116 



A. J. Hamilton, superintendent of Western Experimental Farm, In- 

 diana County, Pennsylvania, writes : 



Experiments upon this farm have been carried on with uniformity, and I feel that 

 not a sufficient interest is felt in regard to them. Among the diiferent varieties of 

 wheat sown I may mention the Jeiniings, Touzelle, Brittany, Talavera, Eongh and 

 Ready, Salt, and Shoemaker. They all look remarkably fine. Only one variety of rye 

 is sown, the Bremen, and from its appearance now I think it a standard variety. I 

 have sown the Tappahannock wheat veiy extensively, and find it the standard variety 

 here. The yield last year was 30 bushels to the acre. Week's White and White Bearded 

 were sown last fall, together, one acre each, ground plowed alike and manured, to test 

 the relative merit of each. I have also sown the French White Chaif Mediterranean 

 wheat; it is next to the Tappahannock in yield. A number of experiments were made 

 last year with potatoes by planting them whole, cut, medium, and small seed. The 

 whole seed showed a greater return, by 25 per cent., over the others. Experiments are 

 also being made in jilanting the butt and end grains of corn. Nothing very definite 

 has been leached yet in regard to this. 



Dixon Coimty, Nebraska. — Two years ago I received from the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture one-fourth of a peck of Arnautka spring wheat. It 

 was sown and has done remarkably well, producing at the rate of 25 to 

 30 bushels per acre, and coming to perfection earlier than the common 

 kind. It has proved itself very suitable for our climate, and most of 

 the farmers that see it desire to obtain it for seed. The introduction of 

 this wheat has conferred a great benefit on this section of the country. 

 I sowed 12 bushels this spring, and sold and gave away 4 bushels ; all 

 from the original one-fourth i:)eck. Ere two years elapse, it will be the 

 principal variety sown in Dixon County. 



Miami County^ Kansas. — The experiment made on the culture of 

 hops by W. E. Wagstaff has proved a failure, and has been discon- 

 tinued. Outlay some $4,000 ', income, nothing. 



THE DAIRY BUSINESS. 



A Medina County, Ohio, correspondent writes as follows : 



A sort of agricultural fever, which may be termed the dairy fever, is just now pre- 

 vailing in this county. The talk of farmers Avheuever they meet is of cows, cheese, 

 butter, cheese factories, probable prices, &c. No less than three cheese factories are 

 being l)uilt in Hinckley now. Tbis number in a little township of five miles square, 

 containing less than a thousand inhabitants, is altogether in excess of public require- 

 ments. Such a raging fever can have no other termination than collapse, fatal to many. 

 If the harm of such a fever was confined to the dairy farmers alone, I would say nothing. 

 But innocent people sulfer. While farm is being added to farm, our population is raji- 

 idly decreasing. One mechanic after another is leaving for want of sufficient business 

 to support him. The same is true of pi'ofessional men. Our school-houses are not half 

 filled. The Sabbath is desecrated. Our churches are becoming feeble and dying out. 

 Every interest is injured that this one may prosper. I look upon dairying, in the man- 

 ner it is now being conducted, as injurious to our best interests. 



AGEICULTUKE IN ARKANSAS. 



P. L. Anthony, of Little Eock, disgusted with cotton at low prices, 

 and all other products at high rates, in an agricultural region suited in 

 soil and climate to the growth of everything needed for comfort and 

 luxury, desires to promote immigration and colonization for some pur- 

 pose beyond mere cotton-growing. He says : 



Cotton is the curse of this country. It is produced as a means of procuring every- 

 thing. Even Indian corn, that can be produced here at less expense tlaan elsewhere iu 

 the Union, is imported in large quantities. At gathering time last fall the corn grown 

 on the river above and brought here iu the shuck, sold at from $1 10 to $1 25 npon our 

 levee. Every steamboat now brings sack-corn, which sells at from $1 30 to $1 35 i^er 

 bushel. We depend wholly upon other States for flour, potjitoes, turnips, cabbages, 

 celery, horse-radish, fruit, and a varietj^ of things, at high prices, which might be pro- 

 duced here at a low x)rice. Bacon, beef, butter, laid, aud eggs, are among our impor- 



