BI-MONTHLY REPORT, 



Department of Agriculture, 



WasJiington, Dcceinbcr, 1864. 



This biniontlily report is the last of this year. If I may be permitted to 

 compare the reports of this year with those of the last year, by the many and 

 warm approvals they have received, I cannot but believe that they exhibit a 

 marked improvement. Those of the past year were the first issued by the de- 

 partment, and, as in all other new enterprises, much had to be learned of the 

 best way to render them useful. With the aid of future experience, it is ex- 

 pected that the reports of the coming year Avill be not less marked by improve- 

 ment. 



Hereafter they will be published monthly. This change is called for by 

 many persons upon whose judgments the Commissioner can confidently rely. 

 Experience has shown that, from the very nature of the information imparted 

 by these reports, being either chiefly statistical or based on statistics, they 

 must be prepared within a few days before their publication, and hence there 

 has not been realized that leisure in their preparation which it was thought 

 would be found in the bi-monthly. In making this change it may not be neces- 

 sary to issue circulars every month to correspondents, but only as frequently as 

 the information regarding the crops may render necessary. 



The leading article of this report is designed to show the climatic conditions of 

 our country, which may be regarded as the very basis of American agriculture. 

 It will be seen from it how superior is the quality of some of our leading agricul- 

 tural productions, bidding defiance, by reason of it, to all competition. The 

 cause of that superiority should be known to all — to the merchant and legis- 

 lator, as Avell as to the farmer. Systems of agriculture must be controlled 

 chiefly by climate. It will be seen that Oregon and California have essentially 

 different climates, the influence of which is so marked in their crops of the 

 present year. The climate of the Atlantic States is as different from both these 

 as they are from each other. Products, such as the potato and the smaller 

 cereals, which require a short season to best grow them, do better in the Oregon 

 climate than in any other, whilst those demanding a longer season and greater 

 heat, such as Indian corn, cotton, wool, and the sweet potato, are best adapted 

 to the Atlantic climate. Products such as the grape and the cheaper avooIs 

 do best in climates like that of California, Avhere both heat and dryness are com- 

 bined, and where cost of production is low. The knowledge of our climates, 



