The whole result, therefore, of the facts collected seems to show that a most widespread increasing evil has attacked the potato crop, which bears many marks of being of the nature of an epidemic, and which, unless carefully guarded against by the best means in our power, may prove destructive in years to come. It may be, that, like the cholera and other diseases with reference to persons, there are certain states of the fruit, and also circumstances, which render them far more predisposed to it than otherwise; and that, though we may not be able utterly to ward off the disease in every case, we may furnish such preventives as will be effectual in checking its extensive progress. We believe that, as in Germany and England with regard to the diseases of this crop there prevalent, we shall thus be enabled to check much of the evil. If it should lead to greater care in the choice of seed and cultivation, the present evil may eventually prove a real benefit to the agricultural community and the people at large.

HAY.

The crop of hay we believe to have done well during the past year. There is, however, difficulty in gaining much accurate information respecting its amount, either comparatively or otherwise, except in some few States, because it is not considered an object of any particular interest; and in certain States, what little is raised is confined to some particular sections.

Take New England through, the hay crop has been a good one. The season was favorable for its growth and gathering, and it was generally secured in fine order. From Maine, under date of July 19, we hear to this effect: "At Belgrade, Waterville, Fairfield, and the whole vicinity, the hay crop appears well." In the southeastern part of the State it is said to have been a "fair crop-probably about 10 per cent. above last year's," (1843.) In the northern central section, it is described as being very large-never larger in the district;" though it is added, that a portion of it was not gathered, but rotted on the ground. By the editor of an agricultural paper, one thus well fitted to gain correct information, we are told that "a great crop of hay has been gathered in Maine this year. It is not common to have two such abundant yields as this and that of last year." It is probably by no means too large an estimate to put the increase at 25 per cent. over the crop of 1843.

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The notices from New Hampshire differ in the different sections of the State. While in the western part, bordering on the Connecticut river, the account is that it was "above an average;" "a very good crop;" than an average, but not so much as last year, when the quantity was extraordinary;""the quality this year is much better than the last;" in the southeastern part of the State, it is thought that there is "not more than two-thirds of a crop." Another, a good judge of crops, says of hay, compared with the crop of 1843, "better crop-increase one-fourth."

Taking the State through, there is probably an increase of about 20 per

cent.

In the lower part of Vermont, the crop was "a good one, but not so good as in the year previous"-probably "about 10 per cent. less." In the northeastern, there was about the same increase. In Chittenden county it was "abundant-the crop above mediocrity." In round numbers, for that county the crop is put at "65,000 tons." In the county of Grand Isle, hay is thought to have given about 12,000 tons. In the whole of that

section there has been a considerable increase, which, probably, is equal to 15 or 20 per cent. It would appear, therefore, that the whole crop, compared with that of 1843, was about 15 per cent. better.

As regards this crop in Massachusetts, the report is not favorable. The Boston Cultivator, of July 6, says that "the hay crop in this section is twothirds of the usual one." So the New England Farmer, of July 21, says "hay is said to be light near Boston." And again: the New England Farmer, of August 31, says "the hay crop, from 40 to 60 miles around Boston, is cut off one-third." At an earlier date, also, in Berkshire county, we are informed "the hay has fallen off." Corresponding to this is the subsequent information.

An informant, speaking of the northeastern section of the State, says: "On the sea coast, two-thirds of the usual crop; in the interior, a full average." In the northeast, towards the country, it probably fell short about 15 per cent., but it was secured in the best season. Another state

ment, from the central part of the State, is to this effect: "10 per cent. less than in 1843." We believe that, taking the whole State through, it fell off about 15 per cent.

In Rhode Island, the report from the western half of the State is, that it was "as good as usual on good lands, but on inferior land less than usual." In the eastern part, it is stated that there were about 7,000 tons, or 40 per cent. less than in 1843. For the whole crop, therefore, we allow 20 per cent. decrease, as compared with the crop of 1843.

The information which we have been able to obtain from Connecticut, with regard to the hay crop, is much of the same cast. In the central part of this State," it has been short," but there is said to be "sufficient to keep the stock." In the southeastern section, it is stated to have proved "a large crop." We think, on the whole, the crop has fallen off, though the rate of decrease from the crop of 1843 will not exceed 5 per cent.

There has been an average increase in the State of New York. The notices are, however, somewhat diverse in the various sections of the State. In a public journal at Albany, in July, it is said: "The hay harvest in this vicinity is over, and the crop has been secured in good condition, but it is lighter than an average."

From a New York paper of the same month, we learn respecting that vicinity: "Grass upon old meadows is quite light, and in some instances the farmers will not make hay enough to winter their stock, when usually they have had a surplus. On our meadows the yield is very large."

Yet later in August, the following notice is found in one of the public journals of that city: "The spring was highly favorable for grass, and both the high and low meadows presented a most luxuriant growth; so much so, that hay-making commenced a week earlier than usual. The weather during the whole month has been in the finest possible order. Some of our farmers have got all their hay under cover, without getting wet by even a single shower. We have never seen our barns and hay barracks better filled. July is always one of our severest and most trying months, and pastures are more apt to be parched than during any month in the year. This month has been an exception, and the grass has looked fresher than common. The cattle have been able to get a good nip, and look uncommonly fat and sleek."

In western New York, the same crop is thus described in July: "Hay light; on old meadows not half a crop; on new meadows large burdens."

Again, at Buffalo, still later: "The month of August has been very wet. and unpleasant; so much so, that hay-making has been carried on at great loss and expense. There is quite a quantity of grass not yet mown, and in some places farmers have had their hay in cocks for the last three weeks. The quantity of hay raised this year will not be any thing like such as last." Somewhat earlier, in Steuben county, "the crop of hay is as good as the farmer can ask, and the weather favorable for the harvest." In Genesee county, it is said to have been a "fair crop." At Utica, the grass crop was "light." In Onondaga county and vicinity, "good." In Orange county, July 5th, "abundant." In Queens county, on Long Island, "good."

So far as we can judge from further notices of correspondents, they give similar accounts. At the north, bordering on the St. Lawrence, there was "a full crop." In Jefferson, the increase is rated as high as from "50 to 60 per cent." Along the lake, from the central part of the State to the western boundary, the account is favorable-such as Madison and Oswego, "an average crop;" Cayuga and Cortland, "good;" Yates, "average;" Genesee and Wyoming, " 10 per cent. over that of 1843;" in Seneca and Wayne, "about a medium crop"-with the exception of Tompkins and Chemung, where it was an average crop, on account of drought; and Onondaga county, where we are told "the hay crop was about 15 per cent. lighter than last year, (1843,) owing, it is thought, to cold and wet weather in May, and hard frost about the 22d of May." Another informant likewise adds the drought as a reason. The crop of Cattaraugus county is also said to have been "uncommonly fine."

In Niagara county, we are informed, "this crop has been above an average, except on old meadows, or lands which have been in grass several years. In such cases, it has been light; but most of our farmers mow only two seasons, then plough up for corn or wheat. Where a regular rotation of crops is pursued, the hay crop was good. Average, it is estimated, about 10 per cent. above 1843."

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From the central counties, the crop along the Mohawk valley is judged to have been about the same as last year. In Otsego and Schoharie, "a light crop; not as good as last year." In Rensselaer, "a full crop." The information respecting the river counties is, that it was "good;" "about the same as in 1843;""average crop." In the county of Orange, we have it from high authority: "Our crop this year is about an average one. increased fertility of our lands gives a larger yield per acre than we formerly obtained. As, however, the area accessible to navigable waters is very limited, we find this an unprofitable crop toward exportation. Its great bulk, even when pressed, renders it impracticable to transport it by horse power to any considerable distance. About the same quantity of hay, barely sufficient for our home consumption, is generally raised from year to year." On review of the whole, while we allow a considerable falling off in some sections, we think it more than overbalanced by the gain in others; and we estimate the increase at 10 to 15 per cent. above the crop of 1843. In New Jersey the reports are in the different sections "about the same as last year;" "good;" and about "5 per cent. less." On the whole, there was, it is believed, a slight increase.

We have very little information respecting the progress of the growth of this crop in Pennsylvania, and considerable diversity exists respecting the amount gathered in the various sections. In some parts it suffered from the drought. Such was the case in Chester county, where it is thought to

have been "one quarter less," from this cause; also in Lancaster county, where it is stated that there was a "deficiency of nearly one-third," owing to the want of refreshing rain at the proper time. Further towards the centre, in Berks county, it is said to have been "more than an average yield, both in quantity and quality." In Dauphin, Lebanon, and Schuylkill counties, and vicinity, it is described as having been "a good crop." In the central counties, on the upper waters of the Susquehanna, the crop was "abundant." Further towards the west and south, embracing Huntingdon, Juniata, and some adjoining counties, the hay crop was "below the average." In Beaver and Washington, "about an average." In Somerset county, and the adjoining sections, "as good as in 1843." Armstrong and Clearfield-in the former, by the assessment, it was about 18,000 tons, "to us a poor crop, on account of the frost of the 1st of June;" and, in the latter, "an average crop." The crop in the northwestern section, also including Erie and some counties further to the east, along the lake and the State of New York, compared with that of 1843, is estimated at 20 per cent. increase; that in Columbia and Luzerne, "a very good growth;" while in the vicinity of Philadelphia it was but "about middling." The whole crop was probably a greater one than that of 1843, by about 10 to 15 per cent.

Hay in Maryland fell off, owing to the dry weather in the spring and early part of the season, probably full 25 per cent. It is, however, a larger crop in some sections than in 1840.

In the eastern part of Virginia, on the whole, there was about an average crop, though in some places it was diminished by the drought; west of the mountains it was better, and the increase was probably about 10 per cent. As compared with the crop of 1843, there was perhaps a small advanceprobably 5 per cent. Very little is raised in many portions of the State.

In North Carolina-so far as any attention is paid to it—in the northwest, it was an "average crop ;" in the southwest, "very fine;" and in the central part of the State, "one-third less, on account of the drought." Probably the whole average crop is a slight increase, but the quantity raised is small.

This is the case in all the Southern States-scarcely any hay is raised; and this year, in parts of Georgia, the crops of grain were so good, that hay was not put up for the feed of the stock.

In Tennessee, also, the hay crop did not vary much from that of the previous year. In Kentucky, in some sections, it is mentioned as being a good crop-equal to that of last year; in others, equal to "one-third" more. Probably there was an increase of about 20 per cent., as attention seems to be somewhat more turned to it.

The crop of hay also gained in Ohio. In the Miami valley, it is said by a good judge," the hay crop was unusually fine; but a large part of it was lost in curing, owing to wet weather at the time of cutting." In the central counties, we are informed that there was "25 per cent. increase," owing to a "wet spring." In the northwestern section, bordering on Indiana and the lake, "hay has been large-a very heavy crop." Still further from this, to the east, along the lake, there was an increase of 25 per cent. In the northeast central section, also bordering on the lake, the report is: "Seldom better; the weather for cutting it was fine. Many farmers received their whole crop without a drop of rain. There is a very decided increase over the last year's crop." So somewhat lower down, on the Reserve, and bordering on Pennsylvania, also towards the centre of the

State, we are told that "hay is so abundant that it is selling at $3 per ton." In the eastern central counties, on the Ohio river, "the crop is at least an average one;" while in the southeastern section of the State there was "a full crop, and of a good quality." From all these notices, it is evident that there was an average increase in Ohio of 25 to 30 per cent. over the crop of 1843.

In the State of Indiana, also, the crop of hay was better than usual; though allowance must be made, as in other crops, for the overflow from the rivers, by which a portion of the grass product was destroyed. In the southeastern counties, inclining towards the south, on the Ohio river, there was" an average crop." In the vicinity of Dearborn, Ripley, and Franklin counties, it was "good as usual." In the central, part of the State, it was "good." In the southwestern counties, bordering also on the Wabash river, "the crop was very heavy and good, though some of it was injured by wet in harvesting." In the counties still further north, and nearly central, on the Wabash, west, there was "about an average crop ;" while on the northwest section, bordering on Illinois, it was probably about "25 per cent. over the last year." From the above account, it is evident that there was a very considerable increase in the crop of hay in Indiana over that of 1843, and it probably may be fairly estimated at from 20 to 25 per cent.

Similar accounts are furnished with regard to Illinois. In the southeastern section, on the Wabash, towards the central part of the State, the crop was "good." In the southwest, on the Mississippi, and embracing the counties of Randolph and Monroe, and others in their vicinity, we are told that the hay crop was "very abundant-about 20 per cent. over last year's;" "the best we have had for some years;" while, still further north, it was probably "10 per cent. better" than in the previous year. By one, in the northern section of the State, who is a good judge on such subjects, we are informed that this crop is "more cultivated each year, as the wild grass fails," and that the increase is equal to 30 per cent. He remarks, further: "Hay is becoming a crop with us. Sheep and dairy both demand it." With these data, among others, we feel warranted in fixing the estimate for the average increase of the hay crop for Illinois at from 20 to 25 per cent. over that of 1843.

In Missouri, so far as we have gained any information respecting this crop, it was also good. The amount raised is not great, but there seems to have been a gradual increase. Probably, it was equal to from 15 to 20 per

cent.

Michigan raises a tolerably large crop of hay, and the notices from that State for the last crop are quite favorable. Thus, in the eastern section, it is described as having been "far superior to the last year's crop ;" and perhaps the increase was "equal to 25 per cent." In the western counties it is thought to have been "10 per cent. better." In the eastern and northern, English hay was never better; marsh hay poor, as the season was too wet. The whole increase was probably about 20 per cent.

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The crops, likewise, of Iowa and Wisconsin were good; at least, it is believed, 20 per cent. increase on the crop of 1843.

The whole amount of the hay crop for the United States, for the year 1844, therefore, is estimated at 17,715,000 tons.

Hay is beginning to be some what exported; and could a means be devised of compressing it into still less bulk, and yet without injury to the hay itself, it is possible that larger quantities might be taken to foreign markets.