246 



The second branch of inquiry refers to the influences which cause the 

 hatching of the eggs before the regular time, such as artificial hiberna- 

 tion, rubbing with brushes or other bodies, solid or fluid ; exposure to 

 thunder-storms or currents of electricity. The extent and intensity of 

 these influences should be carefully determined. 



The third general inquiry refers to the terminology of diseases affect- 

 ing the silk- worm. An effort will be made to settle upon a system of 

 synonyms of the names of diseases in different languages. 



Persons desiring further information should address "Comity d'organ- 

 izatiou du V Cougres Bacologique, Mus6e Civique, Milano, Italy." 



Cause and cure of hard times. — Our correspondent in Howard 

 County, Arkansas, reports that destitution, bordering on starvation, pre- 

 vails in that section. The immediate cause stated is the severe drought 

 of last season, but the want of ability to bridge over such emergencies, 

 without great suffering, is ascribed to two causes more under human 

 control. The first is a prevalent habit of lazy loafing, in place of in- 

 dustry and consequent thrift, among the farming population. The time 

 which ought to be devoted to vigorous work in imi)roving the soil and 

 cultivating good crops is spent, the greater part, in hanging around 

 public houses and other i)laces of common resort, and the less part 

 in farming in the most superficial, slip-shod, and slovenly manner. 

 Second, cotton and corn are almost the only crops cultivated. One 

 consequence is that not only the community at large, but the farmers 

 themselves, are dependent for meat, bread, and other agricultural sup- 

 plies for home consumption on purchase from abroad ; so that when the 

 cotton and corn crops fail they have no supplies of their own produc- 

 tion, and nothing to buy with. Diversified agriculture and iiidustry in 

 pursuing it are the very obvious remedies suggested. 



Eye from the Department. — Our correspondent in Washington 

 County, Vermont, reports that six quarts of winter-rye, received from 

 this Department, and sown on sandy soil, produced six bushels of ex- 

 cellent grain. 



Yield of butter by a Jersey cow. — Our correspondent in Wash- 

 ington County, Vermont, reports that, in the ten months following April 

 4, 1874, a Jersey cow, owned by Mr. Nathan Skinner, of Plainfield, 

 yielded 503J pounds of butter, besides milk and cream for two persons. 

 Two quarts of meal per day were fed to her, and, after the 1st of Sep- 

 tember, two quarts of bran in addition. 



Wheat in Texas in 1875. — A correspondent in Dallas County re- 

 ports that, in that and the adjoining counties, the acreage in wheat has 

 been largely increased, and that the prospect of a good crop is very 

 favorable. He estimates the acreage in Dallas at 50,000, and that "a 

 fair yield" would be 750,000 bushels. This, at his estimate of popula- 

 tion, 40,000, would furnish ISf bushels for each individual. He states 

 that there are, in Dallas City, milling capacities for working about 

 340,000 bushels per annum into flour. After reserving sufficient flour 

 for home consumption, and wheat for seed, there would be about 40,000 

 barrels of the former and a large surplus of the latter for outside 

 markets. 



Oats from the Department. — Our correspondent in Benton 

 County, Oregon, reports that Mr. John Burnett received from this De- 

 partment two pounds of "Early Fallow" oats, which were sowed, about 

 the 10th of May, on a plat of new-prairie soil (70 feet by 12) thoroughly 

 prepared but not manured. They ripened as soon as common varieties 



