24 



is greater than last year. The crop of 1863 is about 258,462,413 lbs., and of 

 1862, 208,807,078 lbs., an increase of 49,655,335 lbs. Yet the injury was great, 

 being in the west about 25 per cent. The cause of the increase, inidcr such an 

 injury, will be found in the foct that 75 per cent, more of ground was cultivated, 

 as is seen from the returns in the July report of this department. Our corre- 

 spondents state, generally, that about one-half the crop Avas gathered before the 

 frost in the western States. 



Root crops. — The inqiiiries respecting these made to our correspondents em- 

 brace all usually cultivated roots, except potatoes. Their replies show that 

 these exhibit a usual good crop, with the exception of two or three States. As 

 most of them are grown in the eastern States, where rains ha\e been favorable, 

 the crop is a good one, and information, apart from the circulars, speak of an 

 increased attention to these important products. 



JJops. — The growing of hops has been gradually increasing in this country 

 with the "more extensive use of malt liquors, until it begins to take rank as one 

 of the crops of the country. Hence the department has recognized it as such 

 ^nd placed it on the circular. The column of returns exhibits it as a good crop, 

 but the different replies to the circulars show much diversity. Insects, in many 

 localities, have iTijurcd the hops, and in some places the weather has been too 

 wet. A considerable export of them is made, and the London papers give this 

 general glance of the present European product. 



"In Bavaria and Bohemia the crop is about half the large produce of 1862. 

 An immense crop is grown this year in the district of Baden and the adjacent 

 parts of Germany, whence are imported the inferior and weak hops, too often 

 marked and sold as 'first class Bavarians.' In Alsace the crop is very large, 

 but the quality, as usual, secondary. The Lorraine plantations are highly fa- 

 vored, both as to quality and abundance. In Belgium there is the largest and 

 best crop known for years, and a marked improvement is observable in cultiva- 

 tion and curing. American reports are conflicting, but we are assured the pro- 

 duce is greatly in excess of the local requirements. In each of the above 

 districts of production the great and steady increase of hop plantations is calcu- 

 lated to have a permanent influence on the trade." 



JJoney. — Although the honey crop is more a luxury than a necessity, and 

 receives but a limited attention, yet the recent improvement of the hive by 

 Langstroth and others, has made bee culture a most interesting pursuit, and one 

 that should receive nuich greater attention. With the knowledge of the merits 

 of these improved hives, and the modes' of handling bees, will arise a greater 

 interest in bee culture, until, once more, honey will be an inseparable accom- 

 paniment of the buckwheat cake. The returns do not present much success in 

 honey making, or in the increase of bees, for there is a general statement that 

 bees did not swarm or increase this season, and that but little honey was made. 

 The common assigned cause for this is the scarcity of flowers from drouth in 

 the spring months. 



Grapes.— V,\\t few of our fruits are so widely and rapidly spreading as the 

 grape. It is not many years since a cultivated grape was scarcely to be found 

 in the rural districts, and now all our correspondents make returns of it and 

 speak of it as common in their counties. In Kentucky some of the reports are 

 very favorable of its success, but in Ohio there has been considerable rot, as 

 there has also been in Kentucky and elsewhere. The mildew has been preva- 

 lent in the eastern States, and"' in nearly all the States it has met with injury. 

 It is as yet a too scattered crop to appear as a whole in figures, shoAving a regu- 

 lar annual production, but central points, such as Cincinnati, should endeavor to 

 ascertain the grape and wine production of the country. 



Stock hogs.—T\\Q inquiries relative to stock hogs in the September circulars 

 are the first we have made of that great stock product, which, by its vastness, 

 shows, not less than our cereal crops, the greatness of American agriculture. 



