38 
Douglas, of Illinois; and 8. T. Kelsey, Alfred Gray, J. K. Hudson, W. H. 
Smallwood, and T. J. Peter, of Kansas. The billreferred to grants to this 
association one section of land for each mile in distance between Fort 
Dodge and Pueblo in Colorado, (both points being on the Arkansas River,) 
on the condition that it shall grow eighty acres in forest-trees on each 
section so granted, and shall put in cultivation one experimental farm of 
not less than forty acres in every fifty miles between the two points 
named, upon which shall be cultivated all the varieties of seeds and 
grains adapted to that climate, and, furthermore, shall annually report 
to the Departinent of Agriculture acgurate results of all experiments in 
growing grains, trees, and other products from seeds. 
FRUIT FROM THE MOST VALUABLE SEED DISTRIBUTED BY THE DE- 
PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.—The secretary of a stock association in 
Pendleton County, Kentucky, reports that the annual and monthly 
reports of the Department of Agriculture, which have been distributed 
in that section, are leavening it with an increased desire for agricultural 
information, and are already showing good results in attempts to intro- 
duce better modes of agriculture and improved breeds of stock. 
DESPONDENCY IN lowA.—The secretary of the Cedar Falls Farmers’ 
Club, Black Hawk County, Iowa, after reporting that hogs are selling 
at 2% to 34 cents, three-year old steers at 3 to 3$ cents per pound, 
live weight, and oats and corn at 15 to 18 cents, and wheat at 63 to 
95 cents per bushel, adds: 
We are suffering severely from debts, low prices of farm products, and enormous 
railroad charges on freights. Real estate is worth 30 per cent. less now in Iowa than 
three years ago, and money is very scarce. The general cry everywhere is, “The rail- 
road companies will ruin us.” Last year our apple crop was abundant, but all varie- 
ties ripened prematurely, and were badly injured by the codling moth. A majority of 
many varieties of apple-trees in our oldest orchards were badly injured by the cold 
of December 23 and 24, 1872, when the mercury ranged from 23° to 35° below zero. 
The bodies of very many of them are burst from the limbs to the ground. I know but 
few varieties that are sufficiently hardy to endure this climate—latitude 42° 30’. The 
only varieties that I can recommend are Dutchess of Oldenburg, Tetofsky, Red Astra- 
chan, Fameuse, Haas, Saxton, Plumb’s Cider, and Ben Davis. Ben Davis is the only 
variety we have which is a good keeper, and that is of poor quality. We are experi- 
menting with seedlings, for the purpose of getting, if possible, a few good winter varie- 
ties. All varieties of the tame plum have failed here, except the Lombard., That is 
hardy and productive. We cultivate a number of varieties of the grape, but the Con- 
cord is worth more than all other. Peaches are too tender. The only variety of the 
pear which I have tried that has not been ruined by the “ fire-blight,” is the Early 
Catherine. The Early Richmond and English Morello cherries are hardy enough, but 
not productive here. 
CROPS AND FARM ANIMALS IN KANnsAS.—The secretary of the Neosho 
Valley Agricultural Society, Labette County, reports as follows: 
The weather has been favorable for prosecuting all kinds of farm work. It was 
warm, and very dry, from October 1 to December 18; at the latter date we had snow 
fall to the depth of a foot. Notwithstanding the very favorable fall weather, there 
remains in the fields about one-sixth of the entire crop of corn, not including a small 
portion of shock-corii. The area sown in wheat is 50 per cent. greater than that 
of any previous year. About 90,per cent. of the seeding was done with the drill, be- 
tween September 12 and October 8. The ground was in good condition, and the pros- 
pect for a crop is at present altogether favorable. Our work-horses do not receive 
requisite care. Indeed, the greater proportion are little better cared for than range- 
stock, which obtains no better shelter than is furnished by a patch of brush or a rick 
of straw. At this time (January 7) all the horses in the towns, and about half in the 
country, are affected with the epizooty. The disease is of a mild form, partially disa- 
bling horses for two or three weeks, resulting in no deaths, except where horses have 
been hard driven while sick. With proper diet and rest there is no ground for appre- 
hending serious trouble from the distemper ; in fact, it seems to be affecting the people 
here worse than it does the horses. But asmall number of hogs are fatted for the market 
as yet, but there is a fair showing of stock hogs. Our farmers are manifesting a very 
commendable spirit in procuring imported breeds. There is only a very limited num- 
ber of sheep in this county. 
