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COMMENTS ON THE FOREGOING TABLE. 



In the last bi-monthly report the principal crops were given ; those embraced 

 in the preceding tables are of minor magnitude, although important, nevertheless. 



As no estimates have heretofore been made of their amount in bushels and 

 pounds, it is now too late to attempt it, but must be deferred until another census 

 is taken. 



The reader will remember that 10 represents the crop of the year referred to 

 in the several questions, and that all figures above or below that number are so 

 many tenths, as the figure is above or below 10. Thus, in the crop of peas, 

 Maine is 8, which repi'esents two-tenths, or twenty per cent, below the crop of 

 last year. In Wisconsin it is lO.J, meaning a half of a tenth above the crop of 

 1863. We will notice the principal of the crops named in the table : 



Peas and beans. — The principal pea producing States are Georgia, Mississippi, 

 and North and South Carolina ; and those which grow most beans are the 

 northern States — Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, Pennsyl- 

 vania, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois. But the census returns do not separate 

 these crops, and hence what part of the returns for each State is peas and what 

 beans cannot be determined. 



In IMaine the crop of beans is IJ tenth below the crop of last year; in New 

 York, Ig tenth below ; in Pennsylvania and Michigan, one-tenth below ; in Illi- 

 nois, 2^^^ tenths above; and in New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Ohio, the 

 saAie as last year's crop. Altogether, the crop is considerably less than last 

 year's. 



Hops. — In 1860 the great hop-growing State was New York, Avhich then 

 produced nine and a half millions of pounds out of the eleven millions raised hi 

 the United States. But since then hop culture has been much increased ia 

 other States. 



The crop in New York of 1864 is 1^ tenths below that of last year, and it is 

 much inferior, being greatly injured by insects. Vermont is next to New York, 

 and in it there is but half the crop of last year. In New Hampshire it is 

 three-tenths, or 30 per cent, below. 



Butler and cheese. — The fall pastures were unusually excellent, and, as a con- 

 sequence we find the fall production of butter and cheese very favorable. We 

 notice only four of the chief butter and cheese producing States. In New York, 

 butter is a half of a tenth, or five per cent., above the amount made last yeai"; in 

 Pennsylvania it is Ij tenth above. In both of these States cheese is the same 

 as last yeai'. In Ohio, butter is two-tenths above, and cheese one-tenth above ; 

 in Illinois, butter is I3- tenths, and cheese two-tenths below last year's production. 



Sorghum. — The crop of sorghum molasses is greater than the crop of 1862, 

 the best heretofore produced. In the western States this year's crop was con- 

 siderably injured, both in amount and quality, by the frost of October 9, bat 

 the crop is a satisfactory one. How far it will make sugar yet remains to be 

 seen. But as the production of sugar requires a perfectly matured cane, no 

 general progress in the making of sugar from the sorghum need be looked for 

 this year. 



That most excellent paper, the Cincinnati Sorgo Journal, thus speaks of the 

 unfavorable nature of the season in the spring and summer, and the effects of 

 the frosts of autumn : 



"In almost all sections of the country the spring was unpropitious, and many 

 were, on that account, deterred fi-om planting ; others planted, and finding the 

 seed fail to come in due time, replanted with corn. Others replanted cane seed, 

 many as late as the 1st of June, and were obliged to watch the apparently inef- 

 fectual straggle of the feeble plants against one of the most protracted and 

 pinching droughts ever experienced in the country. But on the last of July 



