35 
anywhere heard it called “hardhack.” That name, I suppose, belongs everywhere to 
Spirea tomentosa, L. This last abounds in the wet and stony pastures of New Eng- 
Jand, especially of Northern New England. But, where most abundant, it, the hard- 
hack, is far from being a nuisance. The leaves and young shoots are rich in tannin, 
and once in three years the plant is mowed, cured, and sold to the tanners, at prices 
which afford a fair profit for the use of the land. An intelligent and successful farmer 
in Middle New Hampshire informed me that the discovery that hardhack conld be so 
utilized had increased the value of their low and wet lands. Both the Potentilla 
Jruticosa and the hardhack (Spirea tomentosa) are pretty shrubs. 
FACTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. 
RAILROAD FREIGHTS.—The burden of railroad freights is a heavy 
tax upon agriculture which is sorely felt at present from two causes; the 
increase 1n production, which reduces prices, and the advance of freight- 
rates by railroads, which tends to depress prices still further. The evil 
is becoming unendurable, and should be remedied by the speediest and 
wisest method practicable. Hon. Samuel Shellabarger, of Ohio, has in- 
troduced into the House of Representatives the following bill to secure 
uniformity in rates of local and through freight : 
Be it resolved, §c., That the compensation authorized and contemplated by the second 
section of the act of the fifteenth of June, anno Domini eighteen hundred and sixty- 
six, entitled “An act to facilitate commercial, postal, and military communication 
among the several States,” for the several descriptions of service named in said section, 
shall be charged at uniform rates per mile for the transportation of the same amount 
‘and description of freight, and the same description of passengers; and way-passen- 
gers and freight shall not be subjected to higher rates of charge per mile than the 
lowest rates charged by the same line, for the same services, over any other part of 
the said line; and any person or persons who shall be subjected to, or demanded to 
pay, any excessive charge in violation of the provisions of this act, may recover, from 
the party making the charge, such excess so either demanded or paid, together with 
costs and reasonable counsel fees, in any court of competent jurisdiction: Provided, 
That the provisions of this act shall not prohibit any common carrier, coming within 
its provisions, from receiving just compensation for the necessary expenses of lading 
and unlading way-freights: And provided, moreover, That the provisions of this act 
shall apply to all common carriers in carrying passengers or freight on their way from 
one State to or through another State. 
. 
IMPORTS AND CONSUMPTION OF COFFEE IN THE UNITED STATES.— 
In 1872 there were imported (into all except the Pacific States) 277,636,- 
258 pounds of coffee; exported, 5,856,700 pounds; retained in the 
eountry, 271,779,558 pounds. In 1871 there were imported 322,700,479 
pounds; exported, 5,768,695 pounds; retained in the country, 316,931,- 
784 pounds ; showing a decrease in 1872 of 45,152,226 pounds. By add- 
ing the stock on hand January 1, 1872, and deducting the stock on 
hand January 1, 1875, the actual decrease in consumption in 1872 is 
shown to be 44,891,027 pounds. In 1872, New York imported 165,252,428 
pounds—just about three-fifths of the total; the sources of the coffee sup- 
ply of the country will therefore be pretty fairly indicated by the ship- 
ments to New York. These were: from Brazil, 83,304,960 pounds; 
Maracaibo, 20,947,510 pounds; Java and Sumatra, 17,923,979 pounds; 
Laguayra and Porto Cabello, 9,464,905 pounds, and San Domingo, 
7,812,502 pounds. The remainder was-from Costa Rico and New Gran- 
ada, Bolivar City, Jamaica, Porto Rico, Curacoa, Cuba, Manila, Singa- 
pore, Ceylon, Bombay, Africa, and Mexico. A considerable amount of 
coffee is reshipped to the United States from European ports, which is 
produced in Brazil, and it is estimated.that from 70 to 80 per cent. of 
our supply is drawn from that country. The estimated consumption of 
the Pacific States for 1872 is 12,000,000 pounds, making total for the 
country 282,718,738 pounds. 
