521 



outstrip the broom, and become sufficiently rooted and branched to' 

 completely withstand the winds and fix clie shifting- sands. The bfoora 

 is then removed and turned to profit by serving as brushwood for a new 

 I)lat. The only further work required is to prune out the piues to the 

 I)roper stand for the most thrifty forest. The work of thus staying ther 

 desolating line of march, one hundred and twenty miles long, and of re- 

 pairing its zone of desolation, already three miles broad, was completed 

 in 180L*. The whole expense was 480,000 pounds sterling, averaging a 

 little over 47 shillings, or $11.75, per acre. The pines, now covering the 

 dunes "with a magnificent forest," are described as a variety of " sea- 

 pines," very thrifty in that climate and soil, and valuable for both timber 

 and resin. 



Crops of DENiiARK. — British consular reports show that Denmark 

 has produced, the past season, about 9,000,000 quarters of grain. The care- 

 fully-prepared statistics of this little kingdom show an increasing sur- 

 plus, during the last five years, of live stock and provisions, but a 

 declining surplus of grain, indicating that cattle-feeding and butter- 

 making are attracting increased attention and effort. During 1874, the 

 export of butter amounted to 103,322 barrels, a large increase over the 

 preceding year, and about double the export of 1870. Of the export of 

 1874, 81,351 barrels went to Great Britain, where they commanded high 

 prices. The export of eggs, from very insigniflcant beginnings, has 

 within five years reached the aggregate of 1,420,900 score, represent- 

 ing a capital of 600,000 rixdollars. The Danish rixdollar is worth 

 about 48.8 cents. The last year's export of fowls was officially valued 

 at 203,289 rixdollars, all of which went to Germany. Babbit- breeding 

 has become one of the recognized industries, and is expected to furnish 

 considerable matter for export. Denmark has the largest proportion of 

 agricultural population — more than three-fourths. Danish farmers re- 

 ceive comparatively little attention from the government. 



Irrigation in India. — The cost of the irrigation-canals of the Puu- 

 jaub was £2,684,279. The revenue from these canals amounts to 

 £145,411, of which £48,555 were derived from water-rates, and £96,856 

 from increased laud-revenue. 



Hop-growing in Tasmania.— Near Norfolk and on the banks of 

 the Derweut and Lachlan, are large alluvial, low-lying tracts, irrigated 

 hy dams in the rivers. The water of the Derweut is lifted by steam- 

 pumps in order to gain the necessary fall. Here hop-growing has beeu 

 inaugurated on a large scale by cultivators occupying from 6 to 90 acres 

 each, the whole hop-acreage amounting to 488 acres. On the Huron 

 and at other points, the acreage has beeu increased, making that of the 

 whole island about 604 acres. Last year 627 acres in bearing averaged 

 about 1,300 pounds, or llf hundredweight per acre. The Norfolk dis- 

 trict averaged 13 hundredweight per acre. During the current year it is 

 estimated that the productive acreage will be smaller, and the average 

 yield will be reduced to 11 huudrecl weight per acre, but from the de- 

 cline of the British crops it is thought that the Tasmauiau farmers will 

 receive a larger sum for their product than last year. Prices ranged 

 from Is. Id. to 2s. 6(1. per pound. The primary markets of this trade, 

 Melbourne and Sidney, are liable to be overstocked, not having any 

 great capacity, and hence it becomes the producers to be careful in send- 

 ing their crops to market. Irrigation is generally practiced, there being 

 but few soils that can grow hops without it. Both science and experi- 

 ence are essential to the proper regulation of irrigation. Water must 

 be admitted to the land at proper times and in proper quantity. Over- 

 4 a ^ ;.• "" bim 



