' MONTHLY REPORP. 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, 
January, 1867. 
This number of the monthly report contains carefully compiled and valuable 
statistics upon a subject of vital importance in this or.any other country—the 
rate of wages of farm labor. It is based on full returns from every State and 
nearly every Territory in the United States, and from nearly every county in 
many of the States. It has been a work of no small magnitude, accomplished 
with evident care and laborious research, and must be credited with a high de- 
gree of accuracy in its conclusions. It shows that the average rate of wages 
for farm laborers who board themselves, in the northern and western States, is 
$28 00 per month, or $15 50 when boarded ; in the southern States, for freed- 
men, $16 00 per month, or $9 75 with board. An increase of seventy per cent. 
since 1835, is indicated. 
A statement of the present average annual requirement of wool for consump- 
tion will be found to embody careful estimates of the native yield, and the 
foreign supply, both manufactured and unmanufactured. It will also serve to 
correct popular misapprehension of the present ability of this country to furnish 
its own wool supplies, without the necessity of any extensive importations of 
wool for the future, if this branch of industry should not be crushed out by dis- 
criminations in favor of foreign-grown wool. 
Interesting statistics of the agriculture of the kingdom of Great Britain, from 
recent official statements, are also given, not only for the information of the peo 
ple, but to show the steadily increasing prominence which civilized nations are 
giving to the subject of industrial statistics. 
A variety of statistical presentations upon various subjects, will also fie found 
in this number. R 
Particular attention is called to the circular, in accordance with a resolution 
of Congress, calling for:‘specimens of cereals for the Paris exposition. 
ISAAC NEWTON, 
Commissianer. 
