370 



EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE. 



WHKAT-CULTUKE. — Bradley, Tenn. — I sowoil eleven varieties, all but throe of which 

 rusted. Fultz, Arnold's (!anada Hybrid, and Bnrk's Golden Straw did not rust, because 

 they ripened from nine to fourteen days earlier than our common wheats. IJurk's Golden 

 Straw was fourteen days earlier, and weighed 70 pounds to tlie bushel. It makes 

 as much flour from 4.72 bushels as can be made from .5 bushels of any other variety. 

 The Fultz yields more than any other. From one quart sowed last year, and the pro- 

 ceeds resowed tliis year, I have received 813 bushels by weight. It produced, on my 

 farm, 30 measured bushels per acre, weighing 04 pounds per bushel. 



Jersei/, III. — If wo could get wheat that would ripen about June 10, of short growth 

 and fair heads, it would be a great thing for tliis section. A number of years ago we 

 had wheat of tliis description, which suited the soil and climate so well that we got 

 the rei)utation of being the best wheat-growing section of tlie St.ate, and our wheat 

 brought the highest price in the market. I think the seed came from France, and was 

 first sown in Virginia, whence it was distributed over the countrj'. being known as the 

 May wheat. Wheat rii)ening after June 25 is of no use to us, as the rust always 

 strikes it. 



Walla-WaVa, Wash. — Inadequate traTisportation allows us only 40 cents per bushel. 

 Farmers say they cannot raise it at that price. 



Mor(jan, Utah. — Excelsior wheat from tlie Department preferred to Tappahannock, 

 Fultz, or any other kind. It stiinds drought, yields well, and bears a long straw. 



Coffee, Tenn. — A neighbor thrashed 90 bushels of Fultz from 2 bushels sown on 3^ 

 acres. From 3 quarts received from the Department, and distributed by me, thousands 

 of bushels have been grown in three years. 



Alexander, N. C. — Two quarts of Touzelle wheat, from the Department, sown in Octo- 

 ber and harvested in June, made two bushels of lino largo grain. It will do well iu 

 this section. 



Uvalde, Tex. — The Falcon wheat does not make as good a yield as our native wheat. 



Fauiihi, Tex. — From extreme scarcity of money, many are selling their wheat to Saint 

 Louis nu>rchants at $il jier bushel, and will probably buy Hour at high prices next .spring. 

 This is a long distance to send to mill. 



Guthrie, Iowa. — On old land poorly put-in, wheat was cut short by dry weather. 

 Fortunately we have less of such farming than usual, and I think this year will " play 

 out" a few more slovenly theories. 



lAneoh), Mo. — Touzelle wheat kept green until a few days ago. None of it matured. 



Marion, Mo. — Fall-wheat crop the finest ever raised. Tappahannock from the Depart- 

 ment preferred; grain large, more transparent and heavier than any other; weighs as 

 much as 72 pounds per bushel. 



Wood, Ohio. — The Fultz wheat you sent me two years ago has proved a perfect suc- 

 cess. From the 12 quarts received I had 12 bushels of nice wheat. It is almost identi- 

 cal with the old blue-stem wheat raised in Eastern Ohio thirty-live years ago. Its supe- 

 riority is seen most strikingly when threshed; it will yield from the dozen sheaves 

 a larger amount than any other variety. 



Spotttsylrania, Va. — A farmer in this county has made good crops for three years by 

 late seeding. He sows from October 25 to November 16. His laud being poor, he treats 

 it with 200 pounds of guano per acre. This year the seed yielded uineteen-fold. 



CoKN-cuLTUKK.— C'ajTo//, Mo. — The necessity for thorough cultivation as well as the 

 evil consequences of cultivating the soil too wet has never been more thoroughly 

 demonstrated than this season. Corn in some fields looks green and promising, while 

 in adjoining fields, broken up too wet, it is " fired" up to the shoot, and will not make 

 even good fodder. 



EiCK-CROPS. — La Foiirche, La — The rice-crop looks well ; March plantings will shortly 

 be harvested. I am satisfied that the material regeneration of Louisiana will be 

 ctiected by means of the rice-crop. It is of quick growth — only five months from seed- 

 ing to harvest ; it is easily cultivated ; allows a large acreage per hand ; yields well, 

 and commands high prices. It is easily cultivated by white labor; and in Louisiana, 

 unlike South Carolina, it does not cause sickness, as the land is high, formerly culti- 

 vated in sugar-cane. 



PouLTUY-DiSEASE. — IVoodson, Kans. — Chicken-cholera has swept the entire stock of 

 poultry from scores of our farm-yards— turkeys, geese, ducks, and Guineas, as well as 

 Brahiuiis and Shanghais. The Houdaus are the only fowls exempt ; they appear to be 

 the hardiest of the new varieties, and the best layers. 



ToBACCO-CULTUKE — Hampden, Alasn, — The tobacco-crop is somewhat backward, but 

 looks unusually healthy and strong. Considerable of Spanish leaf is being raised 



