56 



assessors in Illinois in 1872 was 320,702; in 1873, 334,067; increase, 

 13,365 acres. The number of acres of woodland in 1872, 6,289,236 ; in 

 1873, 6,928,061 ; increase, 638,825 acres. 



CoLLEGE-FAEM EXPERIMENTS. — Mr. B. F. Johnson, in charge of farm 

 experiments in the Illinois Industrial University at Champaign, has is- 

 sued a programme of proposed experiments. In it subjects for experi- 

 ment are designated under seven heads ; cereals ; clovers, and grasses ; 

 the industrial and commercial plants ; roots; vegetables; commercial 

 and other manures ; and fertilizers. A condensed statement of the more 

 important modes and results arrived at follows : For corn, the great crop 

 of the State, seven distinct experiments are designated ; first, to obtain 

 and test seed of two large varieties from South America ; the Caragua, 

 unlike any corn cultivated in Illinois, but, where grown, greatly valued 

 for soiling ; and the Casco, a giant kind, with a view by crossing to en- 

 large and invigorate varieties now in use ; second, to give an acre the 

 best known fertilizing, culture, and care, with a view to the largest possi- 

 ble yield ; third, in a five-acre patch, to give every alternate eight rows 

 deep and tliorough cultivation continued up to maturity; but the other 

 half, only " the common cultivation " terminated at the usual 

 time; with a view to decide the extent in thoroughness and dura- 

 tion, to which cultivation may be profitably carried ; fourth, in a five- 

 acre patch, with strips of rows alternated in the same way, to termi- 

 nate cultivation in alternate strips with the soil turned up to the rows 

 and a high ridge between them ; but in the other half with the 

 surface-level ; fifth, in a five-acre patch, alternating the same way, to treat 

 one-half with deep, but the other with shallow, cultivation ; sixth, to 

 plant together several of the largest and best kinds, of different com- 

 plexions, and from the product select the best ears, regardless of color, for 

 the next seeding, and so on, with a view to ascertain " the true tendency 

 in color, size, and quality, when nature makes the selection ;'• seventh, 

 to plant one of the best varieties as remote as may be from other corn- 

 fields with a view to test the practicability of keeping any one kind 

 unmixed. Without specifying modes, experiments are proposed with 

 spring-wheat, " quite a doubtful crop in Central Illinois," spring-rye, " a 

 rare crop," and oats, with the aim of rendering a doubtful crop more 

 certain, a rare one more general, and improving one already general and 

 profitable. Trials of barley-seed from abroad are proposed with the 

 design of ascertaining why it is now a very doubtful crop, and whether 

 success is practicable ; and of buckweat, also verj^ doubtful, by sowing 

 the common and the silver-hull varieties two or three weeks earlier than 

 the usual time ; tests of alfalfa, lucerne, Italian rye-grass, and orchard- 

 grass, with a view to discover grasses for pasture and forage which will 

 withstand droughts. Under " commercial aud industrial crops " exper- 

 iments are proposed with cotton, flax, hemp, hops, and tobacco ; under 

 " vegetables," potatoes are assigned a prominent place, and next to 

 them cabbage. 



Swine in Hungary. — From an improved breed introduced from Serbia, 

 about 1840, have been gradually reared up two distinct varieties which 

 now constitute the current stock of swine in Hungary. " One of these 

 breeds has pale, yellowish bristles ; the other is black, with a lighter 

 shade only toward the belly." These hogs are covered in summer with 

 a smooth " hair-coat," but in winter with " thick curly hair," which 

 serves as a protection against rough weather. The season for produc- 

 ing pigs is usually limited to the month of January. The sow produces 

 a litter of from five to eight. They do not attain full growth short of 



