. MONTHLY llEPORT. 



Departmemt of Agriculture, 



Washington, D. C, December 20, 1866. 



In the present report for the months of November and December will be found 

 a variety of interesting and impoi'tant matter. Facts and suggestions concern- 

 ing southern industry and resources will command the attention of political econ- 

 omists and business men of all sections of the country. However the political 

 questions affecting the rehabilitation of this section may be settled, it is plainly 

 the interest of every inhabitant of this broad land to utilize the hidden wealth 

 and latent power of the fields and streams, mines and forests of half a continent. 

 I am particularly anxious to do all in my power to secure the renovation of the 

 worn and abandoned soils of that section of our agricultural domain. The work 

 of the chemical laboratory, and its promised results, are indicated in a brief arti- 

 cle. It is believed that much may be accomplished for the progress of agricul- 

 ture by this instrumentality. A continuation of the history of cotton insects, 

 by the entomologist, will excite attention, it is hoped, to renewed scientific and 

 practical efforts to lessen the enormous losses to agriculture from insect depreda- 

 tions. One per cent, upon the cash value of cotton destroyed by insects the 

 present year would far more than suffice to pay salaries to an entomologist and 

 several assistants in every State in the Union. To be sure, such a corps of sci- 

 entific men could not point out the means of totally preventing such ravages, 

 but if the science of entomology is not an utter failure and deception, hex-e is a 

 field for improvement that might be occupied with eminent success. 



Interesting statistics from foreign official sources, and from United States con- 

 suls in foreign lands, will be found to comprise new and valuable additions to 

 the popular stock of statistical knoAvledge. 



A final sumniaiy for the year is given of various farm ci-ops, and, in part'cu- 

 lar, full and careful estimates of the products of corn and cotton. 



In the next report will appear a full statement of the prices of the various 

 kinds of agricultural labor in the several States and Territories, which will fur- 

 nish material for study to the political economist and business men of this and 

 European countries. 



I. NEWTON, 

 Cummissioner. 



