474 
circulated among the more intelligent German farmers. Another, which 
is published at a price of 124 cents, gold, serves to some extent the 
place in the house of the smaller German farmers that patent-medicine 
almanacs fill with us, save that instead of puffs for all sorts of concoc- 
tions, good, bad, and indifferent, they contain tables, simpler indeed 
than those in the other diary mentioned, but of the same general char- 
acter. The circulation of this latter is stated at 100,000 per annum. 
Whoever has had opportunity to observe the methods of farming in 
vogue in the countries where the experiment-stations exist, cannot fail 
to have been impressed with the intimate and necessary connection 
which exists between the thorough system and economy which prevails 
in the practice and the care taken to promote the science of agricul- 
ture. 
The article by Professor Johnson from which I have already quoted, 
closes as follows: 
To say that the farmers of Connecticut and of our entire country urgently need the aid 
and stimulus of the experiment-stations, is to make a most evident assertion. Our agri- 
cultural colleges have but few agricultural students. ss 
The reason lies mainly in the fact that our intellectual activity has the habit of running in 
other than agricultural channels. To bring our farmers in direct and profitable contact with 
the results of science, to bring science into active and visible coéperation with the toils and 
plans of the farm, would redound to the eminent advantage@of both. The experiment-station, 
I cannot doubt, is to be this point of contact, the focus of this codperation.”’ 
FACTS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. 
GRASSHOPPERS.—Two correspondents, Messrs. J. B. McCullis and C. 
G. Boerner, living in Vevay, Indiana, inform the Department that on the 
13th of November, 1876, an immense cloud of grasshoppers alighted in 
that place, literally covering the streets of the town. Mr. Boerner 
observed, about 5 p. m., dense cumulio-stratus 
\ clouds in the southwest, gradually overspreading 
the sky. At 6 o'clock the wind had risen to 
moderate gusts, and within half an hour a rattling 
noise was heard against the windows, like that of 
light hail. On opening the doors grasshoppers en- 
tered in immense numbers, covering the floors, fur- 
niture, clothing, &c. The shower continued till 8 
o’clock p. m., when the ground was thickly covered 
and the boys began to burn them, shoveling them 
into bonfires. Mr. B. supposed that he had 
identified both the Caloptenus spretus and the C. 
Jemur-rubrum, but the specimen sent shows the in- 
sect to have been the Acridiwm (Oyrtacanthacris) 
americanum, one of ourlargest American grasshop- 
» pers, and more than twice as large as either the 
Qs C. spretus or C. femur-rubrum. [See figure.| They 
% are not uncommon around Washington, but this is 
>the first case on record of their appearance in such 
overwhelming numbers. Their habits are similar 
to those of other species, and when appearing 
during the growing season in such numerous 
swarms, great damage to vegetation might be expected from them. 
The), were too late in this case to inflict any very serious injury. 
