399 



The quality of tlie mutton and lamb brought to tho ^New York market 

 is, as is well known, greatly inferior to that of like meats in the Loudon 

 market. The price of wool greatly affects the number of sheep marketed. 

 In 1870 the weekly supply was nearly 50,000 ; in 1871 the number was 

 little more than half as large. Lancasters and Cotswolds, from Canada, 

 lead in quality, and these are received from September to January. A 

 few of a similar quality are received from Kentucky in the winter. 

 Ohio sends the largest number of sheep — merinos to a considerable 

 extent, and of good quality. The sheep received from Michigan have 

 more merino blood and rate lower in weight and quality. The Illinois 

 and Iowa sheep are rather coarse, and those from Indiana are among 

 the poorest received. Spring-lambs come chiefly from New Jersey, 

 Maryland, and Delaware, the earliest arrivals haviug the advantage, 

 even if not of best quality. Summer and autumn lambs come chiefly 

 from the States of New York and Kentucky, very few being received 

 from the other States. 



JuxE. — A correspondent at Augusta, Georgia, under date of August 

 3Z, 1872, represents that the jute-plant has done weU in that locality, 

 and that he hopes to raise enough seed to test its adaptation to that 

 climate. Another at New Orleans, Louisiana, states that the jute-plant 

 succeeds well, and that the ramie-cleaning machine is well adapted to 

 the preparation of jute. The Southern Eamie Planting Association, in 

 the same city, has also had encouraging success from jute-seed received 

 from this Department. A specimen of the fiber, transmitted by E. , 

 Lefranc, president of the association, is about 4 feet long and of con- 

 siderable tenacity. This was prepared by a ramie-cleaning machine. 



Tigs. — A correspondent at Westport, Jackson County, Missouri, re- 

 ports that eight of the fig-cuttings, received from the Department in 

 November last, have made a gi'owth of over 4 feet. He therefore ex- 

 presses the hope that with proper care figs can be grown in Missouri. 



Clovee, in South Carolina. — A correspondent writing from Poma- 

 ria, Newberry County, South Carolina, represents that exclusive cotton 

 culture is giving place to more diversified production. In evidence that 

 this section is adapted to the gTowing of grasses, he states that in May 

 last, from 2^- acres of stiif, red upland, he cut 10,000 pounds of fine red 

 clover hay. His success has occasioned an extensive demand in the 

 region for red-clover seed. 



FuLTZ WHEAT IN PENNSYLVANIA. — Mr. William Huber, of Chambers- 

 burgh, Pennsylvania, reports that last fall, on a field of G acres, limestone 

 soil, with gravel, which had been in corn and potatoes the preceding sea- 

 son, he drilled in 1;} bushel of Fultz wheat per acre, applying no ma- 

 nure. • A dressing of barn-yard manure had been applied for the ijota- 

 toes, but no fertUizer had been used since then. From this field he has 

 obtained 231.3 Bushels of wheat, by weight, or a litttle more than 

 38^- bushels per acre, besides a yield of good straw amounting to about 

 H tons per acre. The yield w^as especially remarkable in view of the 

 greatly reduced yield of the general croj). 



TiMBER-PLANTiNa IN NEBRASKA. — In HaUCouuty, Nebraska, timber- 

 planting has become quite popular. It is predicted by our correspond- 

 ent that within twenty years the " Great American Desert" will be far 

 better timbered than the Eastern States. 



Hops and cranberries. — These are reported as two of the most im- 

 portant farm-products in Juneau County, Wisconsin. This season the 



