But soils, though alike in their composition, with different climates, ai-e un- 

 like in their effects, and should not be overlooked. Let us examine these, then, 

 as they are in California, and, as applied to grape culture, to see whether in this, 

 as in morals, or poetry, or painting, or music, a standard of excellence approach- 

 ing perfe »tion, may not aid those, struggling under adverse circumstances, to- 

 wards a better state. 



♦' The vine," says Mr. Hittel, in his recent excellent work on the Resources 

 of California, " likes a sandy or gravelly (not very moist) soil, and never thrives 

 in a wet, loamy, or stiff clay soil.'' " The soil of the vineyards of Los Angdi's 

 and Anaheim is a deep, light, warm sand ; to the inexperienced eye looks as 

 though too poor to produce any valuable vegetable growtli. In Sonora and 

 Napa valleys the vineyards are planted in a red, gravelly clay near the foot of 

 the mountains, or in a light sandy loam in the centre of the valley. In all these 

 soils the vines thrive. In Santa Clara valley most of the vines have been 

 planted in a rich, black loam, but their vineyards are unhealthy." Here, then, 

 are the following conditions: dry climate, sandy or gravelly and a poor soil, 

 resulting in a grape free from the rot, and vines bearing double as much as in 

 the Atlantic States or in Europe. How widely different they are from the con- 

 ditions of the grape culture of the Atlantic States can be seen by all. 



How far the evils here can be overcome by elevation, soil, and cultivation, or 

 by new varieties of the grape, is the important problem ; to solve which the 

 botanist of the Department is giving much attention, but he should be aided by 

 the systematic observation of others. 



This Department has no purpose to accomplish, if the establishment of such 

 systematic observation is not a part of it. But to do this it must put itself in 

 communication with intelligent agriculturists and horticulturists everywhere, 

 and they with it ; it must counsel with them ; their suggestions are to be re- 

 ceived and considered ; the observations of each are to be transmitted to the 

 other, through the reports of this Department. Thus phenomena observed 

 under every varying condition can be made known to all, so that with the ac- 

 cumulated observations each one may more intelligently act in reference to 

 future experiments. It was from the log-books of vessels sailing in every sea 

 that Maury deduced his practical sailing directions. An observed fact, when 

 recorded, is never lost ; but it is of no utility until all the facts, necessary to the 

 development of a truth, are brought together. And how far restrictions cast 

 around the correspondence of this Department, in the form of post office tariff's, 

 is in accordance with the duties it should discharge, must be determined by 

 Congress, which will never intentionally permit the interests of American agri- 

 culture to be made subservient to the financial condition of another department 



THE TABLES OF THE CONDITION OF THE CROPS FOR JULY. 



Wheat and Barley. — These crops have been secured in excellent condition 

 Local injuries exist, but not to the usual extent. Their threshing is now being 

 done, which will disclose some other injuries, but there is no doubt that these 

 crops are the largest ever produced in the loyal States, 



Oats. — This crop was greatly endangered by the drought of May and Jujie. 

 But the rains came in season, genei-ally, to cause good heads; and although our 

 table shows a great injury in Minnesota, where the drought has continued, and 

 an injury of two-tenths in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, yet the general 

 average is but two-thirds of a tenth below an average crop. 



Corn. — This promises well. Although its appearance is two-tenths below an 

 average in the great corn-producing States of Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, yet 

 the more general distribution of the rains, since the circulars were sent to tliis 

 Department, Avill have some influence in mitigating this injury. 



Tobacco. — The crop of tobacco is but oue-teutU below the average of a good 



