476 
New York, 11.7; Michigan, 5; New Jersey, 2.8; Wisconsin, 2.7; Mis- 
sourl, 2.6; Illinois, 2.2; Kentucky, 2.1; Maryland, 1.7. 
The product of rolled iron was 1,890,379 tons, an increase since 1874. 
There was also an increase in rails from 727,413 to 792,512 tons. 
RUSSIAN APPLES.—Several years ago the Department of Agriculture 
imported a collection of apple-trees from St. Petersburg. These were 
planted in the grounds of the Department with a view to procure and 
disseminate grafts for the purpose of testing their adaptability in vari- 
‘ous sections and localities, especially in the Northern and Northwestern 
States. F 
Many thousands of these grafts have been distributed, and the De- 
partment has received returns relative to their hardiness, and other 
particulars concerning their adaptability and value, but only from a few 
of the many correspondents receiving them. 
Full particulars regarding their hardiness, and especially their gen- 
eral adaptability to rigorous climates, would be of great value, and the 
Department is desirous of being placed in possession of such informa- 
tion as may lead to an estimate of their worth. 
ADVANTAGE OF HOME-PRODUCTION.—Our correspondent in Logan, 
Kentucky, reports that much of the aftermath of an extra fine clover 
crop in that county was saved for seed; enough to furnish empJoyment 
for two clover-seed hullers. He estimates that a sufficient quantity has 
been saved to supply the farmers next spring, and that this will save 
within the county $28,000 to $30,000, the amount heretofore annually 
paid out for clover-seed. : 
PROLIFIC BEANS.—Mr. Silas M. Blanchard, of Hudson, Hillsborough 
County, New Hampshire, from 3 pints of pea-beans harvested 3 bushels 
.and 18 quarts. One stalk produced 130 pods, containing 615 seed. 
ALFALFA IN CALIFORNIA.—General Bidwell, of Chico, will seed 2,000 
acres in this forage-plant, and other farmers will seed still larger acre- 
ages, It is estimated that the total breadth seeded will be from 35,000 
to 40,000 acres. 
WINE FROM MISSION GRAPES.—A correspondent of the San Francisco 
Morning Call remarks that the Mission grape in California makesa strong 
claret, while on the alluvial bottoms of the Rio Grande it yields a strong 
rich wiue more resembling port. In the vorthern mountainous regions 
of Spain the same vines yield a deep-colored alcoholic wine considerably 
resembling that of California. These Spanish wines are shipped largely 
to France in order to be manipulated into light French claret. In Cali- 
fornia the Mission wine is largely manufactured into claret by the for- 
eign population of San Francisco, as its high alcoholic strength willadmit 
of free watering. The popularity of the Mission grape is rapidly wan- 
ing. Even first-class wine-makers have failed to make a superior wine 
or brandy from it, and several have begun to graft the Mission stocks 
with better varieties. The writer predicts that if all the Mission vines 
were thus treated the character of California wines would rise 500 per 
cent. in the public estimation. If the Mission vines were grafted out, 
he says that very little poor wine would be made in the State. 
CALIFORNIA RAISINS.—In 1876 the raisin-growers of California about 
trebled their product of the previous year. The receipts at San Fran- 
cisco by the close of this year will probably have reached 60,000 boxes, 
against 18,000 or 20,000 last year. It is stated that one vineyard dried 
240 tons of grapes, producing 80 tons of raisins. This is a specimen of 
the extent of this new prqductive interest. The dry summers of Cali- 
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