portion of the seeds distributed. It is essential to tliem ttat there should be 

 placed in their hands a copy of the unabridged census report on agricvilture as 

 soon as it is published, for only this one contains the crop returns of the census 

 for each of the counties of the several States. And in no more useful hands 

 could this report be placed, for they are of our most intelligent farmers, and 

 superior to all others in having their minds imbued with a just appreciation of 

 that statistical knowledge embraced in this census report, and in their duties 

 as correspondents of this Department. The report, when placed in their hands, 

 will not be found with the unused books upon the shelf, covered with dust, but 

 living facts scattered abroad in their respective neighborhoods, and even returned 

 to this seat of government in the more certain knowledge communicated by 

 them to this Department. 



Another topic to which the Commissioner asks the particular attention of the 

 farmer is the article on drill and broadcast sowing. It will be found to embody 

 the opinions and experience of many farmers on the question of the best mode 

 of sowing wheat. It is only through agencies such as this Department has, 

 that the wide-spread evils to which our agriculture is liable can be simulta- 

 neously noted and reported, and when accompanied with the remedies, which an 

 experience not less wide suggests, they cannot but command the attention of all 

 farmers. 



A third subject embraced in the present report, of much interest now, will 

 be found in the article on the state of the foreign grain markets and crops. The 

 knowledge of the facts that France will not probabiy be able to supply the 

 English markets with wheat and flour during the coming year, that much of 

 the wheat of northern Europe is injured by wet weather, and that the hay, 

 oats, and root crops of Great Britain are a greater failure than has been known 

 to the present generation of English farmers, cannot but prove advantageous to 

 our owu agricultural community. The great scarcity of food for farm stock 

 in Great Britain must create an active demand for American Indian com, and 

 our capability to supply it, at reasonable prices, is shown in the article referred 

 to. Whilst the present crop of corn is less than that of 1862, yet the home 

 demand upon it will be proportionably less, so that the surplus for exportation 

 in 1865 will not be much below that for export in 1863. 



Besides the usual statistical tables of exports of domestic produce, and of 

 English imports of grain and textile material, this report contains a table of the 

 number of immigrants to this country at New York during the months of July, 

 August, and September. For this the Department is indebted to the courtesy 

 of Mr. Draper, collector of the port of New York. 



The mail communications between the seat of government and the Pacific 

 States and Temtories do not allow them to be placed in the tables with those 

 of the Atlantic coast. Hence it is necessary to speak of them in a different 

 way, and what information the Department has of their present season and crops 

 has been given in this report. But it is to be regretted that the information 

 sent is not more extensive and more regularly received. 



ISAAC NEWTON, Commissioner. 



