345 



land Island were planted by Mrs. Greene, the widow of General Nathaniel Greene, iu 

 179:?, and they are still fine vigorons trees, and may live a century longer. They are 

 not subject to the devastations of tiie insect which has seriously injured the orange 

 trees in Southern Georgia and iu Florida for thirty years past. Mrs. Greene comnieuced 

 the Kultivatiou of the olive ou Cumberland Island at the special recommendation of 

 Mr. Jetierson. 



Lotus and the yine in Michigan. — Mr. Thomas Whelpley, of Mon- 

 roe, Michigan, writes to the Department as follows : 



The Xelumheum luiexm, or lotus of Asia, that I reported to the Smithsonian Institution 

 in 1851 as existing iu our bayous, though scarce and feeble, has since that time been 

 rapidly spreading and increasing in vigor and proportions, until now we have huudreds 

 of acres of onr marshes and bayous occupied by it in solid masses, overriding and 

 displacing all other water vegetation iu its way. They turn out corollas 12 iuches, 

 tornses 6 inches, and leases 30 inches iu diameter, as a common thing. Some toruses 

 mature 30 to 3.5 nuts, large and sweet as filberts, indicating an extraordinary mildness 

 of climate for so high a latitude. (See Agricultural Eeport, 1861, p. 171.) 



The mouth of the river Eaisiu this day rivals the famous Ehine, iu Germany, iu 

 richness aud luxuriance of vintage. The six miles square, including the city of Mon- 

 roe, turned out last year 16,000 gallons of wine that is actually displacing the German 

 Ehine wine in our midst, and the vintage of this year promises to double that of last. 



Sixty-nine bushels to the acre. — The San Joaquin Eepnbliean 

 is informed that 58 acres of wheat on Sherliian Island has this year 

 produced 4,000 bushels of grain — very- nearly G!) bushels to the acre. 

 The same authority reports a yield of G tons of bay to the acre on the 

 island. This island is reclaimed tide laud. The American Enral Home, 

 Eochester, New York, reports a yield of a trifle over 40 bushels per acre 

 of the Diehl wheat, on between eight and nine acres in Monroe County. 

 The soil on this farm is largely clay, deep and fertile. The owner sel- 

 dom plows less than 12 inches in depth, using a strong team and a large 

 Wiard plow. The furrows are leveled with a liarrow, and the soil is 

 then thoroughly disintegrated with a wheel-cultivator with teeth 15 

 inches long andVlrawn by four horses. The seed-bed is worked 12 inches 

 deep; then it rests awhile and settles, and the seed is drilled in. James 

 H. Graliam, of Mason, Michigan, reports a yield of 35^ bushels per acre 

 ou a field of five acres ; and Mr. C. T. Beck, of Monroe, 37 bushels 6 

 quarts per acre on a field of 5i acres. Mr. Joseph E. Eoberts, of Bur- 

 lington County, New Jersey, reports a yield of 412 bushels on 13 acres — 

 over 31| bushels per acre. Several crops of over 30 bushels to the acre 

 are reported from the same neighborhood. 



Premiums for cotton. — In connection with the fair of the St. Louis 

 Agricultural aud Mechanical Association, to be held in that city for one 

 week from October 2, there will be. held the exposition of the Woolen 

 and Cotton Manufacturers' Association of the West and South. The 

 merchants and manufacturers of St. Louis have contributed $10,000 to 

 be awarded in premiums for cotton, which amount will be distributed as 

 follows : For the best bale of long or short staple cotton raised in Ten- 

 nessee, $500; for second-best bale, $250; for the third-best bale, $100. 

 The same amounts will be paid, under the same conditions, for the best, 

 second-best, and third-best cotton products of the States of Mississippi, 

 Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North 

 Carolina, and Missouri, respectively. A premium of $500 is also offered 

 for the best bale of cotton' raised from Peeler, Dickson, Silk, Lace, or any 

 other improved seed; and $1,000 for the best bale of long or short sta- 

 ple cotton raised in any State. These large premiums will doubtless 

 draw out many competitors and insure a fine display of the staple. 



The Cincinnati Industrial Exposition of 1871 offer premiums amount- 

 ing to $2,450 for the best bales of cotton from Texas, Louisiana, Arkan- 

 sas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia ; the premiums being, 



