average temperature of 24° C. (75° F.,) more carbonic acid was formed than at an average of 16° C., (60°.8 F.,) that formed in the latter case being not more than one-half the quantity produced in the former. The amount of oxygen in the confined air had but a slight effect in the formation of nitric acid, but it was found that the formation varied with different amounts of moisture in the soils, and that it was much more variable in dry than in very moist soils. For example, in the case of nearly dry soil the production of nitric acid varied from 95.7 to 246.6 milligrams per kilogram of earth; while in the case of earth which had absorbed a maximum amount of moisture, (24 per cent.,) the production varied from 199 to 225 milligrams of nitric acid per kilogram of earth. In his experiments upon the reduction of nitrates in the soil, M. Schloesing’s results indicate that not one-fifth the amount of ammonia was formed which should have been produced from the nitrogen of the nitrates present, and he concludes, from the facts observed, that there is always a loss of nitrogen in the decomposition of organic matter, what- ever may be the cause. RESPIRATION BY SUBMERGED AQUATIC VEGETATION.—In experi- ments with regard to this subject by Schutzenberger and Qninquand, , upon yeast and Elodea canadensis, they found that the former showed no other phenomenon than that of absorption of oxygen with production of carbonic acid. The extent of this absorption is not affected by light, but varies considerably according to the temperature at which it takes place. At 10° ©. (50° F.) it is almost inappreciable; it increases until a temperature of 50° C. (122° F.) is reached, but at the temperature of 60° C. it is entirely stopped. . Light seems to have no effect in the respiration of Hlodea canadensis, the absorption being the same in the Jight as in the dark, but it differs from yeast in that during the diurnal respiration it gives off free oxygen. Ifa large quantity of the plant be immersed in a tolerably small quantity of water, and submitted to direct sunlight for an hour or two, numerous bubbles of gas will be liberated, and a supersaturated liquid will be ob- tained which may contain as much as 20 cubic centimeters of oxygen per liter. The manner of absorption is the same for both plants, but in case of the Hlodea the absorption is about ten times less. ; EUCALYPTUS GLOBULUS, its use in improving the salubrity of marshy and malarial districts—The many very interesting accounts which have been published with regard to the Eucalyptus globulus do not seem to have exposed all of its values. And we find in Comptes Rendus of Oct. 6 a note presented to the French Academy of Sciences by M. Gim- bert, in which he describes another value equally as great as those with which all are so familiar. From reports received from various reliable sources, it seems to have been determined that in localities where the Eucalyptus flourishes there has been a complete disappearance of in- termittent fevers. ‘A tree,” says the author, ‘springing up with in- credible rapidity, capable of absorbing from the soil ten times its weight of water in twenty-four hours, and giving to the atmosphere antiseptic 5A 584 camphorated emanations, should play a very important part in improv- ing the health of malarious districts.” It has the property of absorbing directly and rapidly the water of shallow marshes, thus preventing the fermentations which are produced, and paralyzing the animal miasma proceeding from them which might arisefrom them. The predictions with this regard, which were made in 1869, have in all cases been realized. The author furnishes a few of the numerous results, which are very interesting. The English were the first to experiment in their sanitary plantations in Cape Colony, where they were eminently successful. Two or three years were found sufficient to change the climatic conditions, and the aspect of the malarious districts of their possessions. Some years ago the Algerians took occasion to spread the Hucalyptus throughout the French possessions in Africa, and the following are some of the results obtained, as communicated by M. Trottier: “ About 20 miles from Alger, at Pondouk,” he says, ‘‘ I owned a prop- erty situated near the river Hamyze, the emanations from whieh pro- duced intermittent fever among the farmers and their servants every year. Inthe spring of 1867 I planted upon this farm 13,000 plants of the Eucalyptus globulus. In July of that year, the season in which the fevers appear, the farmers were completely free from them. In the mean time the trees had scarcely attained a height of more than 8 or 10 feet. Since that time the settled population has been entirely free from fevers.” Fourteen thousand Eucalyptus trees were planted upon the farm of Ben Machydlin, in the vicinity of Constantine. It has for several years past been noted for its insalubrity, being surrounded with marshes throughout the entire year. ‘The trouble entirely disappeared and the soil became perfectly dry in five years. The atmosphere is constantly charged with aromatic vapors, the farmers are no longer troubled with disease, and their children are bright with health and vigor. The operations of the manufactory of Gué in Constantine were ren- dered wholly impracticable during the summer on account of the pesti- lential emanations from the marshes with which it was surrounded. M. Saulier conceived and put into practice the idea of planting a large number of ELucalyptus trees in these marshes, and in three years about twelve and a half acresof the marshy soil were converted into a mag- nificent park. The water completely disappeared, and the health of the workmen has since been in good condition. In consequence of the large grove of Hucalyptus globulus on the farm of Maison-Carrée, which is situated in a district in which the inhabitants formerly succumbed tothe malaria, similar hygienic revolutions have taken place. It is stated by land-owners in Cuba that there also the paludal and telluric diseases have disappeared from the malarial districts where the Eucalyptus has been cultivated. According to Ramel, Australia is very healthy where the Hucalyptus flourishes, and unhealthy where the tree is not found. On the banks of the Var, near the entrance of a railroad-bridge, is situated a garrison-house, near which earth-works were thrown up to dam the river in order to build the bridge. The malaria arising from it made it necessary to change the guard each year. ‘Two years ago M. Villard, the engineer in charge of that section of the road, planted 40 trees in the vicinity of the building, and since that time this post has been the most healthy in the country. These evidences fully establish the fact that the Hucalyptus globulus 585 has a good effect in preventing the spread of malarial diseases, and that it may serve decidedly practical purposes in this particular. Throughout our entire South and Southwest many valuable enterprises have been wholly impracticable from causes stated above, and if the examples thus set before us were followed throughout the South, there is no doubt that many of the dismal, swampy, and marshy districts, hitherto entirely worthless, may be transformed into beautiful, pleasant, and healthy sections. BOTANICAL NOTES. By GEORGE VASEY, BOTANIST. BROMUS SCHRADERI, OR AUSTRALIAN OATS.—Mr. C. W. Stewart, of Montgomery County, Texas, sends to the Department a very interesting report of trials by him of various kinds of grasses. He enumerates Australian oats, or Bromus schraderi, and ordinary Fescue grass, evi- dently under the impression that they are distinct grasses. Of the latter he says: The ordinary Fescue grass which I find, (as Dr. Lincecum, of Washington County, Texas, long since mentioned to be a native plant, growing wild near the Navasota River,) isan annual. Of this Iwas able to sow 2 bushels. After being “set,” say the second year, it can be grazed from ist February until seeding time, when it resets it- self fully, thus relieving one of the care and labor of replanting. It isa most valuable winter grass. There is evidently a great deal of confusion about this grass, or these grasses. In the Monthly Report for July it was stated that the Bromus schraderi, Kunth., was the Bromus unioloides, Willd.; and that, although it has been called Australian grass, was not an Australian but an Ameri- can grass. It has had several synonyms, among them that of Ceratachloa _ australis, Spreng.; the specific name australis meaning southern, and referring to its locality in the Southern States, and notin Australia. By a confusion in this respect it probably came to be called Australian grass or Australian oats. The name “ Fescue grass” properly belongs to some species of Festuca, which is very nearly related to Bromus. In the Patent-Office Report for 1853, page 212, is published a state- ment from General Iverson, of Columbus, Ga., concerning a grass which he was cultivating, and which he calls Ceratochloa breviaristata. This name was applied by Hooker toa grass collected by Douglass in Oregon, which has since been described as Bromus breviaristatus by Mr. Watson in the “ Botany” of Clarence King’s “‘ Exploration,” who states that it is common in the meadows of Nevada, and probably extends from Wash- ington Territory to New Mexico. This suggests the thought that per- haps even Bromus breviaristatus may be identical with Bromus schraderi, alias Bromus unioloides, but further investigation is necessary. AQUILEGIA CHYSANTHA.—In the grounds of the Department during the past summer one very attractive object was a clump of Aquilegia chry- santha, Gray, raised from seed brought by Dr. Palmer from Arizona. The plants grow about 4 feet high, branch freely, and when in flower present a mass of golden-yellow blossoms, which it is a pleasure to look upon. It is very similiar in form to the sky-blue aquilegia (A. cwrulea) of the Rocky Mountains, but besides the contrast in color it blooms more freely and continues to furnish a succession of flowers during July and August. The species was discovered more than twenty years ago 586 by Mr. Geo. Thurber, (of the American Agriculturist,) and was called A. leptocera by Dr. Gray. Recent observation of the plantin a growing state convinced Dr. Gray that it was a new species, and he has accord- ingly redescribed it under the name given above. The American Agriculturist for September gives a figure of the flower with ap account of itshistory. It is perfectly hardy, and is well worthy of cultivation. Indeed, it has already made a good start in that direc- tion among English florists. The Gardener’s Chronicle (London) for October contains a flattering notice of it, with some details of its his- tory and nomenclature. Whoever possesses this species, with the sky- blue aquilegia, (A. cwrulea,) and the native scarlet one, A. canadensis, will have the choicest of the aquilegias. PURPLE CONE-FLOWER, (Echinacea purpurea.)—A specimen of this plant in cultivation from Illinois presented some features which com- mend it to attention for the garden. Although somewhat coarse in foliage, its large flower-heads terminating the naked peduncles are quite showy from the dark-purple, almost black, conical center and the numer- ous (10 to 15) light-purple pendant rays. These rays are about 2 inches long by 4 inch wide. The plant is vigorous and hardy, and is worthy of trial in the flower-garden. “FERTILIZATION OF FLOWERS.—This subject has received much at- tention of late, and our knowledge has been much extended by the re- searches of various observers. A recent article by Mr. A. W. Bennett, in the Popular Science Review, gives an interesting résumé of recent ob- servations, from which we gather the following items: Every person who bas carefully examined the subject is aware that a great portion of flowers are cross-fertilized, that is, the female organs are fertilized by the action of pollen, not from the same flower, but from other flowers of the same kind in the vicini- ty, and that the most common agencies in producing this effect are, the wind and in- sects. A very good and familiar example of flowers fertilized by the agency of the wid is furnished by the common hazel, (this refers to the English hazel, but will apply equally well to our American species,) which flowers from January till the early part of March, even when the weather is very cold and when there are scarcely any insects on the wing. The flowers of the hazel are of two kinds, male and female. The male flowers consti- tute the familiar catkins which drop off and disappear before the leaves make their appearance. The catkins are generally in bunches of from two to four, every catkin containing, on an average, perhaps from one hundred to one hundred and twenty flowers. Each of these male flowers consists of a simple scale-like tract, inclosing from eight to twelve anthers, each of which discharges, when ripe, a cloud of innumerable pollen- grains; so that the number of these grains in any single catkin must be prodigious. The female flowers are found on the same branches as the catkins, and are also in clusters of from two to six, (the future nuts,) and are of equally simple structure with the male flowers, being formed of single pistils, appearing like slender crimson threads protruding from scaly buds. If one of these crimson threads is placed under an ordi- -nary pocket-lens, it will generally be found to have on its surface several apparently minute particles of dust, which, on further examination, are found to be pollen-grains which have been blown from the male flowers. Each individual pollen-grain has the power of emitting a pollen-tube which penetrates the stigma, reaches the ovary, and by the fertilization of the ovule induces the formation of the embryo, and thus the development of the ovule into the fertile nut. Since the only means by which the ypollen can be conveyed from the male to the female flower is the agency of the wind, and it is only quite by chance that any of the grains can reach their destination, the reason is obvious of the enormous amount of pollen with which the catkins of the hazel are furnished. In some plants, whose fertilization is effected in the same man- ner, the quantity of pollen is still greater, and this is especially the case in the coni- Ferae, or fir-tribe. American travelers have described how the water of some of their lakes near the shore is covered at certain seasons by a thick stratum of a sulphur-like substance, the pollen blown from the neighboring pine woods. Whether the female flowers of the hazel are fertilized from the catkins on the same or on a different bush is a point still in dispute. 587 There is little doubt that the wind exerts a great influence upon the ‘fertilization of some of our cereal crops, though botanists are not unan- imous on this point. It would appear from recent researches on this subject (see Monthly Report for May and June) that some of the grains are subject to close-fertilization, and others to cross-fertilization, in either ease the occurrence of violent storms of wind or rain at the season of flowering might operate injuriously upon the fertilization, and thus jus- tify the anxiety which farmers are said to possess as to the occurrence of favorable weather at this season. In the majority of flowers, however, the structure of the pollen, or the arrangement relative to one another of the pistil and stamens, is such that fertilization could not be .effected by the wind alone. Sometimes the pollen-grains themselves are too large and heavy to be thus conveyed, or they are united together by fine threads or even in dense masses; or the position of the stigmatic portion of the pistil is evidently not adapted for the pollen to reach it in this way, and nature then employs as the agent in fertilization insects or other small animals.; This opportunity is afforded by the visits of insects to the flowers in search of the honey, or nectar, which forms an important portion of the food of many classes. The mode of attraction to the flowers which serve them as food is mainly two-fold, scent and color. Nature is always economical of her resources, and accordingly we do not generally find that strong scent and brilliant variegation of color are bestowed on the same flower. Those which are most prized for the power or delicacy of their scent, have, as a rule, flowers either inconspicuous or, if large and conspicuous, of uniform unvariegated color; as, for instance, the mignonette, primrose, sweet violet, lily of the valley, honey- suckle, linden, and many others, while the most brilliantly variegated flowers are com- paratively or quite scentless, as the fritillary, Pelargonium, Tropeolum, Mimulus, Ranun- -culus, pausy, &c. One of the largest of scented flowers, the evening primrose, blossoming only in the night, is fertilized by night-flying moths, which probably require the large sulphur- yellow flowers, as well as the scent, to guide them from a distance in the dim light. American naturalists state that many of the largest and most gorgeous flowers of the western continent, such as the Bignonias, or trumpet-flowers, are fertilized by hum- ming-birds. Another mode in which insects assist in the fertilization of flowers is by ‘the voluntary deportation of pollen; and this is chiefly effected by Hymenoptera be- longing to the class Aphidw, which includes the hive and humble-bees that build nests in which they store up large quantities of food for their young while in the larva state. This bee-bread, as it is termed, with which the thighs of homeward-bound bees are seen to be heavily laden, consists almost entirely of innumerable pollen-grains robbed from the flowers, which the little depredators may be seen to despoil in a very scien- tific manner. Though the greater quantity of this pollen is carried home, small quan- tities of it are unavoidably left behind here and there on the stigmas of the flowers, quite sufficient to ensure the fertilization of the ovules. We mentioned at the outset that though the large majority of flowers are cross- fertilized, yet there are exceptions to the rule. There are not a few flowers which never or scarcely ever completely open their petals so as to allow either the entrance -of an insect or the escape of the pollen. In many plants belonging to widely separated natural orders, either intermixed with the ordinary conspicuous flowers, or appearing at a different time of the year, there are peculiarly-shaped flowers, called cleistogamous, which are self-fertilized. Among the natural orders in which these flowers have been found are Violacew, Cistacew, Oxali- dacee, Balsaminee, Polygalacee, Caryophyllacew, Leguminose, Campanulacee, Convolvu- lacew, Acanthacec, Labiatw, and Commelynacee. The two species of Impatiens or Touch- me-not, which grow wild in this country, Impatiens Noli-me-tangere, and I. parviflora, as well as a North American species, J. fulva, which is fully naturalized in some places, have closed, imperfect, self-fertilized flowers intermixed with the showy yellow ones. The most easily observed instances are, however, in the case of our common wild violets, the sweet violet, (Viola odorata,) or the various forms of the dog violet, ( Viola canina.) The existence of these flowers in Viola was known as long ago as the time of Linnzeus, who states that the flowers of Viola mirabilis produced in the spring are often barren, while the later ones, which have no corolla, are fertile. The cleistogamous flow- -ers of the violet appear long after those that are familiar in the spring, and may be found in abundance in July and August, very small, but still not difficult to make out. These closed summer flowers produce an abundance of seed. In accordance with the ordinary practice of economy by nature, the amount of pollen in the cleistogamous flowers is generally very much less than in the open ones, since it has very little ‘chance of being wasted. More detailed examination of these closed flowers in different plants will doubtless yield interesting and important results. 588 MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS. By THomas TAyLor. During the last two years the Department has received numerous letters from orange-growers in Florida calling its attention to a new | form of disease that has appeared on their orange-trees. The branches become covered, more or less, with a rust-like substance which ultimately destroys the affected parts. Mr. J. H. Gates, of Pilatka, Fla., under date of November 27, 1872, writes to the Commissioner of Agriculture as follows: Inclosed are a few orange-leaves, and also an orange having a dark skin, which was the case with nearly half of the crop of some of our growers last season. They are not so much discolored this season. The coloring matter, whatever it may be, does not injure the quality of the fruit, but it affects its market-value. Also, please find inclosed three branches of an orange-tree having a rusty appearance, and in some places blis- tered. I have trees which have lost all their tops, apparently trom this cause. Any information relative to the cause or cure of this disease will be gladly received by myself and neighbors. In a second communication from the same writer, dated December 31, 1872, further information is given in relation to the so-called rust of orange-trees. He says: - It first appeared in this section (Saint John’s River, near Pilatka) about three years ago. The young buds were first attacked. The diséase next spread to the young wood, and then gradually over the tree. We observe that the disease is more general on the low-lands, and it generally appears on transplanted stumps having buds from one to three years of age. I have not known any bearing-trees to have rust on their bark. Some persons in this vicinity think that the rust is caused by a worm; others by cocci; while others suppose that the black coloring-matter on the skin of the orange is silica. Any light thrown on this subject by the scientific men of your Department will prove of great value to us. The following letter received by the Department from Mr. F. L. Darcy will not only prove of interest to orange-cultivators, but also to those who desire to investigate this disease. The writer first refers to insect- disease as being its probable cause, then to the dark stains on oranges,. and lastly to the rust, so called, on the branches. BUENA VISTA, ORANGE MILLS PosT-OFFICE, FLA., January 5, 1873. Sir: In reference to the disease of the orange-trees I have to say that I have noticed: it for many years, more or less, in every orange-grove that I have visited, but never in such quantity as to be at all alarming. In my own groves I have not for twenty years observed more than three or four trees affected by it. Those were budded trees—sweet buds on the wild or sour orange stock. These trees were inclosed in a small fowl-yard about 20 feet square, boarded up 5 feet high, with a small house inclosed. The trees outside of the inclosure within 20 feet of the former grew well, and having been set out and budded at the same time of the first, were all planted in 1836, and have con- tinued perfectly healthy. After three years’ trial I found that the four trees within the inclosure were still unhealthy. Every season they threw out young, vigorous branches which grew till they were 6 to 8 inches long, when they would commence dying back from the extreme ends, and the bark in most instances would become rough and of a yellowish hue, while the trees from year to year remained about the same size. I concluded to remove the fence and house from around them. This was done three years ago. The trees, with one exception, are now as vigorous growers and as healthy as their neighbors, while the fourth is gradually improving. This disease, I think, is produced principally by an insect. The bark of the tree is punctured and the eggs deposited there. In the case of the four trees mentioned I am of opinion that they first became diseased from being too closely confined and not having free circulation of air during the heat of semmer; the great stimulating quality of the fowl-house manure: 538u may also have had a bad effect on them; for soon after removing the inclosure and manure they commenced gradually to improve, and are now nearly restored. A yery common error of beginners in orange-culture consists in burying the tree too deeply in the ground, covering up from 4 to8 inches of the collar of the stock, which should be above ground. In this condition the tree may live, but will grow very slowly, making very little new wood for years. When the buried collar has thrown out artificial roots the trees may revive, and in the mean time will continue to throw out vigorous sprouts, but they will die back each season, much to the disappointment of the impatient cultivator. This is termed “damping off.” When this is the case it is easily remedied by lifting the tree, or by bringing the natural roots to the surface. Drainage is all- important for orange-trees. They will not flourish when the roots remain in stagnant water. The disease known as the rust has affected the orange-trees since 1864 in this section of the State, the consideration of which is of far more importance than the black substance, &c., on the trees alluded to. The “rust” may be caused by an insect or a fungus. I will send you some samples of the oranges having dark stains, and also a few hay- ing clear skins, taken from the same tree, hoping that some of your scientists may be able to inform me what are the causes of the respective diseases, and, if possible, to suggest to me a remedy. Respectfully, your obedient servant, F. L. DARCY. Mr. J. A. Whitner, of Mellonville, Fla., states that “the rust appears either on high or low lands, more frequently on the low or flat lands, which in this locality are imperfectly drained. The trees affected with this dis- ease are always checked in growth, but rarely die. They recover under high cultivation with judicious manuring, but bear small and imperfect . fruit, with a tough, spotted rind, and a hard, insipid pulp. I send you, as requested, by this mail, specimens of twigs affected by this fungus, healthy and unhealthy, taken from the same tree; also specimens in- jured by bark-lice. These insects are very destructive and widely spread in this vicinity. They are the cause of the fungi or leaf smut generally confined to young trees.” The Department has received several communications from orange- tree cultivators of Texas in relation to orange blight, but thus far it J . . . would seem that the rust blight is unknown to them, as the following from Mr. Sidney Scudder, mayor of Galveston, Texas, will show: Your communication of November 27, 1872, was duly received. Careful inquiry of orange-tree growers and personal examinations of numbers of trees in this county have developed nothing in the shape of disease among them at this time. The exces- _ sive drought of the past summer diminished the crop considerably and caused the fruit to become unusually sour and unpalatable. This was, however, effectually reme- died by loosening the earth under the trees and spreading ashes or pulverized soil, or charcoal around them. The Rey. P. C. Tucker was particularly successful with this remedy applied to his orange-trees this fall. On being supplied with specimens of the so-called “ rust,” blackened leaves, branches, and fruit, I made a series of observations and experi- ments to ascertain, if possible, the character of the various phases of the fungus and affected parts, of the plant, so as to be able to point out cause and effect. I removed portions of the rust from the branches, sub- jected them to a power of about 30 diameters, and viewed them by reflected light. No fungoid forms were visible. I next treated a portion of the rust with caustic potash, in which the so-called rust proved partially soluble. The insoluble portions were washed with pure water until all soluble substances were removed. I then subjected several portions of the insoluble parts to a power of about 100 diameters, when they were seen to consist of cellular, fibrous, and woody matters, and were wholly free from fungoid forms. I next sub- jected a portion of the “rust” to the action of alcohol of 95 per cent. proof. The alcohol became tinged of a brown color. On pouring a portion of the liquid into water a white precipitate was formed, showing the presence of a resin. ° 591 A very close inspection of the “rust” under a power of about 5 di- ameters exhibited, in some cases, a slight gloss on the surface. At this stage I became convinced that the “rast” was probably only an effect ! of a fungus, and consequently not the cause of the dying back of the branches. On the development of these facts, 1 suggested that Mr. —— il vet SS = j H y H | L of i ‘| ~ . , Y y h Y wlan i | i Y fi ae nif{t Wl yA IX uli] HH Hy p q yy Pipe M, i Hy H f g y bi y D ic, ES SEES a 4 Sa ‘ STN } I a ‘ | ? 7 j ) if ~ } if ) 6082 60. 4 60. 0 60.2 | 60.0 57.10 o7.1)} 58.1 DOL Oi otk 57.0 | *57.4 Average for eleven years, 1863-73 .....- 59. 3 61.0 | 60.4 60.5 60.3 60. 4 | 160.2 Average for twenty-two years, 1852-"73..} 57.6 60.0} 59.2 59.0 58. 4 58.9 | {58.8 * Equal to 21 bushels at 61 pounds per bushel. + Equal to 28% bushels at 61 pounds per bushel. t Equal to 273 bushels at 61 pounds per bushel. Mr. Lawes gives the following statement in explanation of the pecu- ‘liarities of the season, with deductions from the tabulation above pre- ‘sented: 597 ‘ In my letter published in the Times of September 29, last year, I stated that the ‘geason of 1870~71 was, for artificial manures, much less favorable, but for farm-yard manures considerably more favorable than the average; and that, consequently, the calculated average from my produce, which is considerably influenced by the results obtained by artificial manures, would probably give a figure too low for the average produce of the country at large in 1871; while, on the other hand, as the season of 1871~72 was, compared with the average, more unfavorable for farm-yard than for artificial manures, the figure derived from the experimental results of 1872 would probably be too high for the average yield of the country in that year. A correction was accordingly made, and the imports of the year have shown that the estimate of the average crop of the country so arrived at must have been extremely near to the truth. In the present season the unmanured produce is higher than in 1872, and considera- bly higher than in 1871. On the other hand, reducing the produce in each case to bushels of 61 pounds, that by farm-yard manure is nearly 7 bushels per acre lower than in 1872, and nearly 13 bushels lower than in 1871; and the mean produce of the three artificially manured plots is more than 8 bushels below that of last year, but almost identical with that of 1871. Taking the mean of the produce without manure, with farm-yard manure, and of the three artificial manures taken as one, we have 222 bushels of grain per acre, of 57.4 pounds per bushel, whichy reckoned at 61 pounds per bushel, represents only 21 bush- els. This is from 4 to 5 bushels less than the average taken in the same way last year, and nearly 7 bushels less than the average of twenty-two years. In fact the produce by farm-yard manure and by the various artificial manures agrees very closely with that under the same conditions in the very bad season of 18€7. Reduced to 61 pounds per bushel, the average produce of the selected plots in the experimental wheat-field in 1873 is about 24 per cent. below the average of twenty-two years. Much of this great deficiency is due to the fact that there was, in all, about double the average fall of rain during the four months of October, November, Decem- ber, and January, the effect of which would be to wash beyond the reach of the roots a large amount of the nitrogenous manure which had been applied in the autumn. It is established that that most important ard costly constituent of manure, nitrogen, especially when applied in the soluble form of ammonia, is largely converted into ni- trates in the soil, and is, in that condition, washed away into the drains or the subsoik when there is an excess of rain. The loss of effect thus arising is strikingly illustrated by a comparison of the produce of the two plots, No. 7 and No.9. Both received the same amount of nitrogen per acre, which was applied as ammonia salts in the autumn to plot 7, and as nitrate of soda in the spring to plot 9. The result was that while the autumn-sown ammonia salts yielded 22 bushels, the spring-sown nitrates yielded nearly 33 bushels. Again, another plot which received the same amount of ammonia ce as plot 7, but applied in the spring instead of the autumn, yielded nearly 33 ushels. The loss of the nitrogen of manure by winter drainage would be the greatest where guano, ammonia salts, or other very soluble nitrogenous manure was sown in the autumn, less where farm-yard manures are employed, and still less where wheat was grown after. * FoRESTRY.—An “ international congress of land and forest cultur- ists’ held in Vienna in September, presided over by the Austrian minister of agriculture, passed resolutions petitioning the Austrian government to take measures for inaugurating international treaties with other European states intended to secure the protection of birds useful in agriculture; another series, declaring the lack of scientific basis for land and forest culture, and the necessity of official publica- tions of exact statistical comparative data illustrating the status and progress of each country in these departments of industry ; and a third relative to the necessity of action toward forest preservation, as fol- lows: 1. We recognize the fact that, in order to effectually check the continually increas- ing devastation of the forests which is being carried on, international agreements are needed, especially in relation to the preservation and proper cultivation (for the end in view) of those forests lying at the sources and along the courses of the great rivers, since it is known that, through their irrational destruction, the results are great decrease of the volume of water, causing detriment to trade and commerce, the filling up of the river’s bed with sand, caving in of the banks, and inundations of agricultu- ral lands along its course. ; 2. We further recognize it to be the mutual duty of all civilized lands to preserve 598 | ; and to cultivate all such forests as are of vital importance tor the well-being—agricul- tural and otherwise—of the land, such as those on sandy coasts, on the sides and _ crowns as well as onthe steep declivities of mountains, on the sea-coasts and other exposed places, and that international principles should be laid down, to which the owners of such protecting or ‘‘ guardian forests” be subject, thus to preserve the land from damage. 1. We recognize further that we have not at present a sufficient knowledge of the evils (disturbances in nature) which are caused by the devastation of the forests, and therefore that the efforts of legislators should be directed to causing exact data to be gathered relating thereto. It was stated, in the course of the proceedings, that the Rhine, the Oder, the Elbe,and other European rivers have lower water-marks. than formerly; at Altenbruch, in Hanover, ten Hamburg feet lower in 1857 than a half century before; that part of the kingdom of Wurtem- burg had been reduced to comparative barrenness by the felling of trees; that droughts were increasing in severity in Hungary, a fact popularly attributed to the deforestation of the country. The case of the region near Trieste, on the Adriatic, was particularly referred to. It was stated that five hundred years ago a heavy forest covered that region, which was destroyed by the Venetians for the pur- pose of securing pile-timbers and lumber for commerce, and that after the trees were felled the unprotected soil was washed away by storms, and the whole face of the country became a dreary waste. In August last we passed through that region, and noted it as one of the most desolate views presented by any country. The surface far away from the coast was completely covered with ledges and rough bowlders, was almost destitute of soil, and the heat radiated from the rocks was intol- erable. In parts of this broad belt some millions of olive-trees have been planted by the Austrian government, the soil for the purpose being transported in baskets in some places. It is stated that the rains, which twenty-five years ago ceased to fall here, are again\appear- ing to refresh the scene. Similar statements were made relative to local ameliorations by forest- planting on the coasts of Germany, in Upper Egypt, and at Ismaila, and in other countries. TRANS-MISSOURI IRRIGATING CONVENTION.—Delegates from States and Territories west of the Missouri met in convention at Denver on the 21st of October, to take preliminary steps toward concerted action, by interested States and Territories and the national Government, for constructing a general system of irrigating works for the whole western arid region. Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming were represented by delegates; Arizona, Montana, and Da- kota by letters from their respective governors; and Nevada by a letter from Senator J. P. Jones. R. W. Furnas, governor of Nebraska, pre- sided. Hon. 8S. H. Elbert, governor of Colorado, stated in his opening address that the meridian of Fort Kearney, the ninety-ninth west from Greenwich, constitutes a dividing line in the physical characteristics of the con- tinent, west of which is found about half the area of the United States, and except a tract along the Pacific coast and a small area of river val- leys, it is without sufficient rain to be available for agriculture, though exceeGingly productive with irrigation. Two great parallel mountain chains, the Sierra Nevada and the Sierra Madre, traversing the entire domain from South to North, eight hundred miles in average breadth of intervening plateau, cut and gorged by great rivers and divided into hydrographic basins of great extent by transverse mountain-chains ; the great plains descending by the gentlest slopes from the bases of the 599. Sierra Madre eastward to the prairie lands of the Missouri; rivers and smaller streams sweeping down from the mountain flanks and threading valley and plain, as arteries of the human system, constitute the grand physical outlines of this arid region. He stated that in France irrigated lands rent at $21 per acre, and unirrigated at $16. In 1856, 247,000 acres had been brought under irrigation in that country, and since then the quantity had been rapidly increasing. The irrigated lands of Granada, Mercia and Valencia, amounting to 500,000 acres, are consid- ered the gardens of Spain. Mr. Rk. A. Cameron, of Larimer County, Colorado, stated that in his section irrigation has cost $7 per acre; in Utah,’$13; in Lombardy, $16. On an irrigated farm near Greeley, a farmer with an outlay of $48, and the work of one pair of lands, raised, in one season, produce which yielded him $4,000. ; Mr. A. M. Musser reported that in Utah there are now about 140,000 acres under irrigation, and claimed an increase of rainasone of theresuits. Up to 1865, over 277 canals and ditches had been constructed for irriga- tion; of these the aggregate length was 1,0454 miles, and the total cost $1,776,939; average cost per mile, $1,695. The amount expended on canals and dams in the fiscal year ending October, 1867, was $248,000. The number of acres irrigated that year, 100,000; acres of wheat, 48,000; average yield per acre 173 bushels, (one-sixth of the crop being lost by. the ravages of locusts and grasshoppers;) of barley, 6,300, average yield 18 bushels, loss one-fourth ; of oats, 1,900, average yield 20 bushels, loss one-third; of corn, 7,900, average yield 15 bushels, loss one-fourth; of potatoes, 6,300, average yield 100 bushels, loss one-fourth; of mead- ows, 50,000, average yield 1? tons, loss one-eighth. Of 25 canals repre: senting all sections of the Territory, the average dimensions are, length, 64 miles; width at bottom, 64 feet; depth of water, 154 inches; fall, per mile, 23% feet; average number of acres watered by each, 1,638. Mr. Musser said : Our reclaimed alkali lands, of which we had many thousand acres, are among our richest, strongest, and consequently most remunerative soils. The mode of recla- mation is simply by leaching the land by elaborate irrigation and by repeated plowing ; thus exposing it to the direct influence of segregating elements which carry off the volatile and objectionable ingredients. When Salt Lake City was first founded the water capacity for irrigating purposes did not exceed 800 or 900 acres. Now be- tween 4,000 and 5,000 acres are successfully irrigated. At first the land was arid and thirsty. Subsequent irrigation saturated and settled the soil and thus slaked much of its early thirst. Theincrease of rain-fall,no doubt superinduced by agriculture, oceu- pation, and cultivation, and the numerous fruit and shade trees, like so many mulch-- agencies, neutralizing the drying effects of the sun’s rays and prevailing winds, has very largely contributed to cool and moisten the soil and to lessen the necessity for - frequent and elaborate watering. After successive years of watering the upper or bench lands, we discover that the lower lands, including much arable and about all the grass- lands, received about allthe water they needed through the percolating course of the waste waters alone. Mr. Benito Baco, of San Miguel County, New Mexico, stated as evi- dence of the necessity of irrigation, that in his county over 150,000 sheep were lost in one season simply for the want of water. Mr. F. J. Stanton expressed the opinion that irrigation even in Iowa and Illinois would insure 25 or 30 bushels of wheat to the acre, instead of 124, and that ‘every foot water travels in a ditch it acquires fertil- ization and food-property for vegetation.” He stated that the annual deposit from the Mississippi had been estimated at 28,158,053,892 cubie feet of solid matter, exclusive of the coarse sand and gravel transported by the current; also that the Rhine annually carries down 1,973,433 cubic feet. He estimated the reclaimable area in Colorado 25,000,000 GOA 600 acres. Others made much lower estimates. Governor Elbert claimed that Colorado alone has a water-supply for irrigating 6,000,000 acres—an area equal to that which in the days of the Ptolemies, in Egypt, supplied food for a population of 8,000,000. The convention ubanimously recognized the necessity for aid by the National Government, as the only authority having jurisdiction and ¢ca- pable of giving unity and efficiency to a system permeating several States and Territories, and as the principal landholder and party to be benefited. The convention, after deliberating two days, in extended day and night sessions, adopted unanimously a memorial to Congress, reciting that the arid region of the United States, embracing over one-third of the area of the country, or more than one million square miles, in the Territories of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Montana, the State of Nevada, and large portions of the States of Oregon, California, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas, and of the Territories of Washington and Vakota, is generally unfit for profitable cultivation without irrigation; that the water supply is abundant for reclaiming millions of acres; that a system of irrigation suited to the wants of this region is too expensive for individuals, associations, or Territorial or State governments; that vast areas of land must long remain unsold and unavailable for agriculture without such a system of internal im- provement; that the small areas available for settlement by present means of irrigation are now nearly exhausted; that such a system might be incidentally useful in driving the machinery of thousands of gold and silver mines now unworked for lack of water; and, therefore, praying for the passage of a law embodying the following general provisions : First. To grant to the several States and Territories named in the preamble to this memorial one-half of all the arid lands not mineral within their borders, said lands, or the proceeds thereof, to be devoted to the construction of irrigating canals and reser- voirs for the reclamation of said arid and waste lands. : Second. That the construction and maintenance of irrigating canals and reservoirs shall be under the exclusive control and direction of the Territory or State, as sole owner thereof, under such laws, rules, and regulations as the legislature thereof shall from time to time provide. Third. That the Territorial and State legislatures shall have power to make all need- ful rules and regulations, and take all needful steps for the proper construction and maintenance of such canals, and that such power shall include the power to provide, by laws for the issuing of the bonds of the Territory or State, for the construction of such canals. Fourth. That the proceeds of said lands herein granted shall be kept as an exclusive fund by the Territory or State, first, for the payment of the principal and interest of all bonds so issued as aforesaid ; second, that any balance remaining after the payment of the bonds so issued as aforesaid shall be used in the maintenance of said canals, or the construction of other canals, as the legislature of said Territory or State shall from time to time by law direct. Fifth. That any lands within said Territory or State which shall be filed on under the provisions of the pre-emption and homestead laws of the United States, after the passage of this act, shall be subject to the operation of this act, if the said lands shall be brought under irrigation by the construction of said canals. Sixth. That the bonds so donated to the several States and Territories herein named, and the remainder of the public domain therein belonging to the General Government, shall be disposed of under revised and more strict pre-emption and homestead laws than are now in force, and that no title shall issue until the claimant shall be a bona- fide actual settler upon the land claimed. MANUFACTURE OF PAPER FROM HOP-STALKS.—M. Jourdeil, of the department of the Céte d’Or, in France, has recently submitted to a congress of paper-makers of that country an invention, or rather a series of inventions, for separating and using the textile material which envelops the stalk of the hop, in the manufacture of paper. The experi- ments with this new fiber have already reached some remarkable results, 601 and great confidence is indulged that a discovery has been made which will prove of great interest and value to agriculture as well as to the paper-making industry. RicE IN MARYLAND.—A farmer of Wicomico County, Maryland, (eastern shore,) reports that from one quart of rice, planted in deep, black soil, he raised twenty-four quarts, weighing twenty-eight pounds. It was planted about the middle of April, in rows 18 inches apart, and cut October 27. Single grains produced from five to twenty-five stalks, from 34 to 5 feet high. NOTES ON BERMUDA GRASS (Cynodon dactylon) IN THE SouTH.—Dr. St. Julian Ravenel, of South Carolina, states that by the use of nitrates and alkalies in solution he produced hay from Bermuda grass at the rate of sixteen tons to the acre. Planters at the South have considered this grass a pest, but in the present condition of affairs the old notions are being revised and the grass considered a blessing on some of the needy plantations. The great objection to it has been that it is hard to eradicate; nevertheless, at all times its reliability for a hay-crop and for grazing in the hot cli- mate of the South has been well understood. Dr. Howard, of Georgia, an authority on grasses at the South, thinks that where Bermuda grass has thoroughly taken possession of the soil it will force the owner to raise live stock or abandon theland; and thatif the worn soil is ever to be restored it will be by sheep and Bermuda grass, or grass of similar characteristics. In passing, it may be in place to refer to Dr. Howard’s opinion of Bermuda grass as expressed in one of the annual reports. of the then Bureau of Agriculture: It will live on land so poor as to be incapable of supporting other valuable grasses, though its value is in proportion to the fertility of the soil. It seems to be determined that below the mountainous parts of the Southern States, if stock be kept away from Bermuda grass during the summer and autumn, although the ends of the grass may be nipped by frost, that there will be sufficient grass underneath to feed stock during the winter. This being the case, it must stand unrivaled as a grazing-grass in the Southern States, taking into the account the whole year, both summer and winter. On very rich land it grows tall enough to be made into hay, and the hay is of the best quality. The same writer quite recently published the statement that there are thousands of acres of land well set in Bermuda grass in the middle counties of Georgia; that the cotton-planters, who are wholly indiffer- ent to stock-raising, still detest the grass because it is hard to kill, and interferes with their staple. He says that for spring, summer, and autumn grazing he has seen nothing equal to it in Old England, New England, or the West; if cut in August, it gives very good winter- grazing, horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs all being fond of it. Mr. How- ard has so thorough a faith in the excellencies of this grass that he asks the question, ‘‘ Why should men go West when they can accomplish such results at the South?” Bermuda grass is propagated by roots and not by seeds. The smallest fragment of root will grow with a slight covering of earth. A single shoot will sometimes run 10 feet or more in a single season on rich land, each point putting out roots. An agricultural journal of Alabama recommends the following mode of planting this grass: Break the land well and harrow up fine, then cut your Bermuda sod into small bits, say one inch square. Drop these bits over the ground 3 or 4 feet apart and roll down level with a heavy roller. If your sod is scarce, you may make your pieces much smaller than an inch square; every root with an eye init will grow if put into the ground. In cases where no roller is at hand, the dropper of the sod may make all right by treading upon each bit as he drops it. It is always best to start Bermuda in land 602 not too poor; if in good condition, the grass will keep it so, and it spreads and covers the ground much more rapidly. If you cannot plow your pasture-land, you may still seed it to Bermuda by simply digging small holes (a blow with a grub-hoe will answer) and dropping the seed into them. It will spread over land that has never been plowed, though with less rapidity, of course. Bermuda grass cannot stand any great amount of shading, hence the pasture should be pretty clear of trees. WHITE SCHONEN OATS.—A farmer of Coos County, Oreg., reports that he sowed two quarts of white Schénen oats on 19 rods of ground, and gathered 485 pounds, or at the rate of 113 bushels per acre, although about two rods of the sowing lodged and was badly cut up by rabbits. On a particular spot of one square rod the yield was 30 pounds, or at the rate of 133 bushels per acre. The uniform height of the stalks was 64 feet, with heads from 18 to 20 inches long. The yield was double that of the common varieties. | ADAMS’ HARLY corN.—A correspondent of Powhatan County, Va., says that this is decidedly the best garden-corn he ever planted. He intends next season to plant it as a field-corn, with the expectation of getting corn-meal by the 1st of September. This year he planted April 22, and gathered August 15, when it was hard enough to grind. While it bears, generally, not more than two ears to the stalk, the ears are large and well filled, and seem to be less subject to the attack of the worm which usually infests the early varieties. SWEDISH TURNIPS.—A farmer in Washington Territory reports that from seed obtained from the Department he raised Swedish turnips of very superior quality, the largest of which weighed from 26 to 30 pounds. The summer was unusually dry, but he succeeded by frequently watering the beds after transplanting. AGRICULTURE IN InDIA.—Mr. W. R. Robertson recently delivered an address at the British Museum, Madras, which represents the agricul- ture practiced in India as of a very primitive and superficial character. The only implement used in working the soil is a very imperfect one, passing under the name of plow, which, instead of turning over the surface, leaves it in its original position, and seldom stirs it to a depth ereater than 4 inches, in consequence of which only insufficient nutriment is available for plants, and the effects of prevalent droughts are rendered unnecessarily disastrous. For the same reason crops are easily pros- trated by storms. Scarcely anything is done in the way of keeping up the fertility of the soil by the use of manure or other fertilizers. The crops being of a low, unimproved order, possess a degree of native hardiness by which they will survive a considerable amount of unfavor- able weather and of hard usage; but they are very poor in quality and the yield per acre is exceedingly meager, the seed being stinted and the quantity of husk out of all proportion to that of grain or seed. In the Madras presidency, out of more than 20,000,000 acres devoted to food-grains or plants, less than 25,000 are under wheat, and less than 30,000 under sugar-cane. ‘The ryot (Indian farmer) cannot, on his ex- hausted upper soil, grow the higher order of crops unless he improves his practice; this is why all the attempts to improve cotton, tobacco, and Carolina paddy (rice) cultivation, by distributing good seed over the coun- try, have not met with satisfactory results. A high order of plants, like a high order of animals, demands favorable circumstances.” Mr. Robert- son thinks that, with proper cultivation, wheat could be grown exten- sively, and sugar-cane on the greater portion of the area under cultiva- tion in the presidency. The condition of live stock is represented to be extremely wretched. There are over 7,000,000 cattle and over 603 6,000,000 sheep, for which neither pasture nor fodder food is pro- vided. “ By far the greater number of live stock of the presidency are kept, during two-thirds of the year, just above the starvation point. The result of such management is that disease is seldom absent from the herds and flocks of the ryot, producing, at times, frightful loss.” JUTE AND RAMIE IN LOUISIANA.-—Mr. E. Le France, president of the Southern Ramie Planting Association of New Orleans, La., writes as follows to the Department in regard to recent experiments with jate, and incidentally refers to ramie: I have the pleasure to inform you of the success of our jute experiment conducted on an adequate scale. To find out the best time for planting, we put in seed at intervals from April to July. All plantings up to the end of June did well; that of a later period failed to attain the average height, which is here 6 feet—in rich land 8. Man- ual labor, such as that employed i inthe jute industry of the East Indies, could not be employed here, because too high-priced and unskilled. We have treated the jute by machinery. Our ramie machinery, recently improved, cleans the jute perfectly in its green state. It gives a crude but neat product which, being rotted, is a beautiful and lustrous fiber. Jute culture cannot fail to be profitable, inasmuch as it requires small capital. The following is a statement of approximate cost: TEM AIIGU DOT: ACEP cccrepyaets wa fod, «= ~~ 45 ria=ininr anes sco lee en ae eae eee omen Cutting, decortication, and manufacture... .------------- eee PO SAGE GeSe 15 00 Implements and interest on Caplbal. . .. 5 oe cs secietses o.ciciee. « pisnie np eee eke aet ee enn 25 00 Average yield per acre, on common land, 1,500 pounds. Offered price for the crude fiber, 4 cents per pound ; for rotted, 8 cents. Of course the crude fiber would cost less to the planter; being the direct product from the machine, it would save at least $5 per acre for manipulation by the rotting pro- cess. The raw fiber is a new element for rope manufacture and other coarse industries. It is very strong, and_has all the natural qualities of its native condition. We believe that as a material for cordage, in place of common Manila at 9 and 10 cents, it ought to bring at least 6 and 7 cents, and save millions of importation, At all events, we can now “proclaim as easy and feasible, jute culture in America. It.depends upon the planters to extend it. Ramie, as well as jute, is gaining ground ; the mechanical prob- lem is solved. Hemp and flax can also be cleaned by the machinery adapted to ramie and jute. Having noticed in one of the agricultural reports that cotton, surrounded by a belt of jute, was protected thereby from attacks of caterpillars, I made the experiment, and found the statement to be correct. There were no worms in the field, although situated in lowlands of the suburbs of New Orleans, while some adjacent plantations were visited by the insect. I have also obseryed that no flies or butterflies ever go to the jute flower. STATISTICS OF MONTGOMERY CouNTY, lowa.—The rapid progress of western settlement can be illustrated by facts from almost any county beyond the Mississippi. The official census of Montgomery County, Iowa, for 1873, gives the following results: Acres of land im- proved, 67,890; products of 1872, in bushels: wheat, 229,632; corn, 1,647,893 ; oats, 287,915; barley, 11,019; pounds of wool, 7, 024. The returns of corresponding items in the same county, in 1869, for the United States census, were as follows: Acres of improved land, 30,284 ; bushels of wheat, 59,712; of corn, 323,168; of oats, 37,393; pounds of. wool, 18,492. No barley was reported for 1869. By comparing the two series, it appears that, within the short space of four years, the quantity of land improved was more than doubled, and, within three years, the production increased, of wheat, nearly four-fold; of corn, more than five-fold ; and of oats, more than seven-fold. On the other hand, the production of wool fell off 62 per cent. The census for 1873 makes the number of inhabitants 8,602. CONSUMPTION OF CoTTon.—M. Ott-Triimpler, in his annual report of cotton deliveries (from ports to the interior) for consumption in Eu- 604 rope for the year ending October 1, 1873, makes the total number of bales 5,219,000 ; of which 3,335,000 bales were distributed in England ; and 1, 834, 000 on the Continent. The English supply was received, 1,654, 600 bales from America, 737,000 from India, 509,000 from Brazil, 306, 000 from Egypt, and 129,000 from other countries ; the continental, 669,000 bales from America, 795,000 from India, 144, 000 from Brazil, 87, 600 from Egypt, and 189,000 from other countries. He reports the angual supply of the past twelve years as follows: Year. Bales. . Bales. 1,884,000 | 5,219, 000 1, 641, 000 4, 773, 000 2,046,000 | 5, 268, 000 1, 627,000 | 4, 387, 000 1, 916, 000 4, 503, 000 1,782,000 | 4, 604, 000 1, 733, 000 4, 147, 000 i 616, 000 3, 935, 000 1,182,000 | 3, 055, 000 1; 033,000 | 2,598, 000 per 814, 000 2, 146, 000 CRIS Le RS eee ee eee ee ee eee 4 ae ae 1, 217, 000 776, 000 | 1, 993, 000 IRRIGATION IN INDIA.—The “imperial budget statement” for the government of India, for 1873~74, besides an estimate of £2,354,000 (exclusive of the appropriations for roads and civil buildings) for ordi- nary public works, includes a proposed grant of £3,878,000 for extraor- dinary public works. Of this, £1,226,060 are intended for carrying for- ward canals of irrigation already in process of construction, that is, “the canals from the Jumna, near Agra, the Lower Ganges Canal, the canal from the river Soane, and the completion of the canal-system in the deltas of the Kistna and the Godavery, the improvement of the Western Jumna Canal, and the Moota project in the Bombay Presi- dency.” The canal revenue superintendent of the Cuttack district, in Bengal. reports to the irrigation branch of the public works department of Bengal upon irrigation in cotton-culture as follows: In pee Cuttack district only two varieties of cotton are grown, viz, the haldiya and the achna ; the former is, generally speaking, the cotton of the hills and rainy season; the latter of the plains and dry season. It will be convenient to describe the mode of culti- vating them separately. The haldiya variety is sown in June and July, and picked in October and November. Though generally grown in the Gurjeets, where newly re- claimed jungle-land is largely available and best suiting the crop, it is also occasionally met with in the delta of the Mugalbundi, but in very small quantities, and grown either on land reclaimed from jung ele or else within the precincts of the ryot’s own home- steads. It is but rarely grown on the ordinary dofasli or biyali lands. But little care is given, I believe, to its “eultiv ation, the earth being turned over as for rice, and the plant left to itself with the exception of an occasional weeding The achna variety is sown in November, December, and January on the dofasli or biyali lands,and is picked in May, June,and July. The seed used is the seed of the haldiya variety, and the ordinary mode of cultivation is as follows: The land is allowed to lie fallow for the whole of the rainy season, the rotation of crops being as follows: (1) biyali, followed by biri, mug, linseed, or other similar crop; (2) fallow ; (3) cotton. — The land is plowed at the end of November, in December, or at the beginning of January, as may happen to suit the rain-fall, the closing of ’the canals, or “the ryot’s convenience, and is brought: into the ordinary conditions of garden- -soils. Whatever manure the ryot has to spare (which is generally so little and of sucha quality as to be of but little benefit) he puts down. The soil is then worked up into ridges, and the seed dibbled in by hand, five or six seeds in each place at intervals along the ridges of about a foot. To prepare the soil water is required; and, as a rule, cotton is not grown mM in any place where there is not asupply of water of some kind. The soil is: moist below where the seed is put down, though dry above. When the plants are about halfa foot high and there has been no rain, the first water- ingis given, and this is continued at intervals of about fifteen days until the middle or end of May, when the crop is in full flower. The first and last waterings are the most important of all. The method of watering is peculiar. A small channel is made from the source of the water-supply to the highest point in the cotton-field, from whence it can be distributed. Within the field there are small subsidiary channels connected with that leading to the field. When the water is first turned on, the mouths of the small channels are closed, and the whole supply is allowed to go into the principal chan- nel. The ryot then takes his stand about ten yards from the mouth and bunds the chan- nel at his feet. As the water comes down he throws it forward right and left with a scoop (sena) made of very light wood, (of the simul or cotton-tree,) with a piece of string which he holds in the left hand while he holds the handle in his right. When all the cotton within reach of his first position has been thus sprinkled with water, and the ground thoroughly saturated, the ryot opens the bund and lets down water to the next reach of ten yards, and soon until the whole of the land covered by the sub-chan- nel has been watered, when he proceeds to use the other sub-channels in the same man- ner until the whole field has received water. Cotton is never irrigated in the ordinary manner by flooding the roots, the cultivators declaring that water unless given from above kills the crop. I have invariably noticed that any crop which has by accident been flooded, even slightly, has suffered considerably. If you call aryot who is en- gaged in watering cotton in the ordinary method as above described, he will invaria- bly shut off the water at the source of supply before he comes to you. Any excess of water, such as percolation, entirely ruins the crop. To the eye there is but little per- ceptible difference, in an ordinary year, between an irrigated crop of cotton and one which has had nothing but rain-water, but the ryots say that there is a great difference in yield independently of the appearance of the plants. Two or three days after each watering, when the upper crust of the soil has got caked and sowr, (if I may so describe its greenish appearance,) the cultivator takes his kodal and digs the whole field, com- pletely turning over the soil and eradicating all weeds. When the plants are about to come into flower they are thinned, not more than three or four being left in the same place. If they are unusnally large and leafy, the tops are nipped off, or calves turned in to graze for a few hours to prevent their ranning too much to wood, and bearing less flower. The plants vary in height from 2 to 5 feet when in full growth. As the cotton becomes ready for picking, the whole family tarns out and collects the pods as occasion demands. The picking begins in May and lasts until July; the crop, how- ever, requires no water after the former month. As no difference is made in the treat-' ment of the two varieties of cotton after they have been picked, one description of their subsequent treatment will do for both. The cotton is first dried in the sun; when dry, the seed is removed, and the cotton, after being cleaned, is worked into thread by the women of the family and sold at the hats or to itinerant dealers. This description ap- plies only to the lower classes and Mussulmans, who generally have only just enough for home consumption. The Brahmins and better class of ryots grow cotton on ad- vances made by lecal mahajuns, to whom they deliver it, and who again resell it at - the hats, or for export in the same form as the specimens forwarded with my letter dated Ist March, 1873. In this form and in that of thread it is alone procurable in the markets, and not in large quantities in either. If, as is probable, the cultivation of this crop should be in future largely extended by means of irrigation, and the supply become greater than the local demand, it may be worth while to try an experimental cleaning-mill worked by water power, and let out by contract to a large dealer in cot- ton, who would send it, when cleaned, to Calentta. At present anything of the sort would be certain failure, the supply being little, if any, in excess of the amount that can be worked up by the women of the poorer classes. COFFEE-CROP IN CHYLON.—The Ceylon Observer reports that in all the older districts of that island the coffee-crop will be very short this year. In districts where the rule has been 10 to 12 cwt. per acre, the yield this year will not be over 1 to 3 ewt. per acre. But while on the plantations generally the crop will approach a failure, “the native gardens” promise a full yield. ‘In the Matella distriets the native coffee (last year supposed to be dying out from leaf-disease) is in splendid order and bearing heavily. Scarcely a trace of leaf-disease is to be seen this season on places that bat a year ago were covered with it.” GUINEA GRASS, (sorghum vulgare.)\—A smal] quantity of the seed of this grass having been received from Thomas H. Pearne, United 606 States consul at Kingston, Jamaica, a portion of it was sent by the Department to a planter in Florida for purposes of experiment. Some of the seed was sown on the 20th of May, on common pine land, slightly manured with cotton-seed. Although not coming up as well as expected, it stooled out, sending out from fifteen to sixty stalks to the seed, and by August 1 was over 5 feet high and very thrifty. Three weeks after the first a second sowing was made on lower and wetter ground ; but this did not grow quite as well as the first, although send- ing out more shoots to the seed, one stool havirg one hundred stalks in the bunch. + /<.c 27, 425, 838 21, 052, 187 23. 4 33. 3 RBA Sp cielo pao mien aed aceliisfocia > cfararbiciainsiteleje'> « 263, 511, 685 | 268, 902, 065 29. 6 30.5 NORTHWESTERN TEXAS.—One of our correspondents having emi- grated from Louisiana to a frontier settlement in Hood County, on the Brazos River, Texas, sends us some account of the geographical and agricultural conditions of that section. The face of the country is di- 612 versified with rugged hills and beautiful valleys. Cliffs often rise ab- ruptly from the banks of the streams to the height of one hundred feet or more. In the valleys the ijand is very fertile, producing cotton, wheat, corn, oats, barley, rye, &c. In 1872 some of the wheat-lands of the better quality yielded a fraction over 45 bushels per acre. Butin Hood County the larger part of the land is not adapted to tillage, though some of the elevated plateaus, which are post-oak lands, produce very . good crops. Water is abundant, since, in addition to the Brazos River, small streams abound. Wood for fuel is plenty, though good timber for building is somewhat scarce. Agriculture is generally in an unim- proved and, in some respects, a primitive, state. Our correspondent ex- presses his intention of doing what he can toward awakening a new interest and developing the resources of the county. Among its other attractions, he specifies more than a dozen “ very fine white-sulphur springs.” ESPARTO-GRASS.—The rapid increase in the demand for this fibrous product, ( Macrochloa tenacissima,) chietly as material for paper, is indi- cated by the following facts: It was first brought to notice in 1862, when a single cargo was sent to England from the province of Oran, in Algiers. The result of this experiment was that the export from this same province rose from 10,000 quintals in 1863 to 370,000 in 1870 amounting in value, in the latter year, to $1,500,000. NEW PAPER-FIBER.—According to the Agricultural Gazette of India, a common weed, called Sida retusa, growing in great abundance in Queensland and New South Wales, has recently been found to afford a very valuable material for paper-making. It is a species of malvacew, and the best specimens of it grow about Windsor, New South Wales, where itis known as American lucerne. It is alleged to be of such vitality and vigor of growth as to be almost ineradicable, and to grow in such profusion as to be a very troublesome weed ; to be very superior to esparto-grass, clean, easily bleached, and haying all the best qualities of flax. “Samples of the Sida retusa having been submitted to the chief paper manufacturers in England, one and all have agreed in expressing their most favorable opinion of its perfect adaptability to the purpose of paper-making, and all entertain a very high estimate of its market value.” Various species of sida are represented to be com- mon throughout India. One, Sida piliafolia, referred to by Dr. Forbes Boyle, in his work on Indian fibers, is said to be cultivated in China for its fiber, as a substitute for hemp and flax. Dr. Roxburgh describes its fiber as “strong and pliable, very silky in its nature, and the plant of very rapid and luxuriant growth, three crops being obtained in one year.” HEALTH FROM FLOWERS.—It is reported that an Italian professor has discovered that perfumes from flowers have a chemical effect on the atmosphere, converting its oxygen into ozone, and thus increasing its health-imparting power. As the result of his researches he states that essences of cherry, laurel, lavender, mint, juniper, melons, fennel, and bergamot are among those which develop the largest quantities of ozone, while anise and thyme develop it in a less degree. Flowers des- titute of perfume have no such effect. He very naturally recommends that dwellers in marshy localities and near places infected with animal emanations should surround their homes with a profusion of the most odoriferous flowers—a recommendation which the Creator, through their beauty and fragrance, addresses to the senses of all sensible. people. 613 NEW SALMON-FISHERY LAW.—The British Parliament has recently enacted a law explaining, amending, and adding to existing statutes relating to salmon-fishing. Its design is to make the regulations more stringent and effective. The provisions of the “ malicious injuries act,” so far as they relate to poisoning water with intent to destroy fish, are made to apply to salmon rivers. It provides that ‘ no person shall buy, sell, or have in his possession any salmon or part of any salmon between the 3d of September and the 1st of February following, both inclusive; and any person acting in contravention of this section shall forfeit any salmon so bought, sold, or exposed for sale, or in his possession for sale, and shall ineur a penalty not exceeding £2 for every such salmon or part of any salmon.” ‘This is not to apply to salmon cured beyond the limits of the United Kingdom, or within the limits between the Ist of February and the 3d of November, nor to any clean, fresh salmon caught within the limits of the act, or beyond the limits, provided the capture was lawful; but the burden of proof that it was lawful, in either case, is to lie on the person ‘‘in whose possession for sale such salmon is found.” No draught-net is to be shot within 100 yards of another net before the latter is landed ; no fishing except with rod and line is to be permitted 100 yards above or below weirs or mill-races ; no eel-bas- kets are to be fixed between the Ist of January and the 24th of June ; and no interference with salmon is to be permitted in close seasons. These are the prominent features of the act, which contains sixty-five sections and three schedules. MARKET PRICES OF FARM-PRODUCTS. The following quotations represent the state of the market, as nearly as practicable, on the 1st day of November, 1873: Articles. Price. Articles. Price. + NEW YORK. New York—Continued. Flour, superfine State... Bay bbl, $5 20 to $5 75 || Cheese, State factory.-.-.-.--. do...| $0 13 to $0 14 extra State - Age -| 600 to 7 00 western factory ....do... — to — superfine western - oe -| 520 to 5 75 || Cotton, ordinary to good ordi- extra to choice western, META Sane RRS ESo" per lb. 133 to 143 peribarrelis sass eae 6 00 to 10 75 low adie to good common to fair, extra middling ... ... per lb. 143 to 163 southern -....-- per bbl.|_ 6 20 to 6 95 || Sugar, soft yellow -........--. dos -- 84 to 9B good to choice southern, |- soft white. ...--..--. do... 94 to 9% per barrels o35 42.0 de 700 to 11 00 || Tobacco, lugs, all grades, per Wheat, No. 1 spring - - -per bash. 140 to 1 44 PONG ames a cascsce 6tto . No; 2SpRNe --5-=5: -| 134 to 1 40 common to medium winter, red, west’n, ae leatises-so5-26 = per lb. 8 to 10 to choice . -per bush.| 1 41 to 1 50 || Wool, American XXX and pick- winter, amber, western, HOG leks see anlar cicls per lb. 58 to 623 portbashel s52225- 2.2 == 151 to 1 55 American X and xX, per winter, white western, : pounds... 45: ssS3s5sssbeee 49 to 52 Pew DUBTOl see ano 145 to 1 70 American,combing.per lb. 57 to 63 Rye.... ------per bush. 88 to 95 OS ae spring clip, per Barley eee dos sciy. 1. 00\:to). 2.30.) . 5. yw pounds 3. -.c.- osteo 25 to 35 Corn .-. do 60 to 62 california fall clip, per Oats - .-do. 45 to 49 poundise. 75S. 2 eos 20 to 27 Hay, first uality -- -per ton.| 26 00 to 28 00 "ROXAS. oe Sad chest per lb. 18 to + 35 second quality......-. do...} 22 00 to 25 00 POT MOSS 2Ho25..5---a4< per bbl.| 14 90 to 15 00 BOSTON. extra prime -.--.. -..do.--| 13 90 to — — prime mess..-...-.-... do...| 15 50 to 16 00 |} Flour, western, superfine.perbb].| 500 to 5 50 Loe hs Eee a es See per lb 74 to 7h western extras ...... do...| 575 to 7 50 Beef, plain mess......... per bbl.| & 50 to 10 00 western choice ......do...| 8 00 to 11 00 extra mess ..-....-.-. do...| 10 00 to 12 00 southern extras.....- do...| 600 to 6 50 Butter, western .......... per lb. 18 to 3L choice Baltimore ....do...} 9 00 to 11 00 State dairy .. ...... dos.- 25 to SOr NW LOM berscmctaplersiece ashes per bush.| 150 to 1 85 614 Market prices of farm-products—Continued. Articles. Boston—Continued. Rye see eee ana per bush ited bv See peer eete sececas do.. Oats, western......---- ----do... Corn, southern yellow...-..- dos: western yellow ..---- do... Hay, eastern and northern, per ED aS Se) eee ee ee Hay, western choice . ..-.per ton. ‘Beef, western mess..-.--- per bbl western extra..-..--- do Pork, prime |. ---.)-<62-=----d0:- LTCC GREE Sms oe ote do... ATA eels See sae ae as per Ib. , Butter, N. Y. and Vt., common to CHBIGH shee sees = per Ib western, fair to Pace PENMOUNG = oss oc. sn enn = Cheese, un. Y. and Vt. factory. choice, per pound.....- western factory, choice, per pound ..-_-......- Sugar, fair to good refining, per pound LB BEESSSEAS Ee ASa eeeeec Cotton, ordinary to good ordi- Ea nee eee per lb low middling Py good | middling ....-.- per lb Mohacce, lnesi oo hf22-2-- <5 do. ..| common to medium | leatie = eos 4- 2 per lb_| Wool, Ohio and Pa .........do.. IMGGhie an! 22 on, =- 2. - do... other western ...-.-... do pulledse ss So 22625. do combing fleece...--.. do. California <2 4-54 --:- gous PEMA wee me penne oii do... PHILADELPHIA. Flour, superfine......... per bbl. IPA OX Smile te wets e do.. Pa. tamily <--->. -=<- do.. western family....-. do... western, fancy -.---. do. . W heat, winter red, western, per bushel Pennsylv’niared-.per bus. Pennsy lvania, Delaware, and western amber, per bushel. © <=. .22:522:<- fwinibe.. 5 = ==) © per pes No.1 spring..---.-- Rye, western. -.----.------- ee =! Corn, western yellow. ...--- do:-- Oats, sy dtl stein es akeqesasas do... Barley, New York 4-rowed .do... western ...--......- dow. Hay, fresh baled..-..-.-.- per ton. common and fair shipping, MOL GON). 2 22 see ae occ: Pork Mess); -5'.- 2.22262 per bbl prime mess... --.------ do... PHNNG eee eee sees do... Beef, western mess .-.-.--.-.- do.. extra mess. .-...----- do... Warthman’s city family, Por pound (2-35. 2sc sew Butter, choice Middle States, per pound 2--- 2. oo. - choice western --.-per lb Cheese, N. Y. factory ..--... do. Ohio factory --.--.- gore: Sugar, fair to good refining. do. - Cotton, ordinary to good ordi- nary per lb. Price. $0 95 v4 $1 00 aS a aoa ee TOm ec 70 55 69 69 00 00 50 50 00 Articles. Price. PHILADELPHIA—Continned. Cotton, low middling to good middling. ....-. per lb.| $0 be e $0 17 Wool, prime X and XX ....do... — Ohio X essce-oeeceeee do... 20 2 — Ohio combing, coarse. do. ne 57 to — prime tub, coarse ....do..- 51 to _ BALTIMORE. Flour, superfine .... ...- per bbl.| 450 to 5 20 extias 2 fss-s5eseses do..-| 550 to 8 50 family and fancy ....do. 7 25 to 10 50 Wheat, white, fair to choice, per. bushel ..152s) 2: see 150 to 1:75 amber, choice..per bush.| 165 to 1 75 1:1 ee ees So Sa 2 do. 35 to 1 62 Rye, common to prime ..... do... 80 to 90 Corn, white southern ...... do. 78 to 80 yellow southern ...... do.. 65 to 68 Oats, southern .--......---- do... 50 to 53 western. . 22:2. 52:s25< do.. 48 to 50 Hay, western and Pa.-...per ton.| 20 00 to 25 00 Wey Yorks sacs do...| 22 00 to 25 00 Maryland 22-24-3356 do...| 25 00 to 27 00 POrkeMess . . 2-296 pase 24 per bbl.| 15 75 to 16 00 Beef, Baltimore mess--....-- do...| 15 00 to 20 00 OXtTA 23.25 dseeeeee do...| 23 00 to 25 00 Ward ooo 54 ose teeeceeee = per lb. 7} to 8 Batter, wes erm’....-.. -2.- GOs 25 to 32 @asterm ..2225,2-<=<¢ do: 24 to 30 Cheese, eastern cutting ....do...| 15 to 153 western cutting ...do... 15 to — Cotton, ordinary to good ordi- Teo aos ace ee er lb. 1lito 134 low middling to mid- Glin gee. Nexis ce =n per lb 14 to 143 Sugar, soft white A ....-... do.. 10 to 102 | Tobacco, lugs..-..---. per cental.| 600 to 8 00 common to medium leaf, per cental..-...--..-2 8 00 to 11 00 Wool, fleece-washed .....- per Jb 45 to 50 tub-washed..-......- dors 55 to 60 DE WaAsned oFooscc cos, do... 35 to 38 jibes So aSankeasasa- do. - 35 to 40 CINCINNATI. || Flour, superfine .....-..- per bbl.| 475 to 5 00 Oxtra ee asia ae eee do...| 640 to 6 735 family and fancy ..-.do...| 675 to 8 29 Wheat, good to prime red winter, per bushel ..--.-.----- 32to 35 hill, prime to choice, per bushel . = %25..-423tee, 140 to 150 white, prime to choice, per ionshiol.....s2 te 145 to 155 Wye == 40-25 5s) See do... 3) 5 Fae 75 Bawney, .. 22. s2s4-s4e-seeesos do...| 100 to 1 50 (WON. ~ =. see ee eee do.. 40 to 47 (OS i Re ase do... 35 to 42 Hay, baled, No. 1-..-...- per ton.| 16 00 to 17 00 lower grades -=:--:2: do...| 12 00 to 15 00 Pork, mess, city packed.-per bbl | 12 75 to 13 00 Bate sc ee ort eee per lb. 7 to 4 Beef, plate. -.-.--.-.----- per bbl.| 11 00 to 12 00 Butter, Choice? -2--=osne eee do... 28 to 31 prime ...-.---------- do... 24 to 27 Cheese, prime factory ------ do. .- 133 to 14 Sugar, N. O., fair to good....do... 93 to 10 N. O. ; prime to choice. do... 103 — Tobacco, fee PRR aoe do..- 8 to 12 Cssrdsssb Gees do.. 12 to 25 Cotton, ordinary to good ordi-_ i Pee sone per lb. 12} to 13 ee 2s to good middling ....-. per Ib. 13} to 14% 615 Market prices of farm-products—Continued. = Articles. | Price. | Articles. Price. CINCINNATI—Continued. | Sarr Lovuis—Continued. Wool, fleece-washed, common to Cotton, low middling to mid- TIO oo okies. a per lb.} 30 40 << $0 42 hing? fo. sheeaat per lb.| $0 134to $0 14 tub-washed .....-.-- eee 40 42 || Wool, tub-washed ....... .. doe 40 to 47 unwashed, clothing -do. .. 25 a 27 fleece-washed........do0... 34 to 40 unwashed, combing - do.. 32 to 33 unwashed combing ..do... 23 to 33 mulled <7. -- 5. ene se do.../* 30 to 32 || { CHICAGO. NEW ORLEANS. Flour, white winter, extras, per HMlour, finete 5. to 5 Sse per bbl.| 500 to 5 25 pammel se eases Sees. 1200 to — — GS URAN Ga eo tents oe do 6 25 to 8 50 Flour, spring extras ....per bbl.| 500 to 5 75 ehoices: 2-250 ss Ss do. .-| 8% “te 49% Wheat, No.1 spring ...per bush.| 100 to 1 04 || Corn, white, ........... per bush 80) ter —— . No. SSP G2. foe a do... 99 to 1 02 Vell - sate case. 2 do. . oto No. 3 Sprang 3 aba do.. 95 to 96) Obst 20322 on sce seaee sets do. 51 to 58 BSSPED TWN: Oo ys Scr tains ot ya Sim ois do... 35 to 363|| Hay, choice..........-..- perton.|' 27 00) to) ———— Oats, ENON naan et owoie eae ee do 294 to 295) PLING Lys sac se do...| 24 00 to 25 00 tege: NOs 5.- 2 <3 = CE REEEEE do... 60 to 603|| Pork, mess -..-<. 2222... per bbl.| 15 50 to 16 00 ANI ON OLD 2 on a cecc e's <8 do...| 123 to 1 25 || Beef, Texas eee ease do...) 10/50) toy —-— Hay, timothy. -......-.. per ton.| 11 00 to 15 00 northern and western, per [Se te ee ae ee do. 8 00 to 10 00 barrel. 22223-ee vee. 14 00 to 15 00 IBECTNINESS). 222s = 22 <5) per bbl.| 800 to 8 25 Fulton market...per4 bbl.} 10 50 to — — PD. eS a Go2=2 | S00) toy 9°95.) quand! Solo 5_\. 6 28 | eee per lb 83 to 104 Le eaves) ee ee ee do...| 12 00 to 12 25 Butter, choice western...... do... 30 to-— — PLUME, Messe 252 25..55. do..-| 10 50 to 10 75 choice Goshen.....- do. - 40 to — — extra prime.........-: do...| 875 to 9 00 || Cheese, choice western factory, LECT Ras lek ee ee er lb 6 to 7 per pounds: .coaseeeee 15 to 15} Butter, choice yellow. .-..--- do... 25 to 30 N.Y. cream)5-2:- per ib. 17 to — — medium to goed ...do-.. 19 to 24 || Sugar, fair to good fair...-. do.. 84 to i Cheese, N. Y.factory..... per lb. 13 to 134 light yellow clarified. do.. 104 to 10% Ohio and western fac- white clarified...... do... 1l to — — ROLY ee oc ae per lb 12 to 13 |) Cotton, good ordinary ...... do..- 14 to 144 Sugar,N.O., choice ---....-. do... 9+ to 94 ‘Yow middling to good N.O., common to fair.do. - Tito 83] middling. --..-- per Ib 143 to 17 Wool, tub-washed.......... do. - 40 to 52 || Wool, clear lake --....... per lb 26 to 27 fleece-washed........ do.. 40 to 43 | Louisiana, clear ..... do.. 19 to 21 mRwashed,.522¢ .. 32k do 24 to 32 | 1 OYE 23 [Ss a do. - 35 to 38 SAN FRANCISCO SAINT LOUIS Flour, superfine ......... per bbl.| $5 373to 5 50 Flour, spring club 6 35 to 6 60 ORUA le see one ee do...| 5 75 to 600 winter 325 to 8 65 familys. 5. sad actes: do...|. 6 50) to. 675 Wheat, spring, No. 2 100 to 1 123)| Wheat, California Sees per cental. Dt LO are red winter, No. 2 155 to 1 56 Oregon) :(..c ase: e222 do...| 205 to 2 30 white 40! tole TOP Banleyi ss saan tse te ceeeee ee do...) .1 33) to) ttn Berns NO; 2 220-5 = saseeseoas 38 to 40:1) Oathia.ss sas55 05 Seas do. 140 to 165 Mahe NON es coca so soos eee do.. 324 to 34; |i Corn, whites .s=2 52: ccqeee- doe..) Tosi tow eae HEUER OG. oon s--ccscor sees 61 to 64 Veulowisa-aea. gasses do-..| . 1,25" tom. Bab Barley, No.2 AGOOK to; 1.15: ||) Hay, State: 2) ieee ae per ton.| 17 50 to — — Hay, ra .| 16 50 to 17 00 || Pork, mess. -..-......... per bbl.| 18 00 to 18 50 Pork, mess per bbl.| 13 50 to 13 7 | prime mess),.54-4--5,2 do..-} 16 00 to$17 00 Sarees Go. 5. Ses ee per lb. i tO) 9§\|' ‘Beef, masse 4 (eee e ee do.--} 19 00 to 11 60 Beef, family, mess-.-...-~. per bbl.} 14 00 to — — Taind 04 ok 3 dy Se per lb 10 to 12 Butter, choice dairy ..-.. -.. do... 30 to 32 || Butter, overland -.........- do... 20 to 25 miedrtim.t= oo. be do... 18 to 23 California../....... do.. 30 to 35 Cheese, N. Y. factory...--. doa. 14 to 143) Oreron! > teases ce do.. 15 to 20 Ohio and northwestern, Gheese)> .2sceciteaeen cee cot do.. 14 to 16 MEE POUR. 22.52). 4 - 134 to 14) Wool Mativer sn semas aa va. do.. 13 to 14 Cotton, ordinary to good ordi- Califormiany se. © ss. 5. do.. 16 to 20 PAI" o-)=, |e per lb. 11 to 114} Oregon asses ose se do... 20 to — — LIVE-STOCK MARKETS. Articles. Price. Articles. Price. Ses De New YorK—Continued. Cattle, milch-cows with calves, Cattle, extra beeves...per cental.|$12 00 to$12 25 perhead’ se o2- a 25-0 \340 00 to$s0 00 good to prime ...--- do....| 10 00 to 11 50 | calves,milk-fed,per pound 07 to 10 common to fair .....do- 8 00 to 9 50 grass-fed, per head.! 5 00 to 750 poorest graile....... do..-.| 5.00 to 6 00 || Sheep, adult.......... per pawnd. 043 to 05 average. ....-..:.---do 9 00 to 10 00 lambs geo 555.22) do.. 05 to 07 BROS ANS ooo as ese a cin s do 5, C0H- G0) 19 O0s || SWING) «| sssee casos te eee do. O44 to 04% 7. CA Articles. BOSTON. Cattle, choice ......-.. _ per cental. OXGTA aoa S ect emcee do... first quality .....-... dose second quality...... do. third quality ......- do... working-oxen... per pair- milch-cows with calves, perhead= 5. -6-- Sones = CRUDAES waite sacs per head. farrow cows ......-. do... Sheep;inlots ---:--.-.. 0.25 OOs== extra 2. ofl. 21 22) do... spring lambs. - “per pound. Swine, fat western.....-..- dors. store hogs, wholesale do. - ..| PHILADELPHIA. | Cattle, fair and choice beeves, per| eentals. 2-2 vee common ..-.--. per cental Sheep, fair to good......-.. do. -..| stock. 2.222 i st... 323 do....| Swine, corn-fed.:.---...... do. 22 i Slop-fed 2. -2:° /2.-22 doe BALTIMORE, Cattle, best beeves....per cental.| first quality medium or good fair qual- hVicisscce seme per cental. ordinary thin steers, oxen, or COWS..-.- per cental. | general average of the market. -.... per cental-| extreme range of prices, per cental most of the sales. - - Sheep, fair to good..-.-.-.. do: se good to extra......do.... stock dull at....-.. dow. NAIM DSe =i ec per head. Swine, corn-fed...2...- per cental. Still-fed steele zd doses! CINCINNATI. Cattle, common to medium, per Cental se ee ean et Cattle, good to prime. per cental..| \ CEA GG) ties Seeger eae ee ao. Sheep, common to fair ._... doses] good to prime.-..-.do....| NeMbs esto k 2 2 dos:= | Swine, light hogs... dows 3} La Ratna oe do. .| CHICAGO. Cattle, extra beeves, steers, 1,400 | pounds and upw ard, per Cantale sae see choice beeves, fine, fat, well-formed, 3 to 5 years | o01d,1,300 to 1,450 pounds, per cental good beeves, well-fattened, | finely-formed steers, 1,200 to 1,350 pounds,per cental) 6 5 4 3 100 35 70 15 2 4 COTW Bw Cr a UAWW KK PW Os oe He OO 2D OT He 616 LTive-stock markets—Continued. Price. $7 00 to $7 25 00 to 6 50 00 to 5 50 00 to 450 00 to 3 75 00 to 250 00 00 to 60 00 00 to 100 00 00 to 40 00 50! to. 3°75 00 to 4 87% 044 to 064 05 to 054 tox ee orn | 00 to 7.00 50 to 4 50 00 to 6 00 | 50 to 350 50 to 6 823 75 to 6 00 | 87 to 612) 00 to 4 87 || 12 to 400) 50 to 3 12 || 25 to — — || \; 50 to 6 12°|| 87 to 47% || 00 to 475 || 75 to. 6 50 || 00 to 325) 00 to 350 00 to 650 50 to 6 00 50 to 3 00 || 00 to 4 %5 50 to 6 00 50 to 3 25 | 50 to 4 00 50 ‘to 5 75 | 00 to 4 10 90 to 4 00 | i} | 60 to 5 80 | | O5to 5) 50] 50 to 5 00 | | Articles. Cuicaco—Continued. Cattle, medium grades, fair fleshed steers, 1,150 to 1,250 pounds, per cental....-.. butchers’ stock, common 2 to fair steers and good to extra cows, 800 to 1,100 pounds.per cental. stock cattle, decently fleshed, 700 to 1,050 pounds + Smeeehs per cental. Texans, choice corn-fed, per cental dts. fue aes Texans, north-wintered, per cental= Fee. eee Texans, through droves, per centale see -c eee eee Sheep, good to choice, per Cental \...2. teoeeeeeees poor to medium, per cental. Swine, heavy light er sees 4 dgucre SAINT LOUIS. Cattle, choice native steers, 1,300 to 1,600 pounds, per cental. prime second-class natives, 1,150 to 1,400 pounds, per Cental. --.4-deb eek aee es good third-rate natives, | 1,050 to 1,300 pounds, per | cental fair butchers’ steers, 1,000 | to 1,200 pounds, per Gontal. 02 ose ees thrifty stock-steers, 900 to. I, 300 pounds, cental good to choice corn- fat | Cherokees and Texans, per centaloy-2---=-c-nse2 inferior to common Cher- okees and Texans, per Gentalt AC eoe NL Pane Sheep: peeee woes e per cental. PR AN ECE NAL 3h SOM Se Ce Ole Horses, good working-animals, per head......- OSE ReeEA heavy work-horses, head Mules, 144 to 15 hands high, per head 15 to 15} hands high, per head 154 to 164 hands high, per head per NEW ORLEANS. Cattle, Texas beeves, choice, per head first quality..--. per head. second quality.-.-..- docl:: western beeves, net, per Cental! 25 22 2-e reer ee milch-cows...--- per head Choice <5 3see2 9. /-2e dor: | CALY.OB sis cecen emesis dome Sheep, first quality .....-. dost second quality....-.. do... Swine, gross weight--.per cental. e — De Price. $4 00 to $4 35 300 to 400 2.50,xto yao has 425 to 4 75 2:75 “to Varia 160 to 250 350 to 4 00 2 %S "bo Jae 350 to 3 90 3 70 to 4 00 500 to 5 50 450 to 500 375 to 425 400 to 4 50 309 to 3 50 250 to 400 1 25 to 2 00 300 to 3 62 350 to 3 7a 100 60 to125 00 130 00 to175 00 85 00 to 100 00 110 00 to 145 00 150 00 to175 00 — — to 50 00 35 00 to 45 00 20 00 to 38 00 10 00 to 12 50 35 00 to. 50 00 80 00 to 100 00 700 to 10 00 400 to 5 00 300 to 4 00 600 to 7 00 ole FOREIGN MARKETS. WHEAT.—The dependence of Europe upon American wheat was sel- dom more apparent or more distinctly recognized than at the present. British commercial journals awaited with some anxiety the result of our monetary crisis, especially with reference to its influence upon our breadstuffs export. The quality of American wheat of the crop of 1873 already received in England has given special satisfaction Supplies were arriving in excellent condition to an extent which visibly affected prices in the United Kingdom. Continental Europe, at the close of October, had shown no tendency to a large export. In France there was a continued though slow improvement of prices generally, though a few country markets showed a downward tendency. The French small farmers had generally sold out their stocks. Arrivals at Odessa and Taganrog were so moderate that exporters found the rates too. high for profitable shipment to British markets. The harvests of Russia were so very unequal and the surplus crop of some provinces were required to meet the deficiencies of others to an extent which renders reliance upon that country, to say the least, very problematical. Ger- many manifested no anxiety for British orders. The local decline previ- ously noted at a few points had ceased. The Mark Lane Express of October 27, in speculating upon the probabilities of a scarce winter, suggested that this country might meet an extra demand by an extra consumption of maize, a cereal which very poorly bears transportation. Australia was ready with a large shipment, and considerable supplies were hoped for from the west coast of South America, yet the general outlook was toward short.supplies and high prices. The last week of October opened upon small supplies of English wheat in Mark Lane markets, with heavy arrivals of foreign, more than half of which were from New York. Well-dried English samples sold at an advance of 1s. upon the previous rates: others were neglected. Ameri- can red was rather against buyers. The London weekly averages for October were as follows: 63s. 5d. on 3,751 quarters; 63s. 7d. on 4,088 quarters ; 63s. 9d. on 2,059 quarters; 62s. Od. on 3,152 quarters. The imports of foreign wheat during those four weeks amounted to 3,723,116 quarters. Essex and Kent white wheat was quoted in Mark Lane at the close of October at 52s. to 66s. per quarter; ditto red, 54s. to 62s.; Norfolk, Lincolshire, and Yorkshire, 53s. to 58s. Foreign wheats—Dantzic, mixed, 62s. to 66s.; ditto, extra, 68s. to 71s.; Konigs- berg, 62s. to 66s. ; ditto, extra, 68s. to 71s.; Rostock, 61s. to 66s.; ditto, old, 70s.; Siberian, red, 57s. to 61s.; ditto, white, 62s. to 64s.; Pomera- nian, Mecklenburg, and Uckermark, red, 6ls. to 65s.; Ghirka, 55s. to 60s.; Russian, hard, 52s. to 56s.; Saxonska, 60s. to 63s.; Danish and Holstein, red, 61s. to 63s.; American, 55s. to 59s.; Chilian, white, 63s. ; Californian, 65s.; Australian, 65s. to 66s. In Liverpool American white wheat per cental was quoted at 12s. 6d. to 12s. 9d.; red winter and southern, 13s. to 13s. 6d.; No. 1 spring, 12s. to 12s. 2d.; spring No. 2, 11s. 6d. to 11s. 9d.; Canadian, white, 13s. to 13s. 4d.; ditto, red, 12s. to 12s. 6d.; California, white, 12s. 8d. to 13s. 2d.; Chil- ian, white, 12s. 4d. to 12s. 6d.; Australian, white, 13s. 4d. to 13s. 6d.; Spanish, white, 12s. 10d. to 13s. 4d.: Danubian, 7s. to 9s.; Ghirka, 11s. Gd. to 12s. 2d.; Egyptian, Saida, 10s. 4d. to 10s. 8d.; Behera, 10s. 3d. to 10s. 4d.; Buhi, 12s. 3d. to 12s. 6d. a Le eee en ; Te ri ty cy ate % The Panis eat fas was very firm, with’ a quarter. se White brought 73s. per quai and foreign, maintained their tone. The Paris flour trade w - to 5s. 4d. A full supply of animals is noted, but indifferent t qual é Blanquillo, y OEY ulledolid and Arevalo, were quoted at Havre, at. 0s . Od. ; American, winter at 66s.; ditto, sp y FLour.—The last week in October opened’ upon good country flour in the London market, with fair arrivals in bon United States, which were met by a more active demand. @ importation did not lower the rates, as all fine qualities, bot with an upward tendency. The range of prices for consump 52s. 8d. to 56s. per 280 pounds. In Mark Lane the best town ho commanded 50s. to 57s. per 280 pounds; best country househol to 57s.; Norfolk and Suffolk, 39s. to 44s. Americam brought 28 per barrel; extras, 30s. to 33s. In Liverpool English and . fines were ‘quoted at 44s. to 45s. 6d. per 280 pounds; extrad to 50s.; French superfine, 50s. to 57s.; Spanish, 49s, to 59, and Hungarian, 66s. to 75s. 6d.; Chilian and Californian, 46s American, per barrel, We stern. State, 30s. to 32s.; extra. ‘ditto 34s. 6d.; Baltimore and Philadelphia, 30s. to 35s. ; Canadian, 3. Maize.—In London American white maize was quoted at 3) per quarter; ditto, yellow, 31s. to 34s. In Liverpool America brought 34s. to 34s. 6d. per 480 pounds; ditto, yellow, 33s. to Danubian, 31s. to 32s. 6d.; Galatz, 34s. to 34s. 6d. The amount entered for home consuinption in the United Kingdom 40k th closing October 31 was 47,324 cwts. Woou.—The English wool market was quiet but firm, prices I well supported. Southdown hoggets, 1s. ‘Sd. to-dest Side per » half-breed ditto, 1s. 9d. to 1s. 93d.; Kent fleeces, 1s, 8d.. to Southdown ewes and wethers, 1s, 43d. to 1s. dd.; Leicester ditto, to 1s. 93d. . LIvE-stock.—In London live'stock quotations for the last October were as follows: Cattle, eoarse and inferior, per 8 poun sink the offal,) 4s. 4d. to 4s. 10d.; second quality, 5s. to 5s. 4d.5 large oxen, 5s. 10d. to 6s.; prime Scots, short-horns, &e., 6s. 2d. 4d. Sheep, coarse and inferior, 4s. 4d. to "48, 10d.; second quality, to 5s. 10d.; prime coarse- wooled, Gs. 4d. to 6s. 6d. s ; prime Sout 6s. 8d. to 6s. 10d. Calves, large ‘and Sa, 4s. 2d. to 4s. 64.5 small, 5s. to 5s. 4d. Hogs, large, 4s. 6d. to 4s, 10d.;, small porkers, ; well as bad weather had restricted sales. ° a So Ee SER, ae ie aE SG pea ei