this crop, after deducting sufficient for the home consumption will allow at least 14,000,000 of bushels for exportation.

In Indiana and Illinois both the cut and army worms made their appearance, and the crop was somewhat injured by them; but the aggregate of the crop was large. Here, as in Ohio and some of the other States, an increased quantity of land was devoted to this crop, and the yield was much more than an average one. Indeed, the increase has by some been rated as high as fifty per cent. Some idea of the increase of the trade in wheat here may be formed from the fact that from Chicago there was shipped to Buffalo, in 1840, only 20,000 bushels, while in 1841, in the same period, not less than 200,000 bushels of wheat were shipped. The quantity during the same period last year was doubtless much larger. For the year 1843 it is said that the fall of 1842 one half more seed has been put into the ground than in any previous season in Illinois; so that, if the coming season should prove favorable a still greater crop may be expected.

In Missouri, also the wheat crop was slightly affected by the army and eut worms, but it proved to be an unusually large one, not less, according to some estimates, than 25 per cent. better. From Arkansas, too, the accounts are equally favorable, and the growth of the last year has been pronounced by some to have been at least double.

In Michigan, likewise, which is destined to be one of the greatest wheatgrowing States, there has been an unusual advance on the preceding years. The quantity which had just been brought under successful cultivation was large the sudden rise of price about the time of putting in the seed, and the favorable season, are also causes to which the great increase may be attributed. It is thought that there has been at least 50 per cent. more sown, and the yield from 25 to 50 per cent. larger. The surplus is great, and the nearness to the Canadas will no doubt enable many of the enterprising farmers of Michigan to derive a handsome profit from their labor. In the southwestern section of the State portions of the crop were injured by threshing it out in wet or damp weather. The fertile sections of the Territories of Iowa and Wisconsin also, by the increased production of last year, promise much hereafter.

The wheat lands in the west are so rich in the proper qualities, that probably for years no injurious effects of a constant succession of this crop need be apprehended; but in western New York, and perhaps in some of the earlier settled sections of Ohio, there is some danger, and the attention of the people has been called to the subject. Liebig, the distinguished author, speaking of Virginia, says: "Harvests of wheat and tobacco were obtained for a century from one and the same field without the aid of manure; but now whole district are converted into pasture land, which, without manure, produces neither wheat nor tobacco. From every acre of this land there were removed in the space of 100 years, 1,200 lbs. of alkavies in leaves, grain, and straw; it became unfruitful, therefore, because it was deprived of every particle of alkali, which had been reduced to a soluble state, and because that which was rendered soluble again in the space of one year, was not sufficient to satisfy the demands of the plants. It is the greatest possible mistake to suppose that the temporary diminution of the fertility in a soil is owing to the loss of the humus; it is a mere consequence of the exhaustion of the alkalies." This is high authority, though it has been questioned by some writers in the agricultural papers. It is important, therefore, that the wheat lands should be kept up by the use of manures; they

will supply those qualities of the soil which are thus exhausted. For this purpose a rotation of crops also is recommended; as it has been found, and this seems to be the true secret of the benefit of the rotation of crops, that after wheat has been harvested from a field, some other plant will restore the alkali so abstracted, and thus bring back the soil to its pristine fertility. Some products do not so far affect the soil but that by manure they may be kept up on the same field for a long time; some also improve the soil; others only impoverish it, while by others still it is supposed to be entirely exhausted. To this latter class among others belongs wheat. Saltpetre and nitrate of potash are mentioned in the late work of Professor Johnston on agricultural chymistry, as most valuable manures for wheat; and he proposes various modes to ascertain which of these two is the better adapted to the purpose. With regard to wheat also, it may be observed on the authority of the celebrated Sprengel, professor of agriculture in Brunswick, that the best grain for bread is not the best grain for seed; that we may increase the nutritious quality by the manure, but for seed this highly nutritious wheat is unsuitable. "Seed corn" (i. e. wheat), he says, " must contain the different ingredi. ents in due proportions; if any one of them be deficient or in excess, the plant will be proportionably imperfect. This was the result of careful analysis of a great variety of grain grown on an equal variety of soil. Some soils always produce good seed grain, while others are found which seldom do it. The first are never rich in humus or nitrogen, but well supplied with lime, magnesia, potash, salt, phosphates, and sulphates. Corn or wheat manured with sheep dung contains too much gluten for seed grain, which in germination reacts so powerfully on the starch as to overpress the conversion into sugar (the chief nourishment of the germe), and produce vinegar. The best seed wheat must contain much starch and little gluten; thus the starch is gradually converted into sugar. Hence, seed grain should not be raised on very rich and highly manured soil; for this would derange the natural proportions of gluten and starch, while the grain would be the better for bread. This may be the secret of grain and potatoes deteriorating in highly cultivated districts.'

The cause of the rust in wheat and other grain is exciting increased attention, and the doctrine which seems to be now gaining advocates, is that it is owing to an excess of nourishment. Respecting the Hessian fly, Mr. W. H. Hill, in the Nashville Agriculturist, says, that for 15 years his wheat-field did not feel the effect of it, while others did so in his vicinity: he sunned his wheat two days before planting, and besides, chose large full grains by passing it through a sieve. An interesting letter relating to the Mediterranean wheat, and showing that it was unaffected by the fly, may be found in Appendix No. 1.

The entire aggregate of the wheat crop of the United States was 102,317,540 bushels, being an increase of 10 per cent., or 10,674,683 bushels,. on last year. The price of wheat has been affected by the quantity raised, and various other causes. Much less has been used for distillation. In the single State of New York there has probably been a decrease from this cause of 3,000,000 bushels, as there has been a falling off of the manufacture of ardent spirits of 10,000,000 gallons. The introduction of threshing machines deserves mention in this connexion. In many places these are driving out of use the flail; persons travel about with them and thresh out the grain for from 3 to 5 cents per bushel, and they will thus thresh large quantities in a single day. The price of horse-power and threshing machines

is now so reduced, that the farmer either singly or by combination, will find his advantage in purchasing the same, thus reducing the expense of their umeshing to one half the cost of hiring.

Furiey-There is reason to believe that this crop has made, if any, no material advance the past year. The attention of the public has been so successfully directed to the discontinuance of the malt liquor which possesses sa mexicating quality, that the encouragement offered for its cultivation is becoming less from year to year. Except in New York the amount raised is not large. The information gained as to its yield is also less certain than with regard to most other crops. It forms so small a proportion, that it is often passed over as not deserving the notice in the general record, which, in many cases, is confined to the leading products. It is believed, however, to have been similarly affected with the other grains. The aggregate crop of the past year is estimated at 3,871,622 bushels. This species of grain Lou. don considers as next in importance to wheat in Great Britain. In Sweden and Lapland it is more cultivated than any other grain, on account of requiring to be so short a period in the soil; sometimes not longer than six weeks, and seldom more than seven and a half. In Spain and Sicily they have two crops a year on the same soil. The climate in which it delights is warm and dry; and it is said there are instances of its being sown and ripened without having enjoyed a single shower of rain. In parts of Great Britain it is in considerable use as a material for bread, and also for fattening black cattle, hogs, and poultry. As it is a tender plant, and more easily injured than wheat, it is also more expensive of cultivation. In a country like ours, where wheat is so abundant, the inducement to raise it is comparatively small.

Oats. This is a larger crop than all the other cereal grains, as it is also the hardiest of them, except maize or Indian corn. It is one which, to some extent, is affected by the season similarly with that of wheat; though coming into harvest later, it may not suffer to the same extent from the rains of August. The past year has been more favorable to oats than was the year previous. It will be recollected that the crop of 1841 was estimated as under an average one; in 1842, it is thought to have been above an average one. In the New England States, where it ranks higher in amount than any other grain, it was a good crop. In New York, which produces the greatest amount, it was unusually large; a greater quantity was sown, and the yield per acre was estimated at twenty-five, thirty, or even fifty per cent. better than the year previous. The late sowed in some cases were injured by the rains of September; but even with this deduction, the crop was probably the greatest ever known. In New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, it is described as having been a good crop. In Virginia it was, forthe most part, better than an average one; in some sections of the State thirty per cent. more; in some others it was destroyed by the forty days' rain of the summer. In North Carolina, Georgia, and Kentucky, the crop was "good," an "increased" one, "very fine," twenty or twenty-five per cent. better than in 1841. In Tennessee, Louisiana, and Ohio, with some exceptions, the crop of oats has been estimated by judges at an advance on the year 1811. The same was the case with Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, and Missouri, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Arkansas and Louisiana raise but comparatively a small amount. The whole aggregate of this crop the past year, is estimated at 150,883,617 bushels.

Rye.-Pennsylvania is the greatest producer of this crop, and from various sections of the State the report is that it has proved "a good one," "an av

erage" one, "a full crop," "twenty per cent. better," "one third in advance" of the last years. In New York, too, which ranks next in the amount raised, it seems to have been unusually large-"twenty per cent. more" in some parts of the State than years past. In the New England States, also, the crop was a good one. In Virginia it was subject to the same vicissitudes as the wheat crop. In Kentucky, where considerable quantities are raised, it was better than last year. The same was likewise the case with Ohio. The entire aggregate of this crop amounts to 22,762,952 bushels.

Buckwheat.-Nearly two thirds of this crop is raised in the three States of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. In New York the increase is thought to have been from twenty to thirty per cent. In New Jersey, though it suffered somewhat from the frost, yet it was, on the whole, a good crop. In Pennsylvania it is described as having been in different parts "not so good as in 1841," "an ordinary, a full crop," or "one third in advance of former years." In South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas, scarcely any is raised. In Ohio it bore about the same per centage as the other crops. The entire crop is estimated at $9,483,409 bushels. McCulloch says that about 10,000 quarters, or 80,000 bushels, are annually imported into Great Britain.

Maize, or Indian Corn.-With slight exceptions, this favorite crop seems to have been a large one the past year. Nearly every State in the Union reports a considerable gain. The notices, however, are modified now and then by allusions to unfavorable seasons, and causes injurious to its growth. In New England it was larger than in the previous years. In Maine it is described as "good," "fifteen" and even "thirty-three" per cent. higher. In New Hampshire, "fine, matured, without frost," "ten per cent.,' twentyfive per cent.," and by some even as a double crop," and the increase is attributed to the season, as respects the rain, &c., while in other portions of the State the early dry and cold season is said to have nearly ruined many fields, so that it was at least from twenty to fifty per cent. worse. In the other New England States the report, on the whole, is favorable.

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In New York, in the river counties, and in the southern and northern section for the most part, it was good, perhaps fifteen per cent. better than in the year previous. In the Mohawk valley the first crop is pronounced to have been fifteen per cent. better, but the second one (replanting) ten or fifteen per cent. worse. In the western section of the State, owing to the unusually wet and cold weather of May and June, the crop fell off, it is thought, fifty per cent. In New Jersey, also, there seems to have been a perceptible decrease.

In Pennsylvania, with few exceptions, it appears to have been less than average; in some sections one-half or one fifth decrease, much rain in the planting season having injured it. In other parts, however, it is said to have been an increase of at least from twenty to thirty per cent. on former years, The same diversity existed in Maryland. In some parts of the State the crop was an increased one, or better than in 1841. In the early part of the summer this crop suffered most severely on the eastern shore from the army worm, and in the principal corn-growing counties of Somerset and Worcester the crop has proved an entire failure. These counties have heretofore been considerable exporters, furnishing more than any other two counties in the State, and they now have not enough for home consumption. The extent of the loss may be seen from the statement that where 2,000 bushels usually grows the past year there was but 200; only 10 bushels instead of 800, 80

is now so reduced, that the farmer either singly or by combination, will find Es savantage in purchasing the same, thus reducing the expense of their threshing to one half the cost of hiring.

Farley-There is reason to believe that this crop has made, if any, no material advance the past year. The attention of the public has been so successfully directed to the discontinuance of the malt liquor which possesses an intoxicating quality, that the encouragement offered for its cultivation is becoming less from year to year. Except in New York the amount raised is not large. The information gained as to its yield is also less certain than with regard to most other crops. It forms so small a proportion, that it is often passed over as not deserving the notice in the general record, which, in many cases, is confined to the leading products. It is believed, however, to have been similarly affected with the other grains. The aggregate crop of the past year is estimated at 3,871,622 bushels. This species of grain Loudon considers as next in importance to wheat in Great Britain. In Sweden and Lapland it is more cultivated than any other grain, on account of requiring to be so short a period in the soil; sometimes not longer than six weeks, and seldom more than seven and a half. In Spain and Sicily they have two crops a year on the same soil. The climate in which it delights is warm and dry; and it is said there are instances of its being sown and ripened without having enjoyed a single shower of rain. In parts of Great Britain it is in considerable use as a material for bread, and also for fattening black cattle, hogs, and poultry. As it is a tender plant, and more easily injured than wheat, it is also more expensive of cultivation. In a country like ours, where wheat is so abundant, the inducement to raise it is comparatively small.

Oats. This is a larger crop than all the other cereal grains, as it is also the hardiest of them, except maize or Indian corn. It is one which, to some extent, is affected by the season similarly with that of wheat; though coming into harvest later, it may not suffer to the same extent from the rains of August. The past year has been more favorable to oats than was the year previous. It will be recollected that the crop of 1841 was estimated as under an average one; in 1842, it is thought to have been above an average one. In the New England States, where it ranks higher in amount than any other grain, it was a good crop. In New York, which produces the greatest amount, it was unusually large; a greater quantity was sown, and the yield per acre was estimated at twenty-five, thirty, or even fifty per cent. better than the year previous. The late sowed in some cases were injured by the rains of September; but even with this deduction, the crop was probably the greatest ever known. In New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, it is described as having been a good crop. In Virginia it was, for the most part, better than an average one; in some sections of the State thirty per cent. more; in some others it was destroyed by the forty days' rain of the summer. In North Carolina, Georgia, and Kentucky, the crop was "good," an "increased" one, "very fine," twenty or twenty-five per cent. better than in 1841. In Tennessee, Louisiana, and Ohio, with some exceptions, the crop of oats has been estimated by judges at an advance on the year 1841. The same was the case with Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, and Missouri, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Arkansas and Louisiana raise but comparatively a small amount. The whole aggregate of this crop the past year, is estimated at 150,883,617 bushels.

Rye.-Pennsylvania is the greatest producer of this crop, and from various sections of the State the report is th it has proved a good one," "an av