6 



it, as they are not now roprescntocl in the wool market. Kentucky and Mis- 

 Houri raised in 1862, 2,039,601 sheep, and tlie ravages of war have destroyed 

 largely of these. Deducting 1,000,000 on this account, we have the following 

 table : 



Whole number in 1860 24, 823, 566 



From which take — 



Mistake in Indiana returns 1,166,200 



Sheep of the disloyal States 5,717,-587 



Loss in Kentucky and Missouri 1,000,000 



7, 883, 787 



Number in loyal Statc-s in 1860 16, 939, 779 



The increase in 1863, as stated in the June reports to tliis departuKmt, is 

 twenty-five per cent., and allowing it to be the same in 1861 and 1862, the 

 whole number for 1861 would be 21,174,724, and in 1862, 26,468,405. This 

 is the number from which the clip of 1863 was taken. 



The average yield of slujep, ])er head, according to the census returns in 

 1850, was 2.42 pounds, and by those of 1860, 2.55 pounds. But this is clearly 

 too low for the principal shcej)-producing States of the north. 



The number of the sheep of the loyal States was 17,198,219 in 1860, and the 

 pounds of wool, 50,183,626, making the yield of wool 2.92 pounds per head. 

 The number of sheep of the disloyal States was 6,097,587, and the pounds of 

 wool, 9,748,702, making but 1.59 pounds per sheep. 



The following table shows the yield, per head, of the following five large 

 wool-producing States, according to the census returns of 1850, 1860, and the 

 returns of the correspondents of this department in June of this year : 



1850. I860. 1863. 



New York 2.91 3.67 3.80 



Pennsylvania 2.46 2.82 3.33 



Ohio 2.58 3.33 3.53 



Michigan 2.87 2.68 3.67 



V ermont 3.35 4.02 4.54 



Average 2.83 3.31 3.77 



From all these data, it is safe to assume the yield in the loyal States at three 

 pounds per head. The estimated number of sheep for last year being 26,468,405, 

 the clip of 1863 would be 79,405,215 pounds. 



Sorghum. — The increase of this crop, as stiiied in the June table, is twenty- 

 seven per cent. In api'>carancc, it is but little affected by the drought. Sup- 

 posing that the increase, as given in the May tables, was too large, the inquiry 

 as to the amount was renewed in the circulars for June, as the amount could 

 then be better ascertained. The greater number of the returns for this month 

 are also in their favor, and hence the increase of twenty-seven per cent, is, doubt- 

 less, correct. 



Cotton. — So far the appearance of this crop is favorable. The dry weather 



enabled farmers to free the crop from weeds and gi-ass. IJuring the drought it 



was but one-tenth below the avei-age of a good crop ; and, in amount, the increase 



;is eighty per cent, over last year in the localities where it is now cultivated, 



which are much fewer than those of last year. 



Weather. — Und(!r this general heading will be found in the first four columns 

 • the number of counties which have made returns of the weather, and the charac- 



