56 
“Turning from these experimental results to those obtained on my farm un- 
der ordinary management, I may mention that three separate fields gave this 
year 40, 42 ‘aud 46 bushels per atre, respectively, against 38, 48, 48 and 51 
bushels obtained in the four last years, thus indicating a considerable decline 
in amount of produce. On the other hand, the weight per bushel is somewhat 
higher in each of the three cases this year than in either of the four last years. 
“Upon the whole, I conclude that the wheat crop of 1866 will prove to be 
decidedly below an average, and, judging from the produce of both my experi- 
mental and ordinary crops, and the relation which has been observed between 
them and the crops of the country generally for many years past, I should esti- 
mate the deficiency at not less than 10 or 12 per cent.” 
" AYRSHIRE DAIRIES. : 
From the “Transactions of the Highland Society” we glean some interesting 
statistics in relation to the dairy products of Ayrshire county, England. The 
number of cows in milk is estimated at 40,000. Allowing an average yield of 
425 gallons of milk to each cow annually, and 1.01 pound of cheese to a gallon 
of milk, we have, after deducting for indrink, 4294 pounds of cheese to each 
cow; which, at $13 70 per hundred-weight of 112 pounds, yields $50 62$ per 
cow, or $2,025,000 for the 40,000 estimated for the county. 'To this product of 
the milk add the price of 39,000 newly dropped calves, at $1 75 per head, or 
$68,250 for the whole, and we have $2,093,250 as the total value of the annual 
product from the milch cows of the county. The amount drom the milk is 
apportioned as follows: sweet or full-milk cheese, $1,600,000; half-and-half 
and skim-milk cheese, $125,000; butter, buttermilk, sweet milk, skim-milk, 
$200,000; milk given to the calves reared, $100,000. To the above yield from 
the milk and calves, $2,093,250, add proceeds from, say, 9,000 grass-fed cattle 
sold and exported at an average of $42 50 per head, exclusive of the $1 75 per 
head formerly charged as calves, $382,500; gross fattening of sheep, &c., 
$50,000; value of the whey for pigs, $90,000; total, $2,615,750. From which 
deduct value of cabbage acreage, $40,000; mangold acreage, $82,500; vetches 
acreage, $10,000; meal, &c. given to cows, $75,000; the fodder is compensated for 
by the manure; total net proceeds, $2,408,250. Dividing this sum by the 135,000 
acres in rotation pasture, we have $17 50 as the amount realized per acre of 
grass land in the county. 
CALIFORNIA PRODUCTS. 
The following upon the cultivation of the palms, agaves, acacias, olives, mul- 
berries, and almonds in southern California is furnished by Alexander S. Taylor : 
“The coast counties of south California are peculiarly adapted to the growth and cultiva- 
tion of the valuable plants named in the above caption. Different species of acaczas, as the 
mesquites, and of the agaves, as the A. Americana, or century plant, as well as a species of 
palm, with a sweet edible fruit, like the date palm of Barbary, are indigenous to the soil, and 
are very common in the Colorado mountains and slopes of the extensive county of San 
Diego. The agaves yield the pulque of the Mexicans, and are valuable for fencing and the 
manufacture of fibre for rope, coarse bagging, paper-making, &c. Every species of acacia 
(mesquite, or algorobak, or carobs) grows with very little trouble in this south coast coun- 
try, and requires very small expense in the cultivation. The finer qualities of the silk mul- 
berry, as proved in thousands of experiments, are found to grow with great luxuriance in 
these sections, and is very hardy. ‘The silk-worm is now being extensively raised in Santa 
Barbara, Los Angeles, and San José, and the quality of silk produced is highly approved, 
