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17 



Matagorda County, Texas. — I distributed the jute seed amoijg our 

 best planters, but it came too late and was plauted when the plants should 

 have been in bloom. The two varieties, French and India, are quite 

 distinct. From what I see I much prefer the India, which grows more 

 like hemp or flax, and has a pod about three or four inches long, grow- 

 ing on the stalk and limbs something likeocra. The pod is full of seed, 

 and in diameter the size of a man's little linger. The India plant grew on 

 our sandy i)rairie soil, in a severe drought, five or six feet high, while 

 the other kind, planted on strong bottom lands, grew ten or fifteen feet 

 high. The latter throws off limbs and branches, and to my mind is 

 objectionable on that account. Its seed grows in little buttons. I believe 

 soil and climate here suit the plant. I made no elibrts to gather the 

 fiber, which will require experience and investigation. 



IMPROVED CULTURE. 



Marsliall County, III, — We have come to the conclusion that for a 

 series of years we have been skimming the cream off our laud and throw- 

 ing it away, and that we cannot make high-price farms pay except by a 

 correct system of " high farming." We are now making all the improve- 

 ments which our means will allow in a new system of cultivation. 



RECLAIMED LANDS IN NEW JERSEY. 



Hudson County, N. J. — The corn planted on the drained lauds of this 

 county did not produce as largely as anticipated ; the grass choked it, 

 and as the newly tilled land was stubborn and still wet in May and in 

 July, the drought injured it. Yet they raised on an average sixty bush- 

 els per acre. (They say shelled corn, but I doubt it.) They have ])lowed 

 a large number of acres this fall and kept at it until the 15th of Decem- 

 ber, and hope to do better next year. The oats sown on this new drained 

 land grew too rank, and lodged badly, and the crop was a failure. The 

 proprietors say they will try oats next season. Corn and grass are more 

 certain to do well than any other crop until tbe land is thoroughly 

 worked and sweetened. 



USING CROPS ON THE FARM. 



Mano7i County, Iowa. — Our correspondent, after referring to the low 

 price of grain, &c., adds: "Our strength here is in raising as much corn 

 and grass as possible, and then stock enough to consume the crops. The 

 stock should be fed np to the best marketable condition where raised, 

 ♦ in order to realize the greatest profit. Many sell their cattle and hogs 

 as soon as fit for feeding, instead of feeding and selling them when ready 

 for market eastward. 



CLOVER AND TIMOTHY SEEDS. 



Fond du Lac County, Wis. — We have a large amount of clover seed in 

 our county, which is selling at $5 per bushel; also much timothy seed, 



at $3. 



WINE PRODUCT OF HANCOCK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Hancoclc County, III. — Forty thousand gallons of wine have been made 

 from the vintage of the past season. The grapes matured i)erfectly and 

 have never before done so well. Large quantities of the product were 

 sold for table use. 



HOG AND CHICKEN CHOLERA. 



Fairfax County, Va. — The hog cholera has been jn-evalent in many 

 portions of the county. The loss from this cause may be sai\3lv stated 



