387 



THE CROPS OF PRUSSIA. 



From a commuDication of Consul H. Kraismann, consul at Berlin, to the 

 State Department, we are permitted to make the following extracts, showing a 

 favorable condition of the crops of Prussia for the present season : 



" I beg to transmit herewith a brief account of this year's crops and harvest 

 in Prussia, which may not be wholly without interest to our agricultural depart- 

 ment. Reports received from all parts of the Prussian monarchy represent the 

 yield as fully an average one. Hye, in grain, even exceeds this ; the yield in 

 straw also being very fine. Wheat has suffered considerably from insects and 

 other casualties ; still, there is a fair average crop. Barley yields much more than 

 an average crop. Of oats there is a very rich and full crop. Potatoes promise 

 a very fine and full harvest, there being no substantial sign of the rot or disease 

 as yet. The same is true of beets, the sugar beet crop promising particularly 

 well. There has been a fair yield of meadow hay, but the first harvest of 

 clover hay has been poor, and the second will be better. The total result gives 

 Prussia all she wants for her own consumption, and leaves a very considerable 

 quantity for export." 



In the first quarter of the present year, as given in a Calcutta circular re- 

 ceived through the State Department from the port of Calcutta, there were 

 shipped 104,203 cowhides and 32,701 buffalo hides ; in the second quarter, 41,500 

 cowhides and 15,358 buffalo hides. Of sheepskins, 21,500 in the first quarter 

 and 3,000 in the second. Of goatskins, 289,500 in the first quarter, and 312,040 

 in the second. 



SOURCE OF BRITISH REVENUE. 



The opinion is prevalent among superficial observers who have heard the 

 phrase, " British free trade," that but little revenue is derived from customs. 

 The truth is, a larger proportion is obtained from customs than from excise, and 

 almost as much as from the excise, stamps, and income tax together. In pro- 

 portion to "internal revenue taxes " the United States income from customs is 

 far less than in Great Britain. The following statement shows the various 

 sources of British revenue in the years ending June 30, 1865 and 1866 : 



18G5. 1866. 



Customs $111, 520, 000 8106, 845, 000 



Excise 97,795,000 100,335,000 



Stamps 47, 405, 000 47, 765, 000 



Taxes 16,335,000 17,105,000 



Property tax 38,495,000 28,885,000 



Post office 20,550,000 21,750,000 



Crown lands 4, 057, 500 1, 605, 000 



Miscellaneous 14, 388, 780 14, 340, 000 



350, 546, 280 338, 630, 000 



