58 
Specimens sent should be distinctly labelled and accompanied by a letter 
specifying the particular analysis reqfired and the object in view, or the nature 
of the information needed, by observing which more satisfaction in the reply 
will be secured. 
DECAY OF CHESTNUT TREES IN NORTH CAROLINA. 
A correspondent writing from Wilkesboro’, North Carolina, speaks of a pe- 
“culiar fatality which has prevailed for the past three or four years among the 
chestnut trees in that locality. He says: ‘Nearly half the trees are dead in 
all the region of country extending from the top of the Brushy mountain, twenty 
miles east, which forms a strip running across the State from Patrick county, 
Virginia, to the Greenville district, South Carolina, say twenty miles broad and 
one hundred and fifty long, crossing the State from northeast to Southwest. 
Their destruction seems to be caused by an insect (probably a’worm) at the 
root, and the work is complete, for the tree ‘dies all over;’ no sprouting from 
the stump or other evidences of lingering life, as is common to this tree when 
the axe is applied to it, for then its death gives rise to a numerous and thrifty 
crop of sprouts that soon fill the space in the forest left vacant by taking the 
parent stock.” 
This disease may be caused by small larvee between the bark and wood. If 
‘specimens of the bark and insects are sent to the department we can tell more 
-about it. 
AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS OF GREAT BRITAIN. 
The following is a summary of the detailed statement recently issued by the 
British Board of Trade, giving the aggregate of population, area, acreage of 
crops and grass, percentage of corn crops, and total and proportionate number 
of cattle and sheep in England, Wales, and Scotland : 
Abstract of Table No. 4. 
5 
England. Wales. Scotland. Total. 
Population s522 -bejs22 -54 Ve-ceeeaes 18, 954,444 | 1,111,780 | 3,062,294 |. 23, 128, 518 
IAG OR VACIESS 5 cits mame o cise soe eee | 32,590,397 | 4,734, 486 | 19,639,377 | 56,964, 260 
Acreage in all crops—bare, fallow, 
BENGE TaSS ioe aoe wn teeo. See eee 22, 261,833 | 2,284,674} 4,158,360 | 28,704, 867 
Acteare) rain crops-.----- .----o2- 7, 400, 170 521,074 | 1,366,540 9, 287, 784 
Acreage oTeen Crops.+-2.4-2)---5-252 2,750, 008 139, 265 663, 257 3, 552, 530 
Acreage clover and grass inrotation.| 2,296, 087 256, 722 | 1,14], 415 3, 694, 224 
Acreage pasture and grass not in ro- 
HSNAIS SSeS eS oA ere rep Sera ms 8,998,027 | 1,257, 721 893, 066 | 11, 148,814 
Percentage of grain crops to total * 
acreage of all crops -.----..----- 33. 2 22.8 32.9 32.4 
Toial' number cattle .-.....-.-. 22 3, 420, 044 546, 966 968, 637 4, 935, 647 
Proportionate number cattle to every 
100/acres in crops>.-- 22-5222 222. 15.4 24.0 Dats 17.2 
Total number sheep, March, 1866--.-| 15,124,541 | 1,668,663 | 5,255,077 | 22, 048, 281 
Proportionate eee sheep to every 
100’acresan all crops..---..--... 68. 0 73. 0 126.4 76.8 
