289 



many flocks of coarse -wooled sheep were seen, shorn of their wool by a disease 

 called the 'scab,' resulting, possibly, from being badly wintered. Fine-wooled 

 sheep are in fine condition " 



In some localities it is stated that the sheep were in poor condition in conse- 

 quence of the poor quality of last year's hay. In one case " more than half the 

 lambs died, the ewes not giving sufficient milk." 



Appanoose county, Iowa. — "Owing to the extreme scarcity and high price of 

 feed last yeai% the sheep were very poor, and large numbers died of want. This 

 year they are nearly all in excellent condition. Large numbers of stock sheep, 

 are fat enough for mutton, and consequently the crop of wool per head will be 

 greatly in excess of ISG/^." 



Decatur county, Iowa. — "Wool being low, many sheep died from want of 

 attention." 



At New Ulm, Minnesota, " sheep were lost for want of shelter and good hay." 



CASUAL NOTES. 



"Mast.'' — A correspondent in Braxton, the central county of West Virginia, 

 says there was a very abundant crop of acorns last year, so that the hogs came 

 in very fat, and the quality of the meat was good ; and the report is that there 

 is a good prospect for another crop of acorns. • 



Seed iclieat distribution. — Farmers in many localities have acknowledged that 

 their best and earliest wheat is from seed distributed by the Department of Ag- 

 riculture during the past four years. Some have written of sales of considerable 

 quantities of it at $3 50 to $4 per bushel. In some localities the Tappahaunock 

 variety has met with excellent success. A correspondent at Superior City, on 

 Lake Superior, writes: "The seed wheat sent by the Commissioner is working 

 well, and is all the wheat that is now growing at the head of the lake." 



Late frosts. — In Greene county, Indiana, a" frost on the 29th of June is re- 

 ported — the latest in forty years. The corn was frosted, but recovered from the 

 shock. 



Immigration. — A heavy immigration into Kansas from other States is reported. 

 The crops were probably never excelled in that State in luxuriance and promise 

 of plenty, a fact which constitutes another of the magnets which are drawing 

 population in that direction. 



Imports of sJieep and lamhs into Great Britain. — The great demand for 

 sheep and lambs for food, at the present time, is shown by the following state- 

 ment of imports: In May, 1S66, 79,481 head; in May, 1865, 63,284 ; in May, 

 1864, 32,816. In the five months ending May 31, total imports of sheep and 

 lambs were 324,278 head ; in the corresponding period of 1865, 159,418 head ; 

 in 1864, 91,194. 



Australian wool. — In 1855 the Australian settlements sent to Great Britain 

 49,142,306 pounds of wool. In 1S65 the total had risen to 109,734,261 pounds. 



Imports of onions into Great Britain. — Holland sent 290,812 bushels ; Bel- 

 gium 115,413 bushels; France 106,663 bushels; Portugal 102,969 bushels; 

 and various other countries 13,821 bushels. The total actual value being set 

 down at 490,973 bushels ; the average prices varying from 5s. lid. to 17s. lOd. 

 per bushel ; the former having reference to the produce of Portugal, the latter 

 to that of Belgium. 



