285 
IMPORTATIONS, ETC. 
Imported Entered for home consump- 
7 tion. 
Wheat from— 
1866. 1867. 1866. 1867. 
Russiat-=22.-- ooo nee dse dea SSaeb a Sheesse* ewts.. 8, 937, 199 14, 025, 236 9, 028, 935 14, 159, 861 
Deniankeee eee eo ae cen cee do... 506, 236 418, 012 507, 709 422, 509 
PSR ete oa aw loncie sine win ates ain ete do... 4, 401, 409 5, 572, 263 4, 416, 663 5, 603, 694 
Schleswig, Holstein, and Lunenburg ...--..- do... 187, 938 127, 222 188, 529 127, 632 
MeMMETIDUNE fae - cee ara woe erties secs do... 733, STL 651, 884 734, 664 654, 569 
EIGEAROREOW DS nto = cst eee icine ceRIe -CEeee do... 878, 912 700, 935 886, 586 705, 794 
Tie D DC Se BOS See aoe ae eee eee ane do=== 3, 473, 130 597, 405 3, 496, 931 599, 402 
Turkey and Wallachia and Moldavia ...--. do... 528, 433 2, 446, 638 529, 739 2, 455, 311 
DS he Ba ae eee EOS en AER Sasoe Sammars da. 33, 831 1, 451, 774 33, 831 1, 458, 457 
Umiteds States eo. . s~Job. oases do... 635, 239 4,188, 013 639, 852 4, 219, 966 
British North America’s: 224.262. 25... - 828 do... 8, 789 683, 127 8, 789 684, 492 
Omer countries |...22.25..5ceuecuscmes ones do... 2, 831, 642 | 3, 783, 060 2, 836, 387 3, 796, 682 
Totaleecsan mentee sewer sass see eeeee 23, 156, 329 34, 645, 569 23, 308, 615 34, 888, 369 
Wheat flour from— ; 
IEISIR ELL O wal ae et eats eas sane einstein ewts.. 347, 012 444, 710 348, 351 450, 941 
since ese ee eee eae ee = ae oe cies crs ela dows: 3, 640, 320 1, 234, 742 3, 666, 740 1, 242, 719 
(ingen States sees aeans saeco a= nie ae aes 280, 792 722, 976 282, 664 723, 211 
British: Northe America 2.5 .-<ccncccscecess do... 40, 650 121, 503 41, 123 22, 817 
Other'coumiries 2226 < -sec-cs)jowc~ eclsson te do... 663, 506 | 1, 069, 038 665, 597 1, 075, 361 
Motalseem ee cee cee sae cease esc ceneteaseee 4, 972, 280 | 3, 592, 969 5, 004, 475 3, 615, 049 
SEED WHEAT FOR THE NORTHWEST. 
A letter has been received by the Commissioner of Agriculture, from Hon. 
Ignatius Donnelly, M. C., from Minnesota, enclosing a communication from the 
president of the Minnesota Agricultural Society, asking the aid of the depart- 
ment in procuring new varieties of spring wheat. The following extract from 
this letter is given: 
While the lands are new we produce abundant crops of excellent quality, but by con- 
tinuous cropping the yield rapidly diminishes in quantity and quality, falling off from 25 or 
30 bushels to 20, 15, or even 10 bushels per acre. Iam satisfied that this diminished yield 
is to be attributed to a degeneracy in the vitality of the seed more than exhaustion of fertility 
in the soil. Near me a field has produced 18 successive crops of wheat, yet a new seed on 
the 18th year brought the yield up to 21 bushels per acre. 
The wheat relied upon in this State for general crop is called Fife, and has been in use for 
a number of years. This variety retains its reproductive properties better than any other 
we have yet tried. The Canada Club, held in high esteem some years ago, has completely 
disappeared; and so thoroughly are we convinced of the necessity for a further change that 
to devise means to renovate our seed forms the burden of our society discussions. From my 
own experience, I am convinced that could every farmer be furnished this spring with a new, 
good seed, adapted to our soil and climate, it would benefit the State from $2,000,000 to 
$3,000,000 in one year. If we plant but 1,000,000 acres, and gain but three bushels per 
acre, it would give us a clear gain of over $3,000,000 in money. , 
The following is the response of the Commissioner : 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
Washington, D. C., April 28, 1868. 
Sm: Your favor of April 22, covering a letter from T. T. Mann, esq., Presi- 
dent of the Minnesota Agricultural Society, relative to the reduction of the 
average of wheat production in Minnesota, furnishes additional evidence of the 
rapid deterioration of seed wheat under the mode of culture generally practiced 
in the west. ‘ Under the most favorable circumstances a change of seed may be 
desirable, from climatic or other causes ; but, while so little regard to selection 
is paid, and so many causes of decline in vitality are permitted to exist, there 
