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present herds being half-breeds of the common stock crossed with such as the 
different sheep-raisers believe to be the greatest improvement. As the business 
of importing continues of course it will require but a few years to obliterate all 
traces of the old stock. But while some are embarking so extensively in these 
branches, there has been no diminution, but a large increase, of other agricultural 
products ; the system of cultivating the land is being improved, and the yield 
of wheat and barley, which are the staple crops, is correspondingly increased. 
WHEAT CROP IN SOLANO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. 
Solano county, California—The wheat crop in this county this year is 
immense. According to our assessors, we have harvested 74,989 acres of wheat, 
averaging thirty bushels to the acre. Wheat is our staple, and Solano now 
leads the other counties of the State in its production. The principal varieties 
raised are Australian and Club, some Chili, and very little Sonora. This immense 
crop is transported in wagons and by railroad to the various shipping ports of 
the county on the Sacramento river and Suisun bay, and is then carried by 
sloops and schooners to San Francisco, with the exception of that which is 
carried to Vallejo by rail, which is loaded on shipboard at the Vallejo wharves, 
bound direct for Liverpool. 
CROPS IN OREGON. 
Marion county, Oregon.—This has been a most remarkable year. We had 
a severe snow and sleet storm and very cold weather in January, which injured 
wheat and rye, and killed a large amount of fruit trees. The spring was cold 
and cloudy, but fine crops of spring grain were sown. Gardens were put in 
early. On the 7th and 9th of May we had snow, killing frosts, and ice one- 
half inch thick. Nearly all the fruit in western Oregon was killed; gardens 
the same. The cool, wet, and cloudy weather continued till July 1st, when 
suddenly clear and excessively hot weather ensued, and mostly continued till 
the time of my letter now being written. ‘There was a slight frost on the 1st 
day of August. On the 7th and 9th of September we had severe killing frosts, 
and ice one-half inch thick; gardens and corn are greatly injured. The yield 
of grain is large, and there is quite a brisk demand for all our oats at 40 to 45 
cents, and wheat at from 75 to 90 cents, cash. Hay crops are very light; the 
streams are lower now than at any time for 40 years. Immense destructive 
fires are raging and have been for six weeks past in the Cascade and Coast 
mountains, running down into the valleys, and doing great damage to timber, 
farms, &c. Often the smoke is so dense that persons can scarcely see to 
attend to ordinary outwork. Candles are burnt in the houses nearly all day. 
Not one-fourth inch of rain has fallen since July 1st, and the wind has set from 
north to northeast all the time, and there is no indication of a change. The 
dust is intolerable ; no ploughing can be done; pastures are dried up, and, taken 
all together, we of Web Foot have never seen such another season here. 
RICE AND SUGAR CROPS IN LOUISIANA. 
Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.—I have to report that the rice crop of this 
parish has been gathered in good condition: It is certainly the largest and best 
ever made here. I am within the bounds Of truth in stating that our farmers 
will this season ship to market over 25,600 barrels of clean rice; a barrel holds 
about 230 pounds of clean rice. 
The storm of the 2d and 3d instant injured our cane fields but slightly ; under 
favorable conditions our sugar crop will probably reach 10,000 to 12,000 hogs- 
