320 



hundred square miles. One-third is cleared land, of which one-half is 

 laid to rest every year; about 28,000 acres are this year planted in 

 corn and 20,000 in cotton ; the remainder in wheat, rye, potatoes, &c. 



New Farms. — Benton, Minn. : The stagnation of business has 

 turned attention to opening new farms and improving. old ones. 



FLAX-CrLTURE. — Sfeams, Wis. : The yield of flax promises to be 

 enormous ; it is cultivated for the seed only. Eocl; Wis. : — About 

 300 acres of flax sown ; condition not promising, owing to late sowing 

 and grasshoppers. CMppeica, Minn. : Quite a breadth sown, but does 

 not promise a large yield. MarsliaU, loiva : About 4.000 acres of 

 flax in this county, and 2,000 to 3,000 in the adjoining counties, from 

 seed furnished mostly by the Hawkeye Oil-Mill Comj:)any, of Marshall- 

 town ; average yield, from 8 to 10 bushels per acre ; price from $1.25 to 

 $1.65 per bushel. Benton, Iowa : Flax is an important crop here ; raised 

 principally for seed ; condition full average. 



Jute. — Leon, Fla. : The jute I planted as an experiment cajne up 

 well, and has grown finely. It was planted as cotton and with cotton 

 April 1 and 30, and has since been cultivated as cotton. The stalks 

 are now from€ to 6 feet high, and very thritty. 



Decrease of live-stock. — Medina, Ohio : The diminution of stock 

 in this county is alarming ; horses are 323 less than last year ; cattle, 

 4,480 5 sheep, 8,843. But once in fifteen years have we had so few — in 

 1865. The decrease this year is owing to the diminution of the hay 

 and corn crop. The wool-clip is 30,000 pounds less than last year, but 

 the fleeces average heavier. 



Hops. — Sank, Wis. : A larger crop than at any time since the 

 panic of 1868 ; acreage increased, 20 per cent.; new yards, 25 per cent, 

 above average; old yards, 10 percent, below. 



Castor-beans. — FmnMin, Kans. : Castor-beans are becoming an 

 important crop; last year they were profitable. Wilson, Kans.: Cas- 

 tor-beans and flax taking the place of small grain till the chinches dis- 

 appear. 



Onions. — Dorchester, Md.: The onion is fast becoming a standard 

 crop ; the soil and climate present admirable conditions of growth for 

 this vegetable. 



Waterimelons. — Wicomico, 31d. : This crop yields from $30,000 to 

 $40,000 in this county. 



o^EWSPAPER CROP-REPORTS. — Barnwell, 8. C: The newspapers 

 are publishing the replies of their correspondents as to condi- 

 tion, &c., of growing crops. These are generally local, and cannot be 

 expected to apply to the whole country. There will be the earliest 

 ••open cotton" in this county this year ever known, from plants that 

 escaped the frost of May 1. Were the whole crop like these favored 

 spots, there would be the most advanced and promising fields ever seen 

 on the 1st of July. 



