345 



I)e Kalh, IlUiwis. — Hop-yards are becoming quite numerous ; tlie cultivation of the 

 hop is engaging the attention of many. It is found that it is quite at home on the 

 prairie soil ; indeed, it grows spontaneously in all the river aud creek bottoms, matur- 

 ing well each year, w ith few or no parasites. 



BIJOOJI-CORX. 



Douglas, lUhwifi. — Broom-corn is quite a product in this count}' j will produce a full 

 average crop. 



ECCENTRIC SEASON. 



San Pete, Utah. — The season has changed this year from what it has been since this 

 county was settled. We have had thunder-storms every few days, and some of them 

 extra storms. On the 4th of June a thunder and hail storm passed over Fayette. 

 Hail-stoues as big as marbles cut down the garden-truck, cut tlie fruit off the trees by 

 the bushel ; also cut off the youug shoots aud the bark, almost to their destruction. 

 Hail-stoues formed drifts in some places two or three feet deep. On the 24th of June 

 Ave had another thunder-storm which brought down the water in a solid sheet ; it did 

 not stop to rain, but came at once in rivers aud took all before it. On the 30th wo h.'id 

 a snow-storm which clothed the mouutaius with a AA'hite mantle, but soon disapx^eared, 

 followed by a slight frost. 



METEOROLOGICAL CHANCiES. 



King George, Virginia. — The rains of August have fluctuated greatly in the last twenty- 

 odd years. In 18G7 they amounted to 10.795 inches; 1866, 1.17 inches; 1869, 0.61 

 inch ; 1670, 0.81 inch. These three are the least in twenty-three years. Those of 

 the late August were 1.805 inches. 



HoU, Missouri. — We are having so much rain that I fear fully one-half of our wheat 

 will be destroyed by mold or sprouting. When it is not raining the air is so dami> 

 that it does not dry. A salt-cellar tilled with salt, in twenty-four hours becomes 

 nearly all water, and this dampness has continued for a month. I cannot but believe 

 that the cultivation of the soil and growing of trees north, west, and south of us, 

 Avhere millions of acres have latelj'^ been broken up, have affected our climate. Until 

 iive years ago it was remarkable for its aridity; since then the moisture has regularly 

 increased, till this year it has become ruinous. Up to the lOtli of last April eleven 

 millions of trees had been planted in Nebraska, and millions had been idanted in tho 

 years before this. We are at the very point to be influenced by this, if any point is ; 

 for the clouds formed in Nebraska aud Kansas float over us. Certainly our climate is 

 not as it was eighteen years ago. 



EUCALYPTUS AND OTHER PLANTS. 



Galveston, Texas. — I report progress v/ith seeds of Australian trees received from tho 

 Department of Agriculture January 17, 1872, aud planted the same date. The euca- 

 lyptus or gum-tree has grown iu six months, from January 17 to July 17, to the 

 height of 33 inches. Other varieties of the eucalyptus, in the same time, have grown 

 from 12 to 22 inches. Tho casuariua or beef-wood tree — the native oak of Australia — 

 has grown about 24 inches. I divided the seeds with others, aud have received from 

 them reports of success fully equal to mine. The eucalyptus is certainly the most 

 rapid-growing tree I have ever seeu. 



GP.APES AND WINE. 



Loivndes, Georgia. — We have in this county about 32 acres planted withScuppernong 

 grape, inrreasing every year, all started since the war. There is a tine opening here 

 for persons wishing to go into wine-making ; young vinej'ards can be bought cheap. 

 Our people are all poor ; we want and invite immigrants; laud is from $2 to $10 per 

 acre. 



Pulaski, Afissouri. — There were but few grape-vines in this county before last spring. 

 Then, in this immediate vicinity, some eight or nine acres of vines were planted, and 

 they are growing flnely. We have organized a grape and fruit-growers' association. 



SUGAR-BEETS IN CALIFORNIA, 

 • 



Sacramcnto.~ThQ culture of sugar-beets is attracting much attention in this locality. 

 There are about 1,200 acres now growing, within five miles of Sacramento, along the 

 American Kiver, which promise a heavy yield. The Sacramento Beet-Sugar Coiupany 

 will soon commence v.orking them up. 



