535 



the world, employing 80,000 men and 180,000 women, besides the 100,000^ 

 employed in the rag-trade ; 1,809,000,000 ponnds of paper are produced 

 annually. One-half is used in printing, a sixth for writing, and the re- 

 mainder for packing and for other purposes. The United States averages 

 17 pounds per head; an Englishman consumes 11^ pounds ; a German, 

 8 pounds ; a Frenchman, 7 pounds ; an Italian, 3^ pounds ; a Spaniard, 

 1^ pounds ; and a Eussian only 1 pound annually, on an average. 



Cranberry production. — Mr. N. E. French, statistician of the 

 New Jersey Cranberry -Growers' Association, estimates the cranberry- 

 crops, and their sources, for the past three years as follows : 



The area under regular cultivation in New Jersey in 1874 is estimated 

 at 4,969 acres, and the capital invested at $1,662,130. Though there 

 was an increase in acreage over the previous year, the crop was 25 per 

 cent. less. The rot, with the failure of the crop on new bogs, is the 

 assigned cause. The crop on the eastern part of Cape Cod was in some 

 districts a failure and in others very light ; but on the adjacent islands, 

 in the remainder of Massachusetts, in Ehode Island, and Long Island, 

 it was good. The western reports show a great reduction. 



Forage grasses in Texas, — A correspondent in Austin County 

 writes : 



I have been in search of an article of green winter forage for horses and cattle, and 

 have made experiments with several grasses. Orchard-grass grows finely on uplands, 

 Loth in the shade and open fields, so also does red clover. Italian rye-grass makes a fine 

 winter and spring pasture, and is better adapted to the climate than the orchard or 

 perennial rye-grass, but it requires a rich, moist soil. Being a biennial it also requires 

 reseeding, or it will run out. All the above grasses succumb to a severe Texas drought. 



I have been more successful with a grass which I suppose to be indigenous to this 

 latitude. It was brought from Louisiana to Texas, during the late war, by the confed- 

 erate cavalry, and is now spreadingjover the country from the old camps of those troops. 

 I know it only by the name of "Louisiana grass." It is often disseminated by the drop- 

 pings of animals. It takes hold slowly, but vigorously. When the seed is sown it 

 makes but little show till the second year, at which time it forms a complete turf, 

 taking the sway over weeds and other grasses. So far as I have observed, horses, cows, 

 and sheep are very fond of grazing on it, and it makes an excellent hay, being about as 

 rich in seed as timothy. It stands the close grazing of sheep equally with our excellent 

 Bermuda-grass. It is not much affected by summer heat and drought, aud bears the 

 tramping of stock ; yet it easily yields to the plow, and may be exterminated by one 

 season's tillage. Two horses or mules turn it under with ease. It is not a winter grass, 

 though it is but little affected by frost, putting up green in favorable weather all 

 "winter. It makes good grazing early in the spring and goes to seed in August. From 

 the progress it is now making it is destined, at no distant day, to take our Texas 

 prairies, and make a stock range equal to, if not better than, what the country had in 

 a state of nature. 



For green winter forage in this part of Texas, where there is but little frost, many 

 persons sow wheat, barley, or rye. These are all very good, and keep horses and milch 

 cows in fine plight. But for this purpose the winter oat, or what is here called the 

 " red rust-proof oat," is gaining the preference. I have seen it, planted in October and 

 November, grazed till the Ist of March, when the out-range becomes good, and then 



