TOY 
Nebraska, Knox: A very heavy hail‘storm, May 20, passed through 
this county from the southwest. The leaves and some of the bark of 
the trees were removed ; all the garden vegetables and flowers were 
totally destroyed ; all the plants from the tree-seed ‘obtained’ from the 
-Department were also destroyed; the grass and small grain’ were cut 
short, but I think were not permanently injured. “The ground was 
covered about 2 inches on the level with stones of a large size.’ Prairie 
chickens and birds after the storm were found dead. 
THE EUCALYPTUS—Florida, Orange: I have now 15 varieties of the 
eucalyptus growing finely. Our soil and climate seem to suit them 
exactly, and no doubt in time they will become most valuable as shade. 
and timber trees, ‘to say nothing of their medicinal or anti-febrile 
properties. Seeds of the Hucalyptus globulus, received from the Depart- 
ment one ‘and a half years ago this month, have made trees 23 feet in 
height and six inches in diameter. 
IMMIGRATION—WMichigan, Chippewa:, Many farmers are coming into. 
our county from Canada, Though generally poor, we hope the resources 
of the county will soon be brought up, at least toward the desired. 
standard.. There are not yet over fifty farmers in the county. 
Minnesota, Chippewa: Thousands of claims are being located this. 
spring, and soon Western Minnesota will be one immense wheat-field. 
CROSS-BREEDING OF GRAIN. 
By THE COMMISSIONER. 
In this age of enterprise and thought, when science is casting so 
much light upon the operations of men, and wheu the study of the best 
and most profitable modes of perforhhing the work of the world is be- 
coming more essentially necessary to the production of successful re- 
sults, the farmer is especially called upon to bestow industrious thought 
as well as laborious labor upon the work which he is daily called upon. 
to perform. It is not enough that he should know that seeds cast upon 
the earth will germinate, grow, ripen, and produce fruit, but that his 
hand, which guides, aids, and stimulates this natural process, should 
itself be guided. by the knowledge of the nature of the seed itself, how 
it germinates, how it grows, how it. ripens, and how and why it produces 
fruit. This knowledge will, enable him to give a right. direction to the- 
effort and labor which. he bestows upon it, in order to obtain the most 
profitable results. The thought and conviction that frequent plowing 
and stirring of the soil is important to its fertility, because the earth 
itself is a set of mouths and lungs which feed upon the natural elements 
of the air, and imbibe its moisture and light and heat, induces him to. 
the performance of the work in the promotion of his own interest: That 
seeds are characterized by good and bad is a thought which should 
always lead to a careful selection, for as like will, throughout all nature, 
produce like, so will the hopes or fears. of the farmer be realized by the 
character of the seeds he sows or the tree he plants. A small and shriv-. 
eled grain of wheat, when sown, will produce a weak and unhealthy 
stock, and a corresponding failure of product, while a plump, bright 
grain will exhibit its healthy and vigorous growth and abundant prod- 
uct. It is certainly true that many of the maxims of farmers, upon 
which they thoughtlessly base their action, have no foundation in sound) 
