; 247 
Wisconsin, Dunn: From May 2 to June 26, rain fell during 167 hours 
ou the bottoms of the Chippewa; during May 16, 64 inches in 12 hours. 
Juneau: Rain-fall greater than for sixteen years. Outagamie: Rained 
for two-thirds of June. 
GRASSHOPPER-EXTERMINATORS.—WNebraska, Hall: The first English 
sparrows were imported into this county, from New York, by me this 
spring. They are now doing well—parents and children. 
INCREASE OF GRAIN-CROPS.—Georgia, Columbia: We are making 
more small grain in this section this year than in all the years since the 
war aggregated. The cotton mania is subsiding, and the disposition to 
terminate dependence on heavily-taxing merchants is becoming general, 
Thereby shall we have better times. Randolph: More grain planted by 
25 per cent. than in any year since the war. Wilcox: The people have 
gone more into provision-crops, and they are doing quite well all over 
the county. 
Alabama, Henry : Our people are becoming convinced that planting 
too much cotton is ruinous, and will soon plant still more largely corn 
and small grain. There is among them an evident tendency to practice 
more rigid economy, and I think they will raise most of their supplies 
of every kind at home. 
Michigan, Iosco: This county is rapidly changing from a lumbering to 
a wheat and stock-producing county. Merchants and other business 
men are turning their attention to farming. 
CUBA TOBACCO.—Florida, Gadsden: Last year’s crop of Cuba tobacco, 
which was the largest and the best that has been grown since the close 
of the war, still lingers on the market at greatly depressed prices. As 
a consequence, many of the planters have measurably abandoned its 
cultivation the present year. 
From my experience and observation in the growing of the Cuba tobacco, I am 
astonished that it isso much neglected by the manufacturers of cigars. I have re- 
cently had an opportunity to examine the stock in a large factory, and am convinced 
that the production of Gadsden County, both as to texture and flavor, is superior to 
the average article used by them and may be bought at one-half the cost. Here is a 
favorable opportunity for some enterprising party to realize a fortune by establishing 
a cigar-factory in the midst of the tobacco region of the State, where he can make his 
selections at the barns. 
AGRICULTURAL SPECIALTIES.—Maryland, Montgomery: A large and 
increasing number of the best farmers in this county are devoting their 
attention to the dairy. Wicomico: In recent years watermelons are 
raised in our county and exported to northern markets in very large 
quantities. 
Virginia, Chesterfield: Onions are becoming a very important crop. 
The potato-onion yields 75 to 125 bushels per acre, worth $1 to $2 per 
bushel. Southampton: The cotton-crop has been greatly curtailed, and 
its place taken by pea-nuts. 
Indiana, Floyd: The crop of onions is very fine, though decreased in 
acreage. 
Illinois, Montgomery : The honey-crop is very heavy. 
Wisconsin, Clark: More attention to dairying and fine grades of 
cattle. 
Missouri, Vernon: The crop of castor-beans is late and foul with 
weeds. It will be shortened fully half. 
UNTIMELY ICE.— Wisconsin, Douglas: An immense ice-field, twenty 
to thirty square miles in area, still at the head of Lake Superior, (July 1.) 
